A brewery owner has appealed to the council to put the breaks on essential work to a footbridge which, if undertaken, they say will have a detrimental impact on Christmas trade.

Indie Rabble Brewery is situated in the Arches underneath the Windsor and Eton Central train station and the corresponding footbridge to the Alexandra Gardens Coach Park.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead say the connecting footbridge, which is a "key gateway to the town", is in need of much improvement.

As a result, plans have been put forward to close the footbridge in a refurbishment process which could take up to four months.

During that time 360-degree scaffolding will be erected around the structure, infringing on local businesses, some of which have only just opened and are relying heavily on Christmas trade.

With a date not yet decided, it is believed work will begin this month.

Dave Hayward, co-owner of Indie Rabble Brewery, which opened on August 18, said it is the wrong time of year to begin the works.

"I am petrified. We need Christmas trade."

"It is the six weeks of the year, the end of November through to the end of December that we have based our projections on - hospitality businesses always rely on those weeks - to make sure we have enough cash for January and February which are quieter.

"When we ploughed every penny we had into this, we did it with a cash projection that relied on Q4. That's going to be decimated."

Dave says that the scaffolding for the works will block the signage and take up a significant amount of the seating area out of the front of the business.

While the bridge is closed Dave says it will become more difficult for customers to get to them, with the diversion walk from the station being approximately eight minutes.

Businesses were reportedly only made aware that the works were to take place a fortnight ago, with Dave claiming there has been no public consultation and poor engagement with local businesses, which has left him "extremely frustrated".

"We want the works to happen, we do. We understand there will be an impact on us when they happen - but this is the worst possible time for these works," Dave added.

The owners of Two Flint Brewery, along with other local businesses including Cinnamon Cafe and Daniels Department Store are also reported to be getting involved with the action to push the works back.

On approaching the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead a council spokesperson said: “We appreciate there’s never really a good time to undertake such works in a year-round visitor destination like Windsor.

"However, as a key gateway to the town, I think everyone accepts this footbridge really needs improvements and investment to enhance the sense of arrival and the welcome to Windsor for the thousands of people who use the Coach Park every year.

"We’re also required to maintain and repair the bridge under our lease with Network Rail, the bridge’s owner.

“The bridge needs to be completely encapsulated in scaffolding, due to its proximity to a working railway platform, and unfortunately there is no way of avoiding the structural towers, or the closure of the bridge to users during the duration of the works.

"However access to businesses will be maintained throughout and signs will be in place showing alternative walking routes from the Coach Park to the castle and town centre.

“Businesses are also welcome to put their promotional signage on the scaffolding."