A frustrated pub landlord in Chalfont St Peter fears he may lose his business after HS2 scheduled road works on the same street during the quietest time of year.

Patrick Fitzgerald, who runs the Dumb Bell Pub in Shire Lane, says bosses at the controversial high speed rail company originally planned roadworks in December – interfering with peak Christmas party season.

The road closures were then scheduled for two weeks from January 7, however Mr Fitzgerald now fears the work could deter the small number of customers he gets during the quietest time of the year.

He went on to call for the road to be closed overnight, so the work would have minimal impact on his business.

However HS2 says it has been in regular contact with Mr Fitzgerald and has worked with him to create signage during the closure, so people are aware the pub is still open.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “January is a quiet time, so you can keep things ticking over with the customers that come in during that time. I still have bills, I have to pay staff and rent to pay.

“If it is not making money the pub will be passed on to developers who want to turn in into housing.

“Why can’t they close it at night – from 11am to 6am? I am not hiding the fact that January is a quieter time of year, but if they knock off all the customers for two weeks, it is a lot of money to find.

“I have 12 staff to pay and rent to pay. I still have to find £8,000 a week.”

The publican said he would not have taken the pub on 18 months ago if he had known of the issues that were going to be caused by HS2.

A spokesman for HS2 says the company has a “responsibility to the taxpayer” to make sure the project is on time and on budget, however recognised how difficult the impacts of building work is for communities.

The spokesman said: “We understand how difficult the impacts of HS2 are for communities affected by construction. We work hard to ensure that their concerns are understood and impacts are addressed.

“These specific works will improve the local road network, and they have already been rearranged at the request of the owner of the Dumb Bell pub.

“We always try to accommodate community requests as best we can, however, we have a responsibility to the taxpayer to ensure that work progresses on time and on budget.”