A WINCHESTER business owner says he may close a cafe unless there is urgent help from the council.

Clive Hibberd who has run the Bus Station Cafe for 27 years says the family-run firm is at risk because of a significant drop in trade due to bus station demolition work.

Mr Hibberd, 60, says although he recognises the work is needed, it has led people to believe his cafe is closed.

He has called for talks with council chiefs to help pay for the costs.

Currently the council are demolishing the 1930s garage, after that they will spruce up the building which includes updating the bus station office.

Buses are temporarily being deployed to The Broadway and are due to return to the station in early September.

Although the path to the cafe is still open, Mr Hibberd says 80 per cent of his trade came from those who were waiting for buses, and since the work started he is losing more than £150 a day.

Adding to that, Mr Hibberd says that due to electrical damage caused by the thunderstorms last week he had to throw hundreds of pounds worth of food away.

Mr Hibberd said: “In the worst case I am going to lose £7,000- £8,000 which is money I have not got; I am going to end up bankrupt.

“I just can’t go on, the council has to be sympathetic to me.

“I have asked the council for a meeting to see if we can sort something out about the loss of earnings.”

“I would not mind if they said you have to close for two months and they had paid all my bills, I don’t know what I am doing here really.

“The council have tried to help and put a big banner saying I am open but people still think this place is closed.

“Customers can see the work. They can hear the banging and that puts them off.

“People come up to me in the High Street and say ‘I am sorry you are closed’, but I am open for business but for how much longer I don’t know.”

Mr Hibberd still pays the former owner of the building, Stagecoach, for the rent, and he has also asked them for money to cover loss of earnings.

A spokesperson from Winchester City Council said: “Mr Hibberd is a Stagecoach tenant and therefore any claims for loss of earnings will need to go through them. We understand that Stagecoach have already communicated this to Mr Hibberd.

“The council has also been in contact with Mr Hibberd to outline the procedure and to discuss his concerns with his landlord.

“In the meantime, in conjunction with Stagecoach, the council has put up large banners and Stagecoach staff have been reassuring customers that the café is open for business and answering any questions.”

At the time of going to press, Stagecoach had not responded to a request for comment.