THE new two-way system unveiled in Chatham is designed to benefit town centre shops and business.

But a pub landlord says his business is facing an uncertain future because of the new road system.

Michael Fernandez, of Churchills, in The Brook, said the one-way system allowed delivery vehicles to stop right outside the pub, just a short distance from his cellar doors.

However, the two-way road means lorries can no longer park in the same spot. Medway Council has provided a designated loading bay, but Mr Fernandez says it is too far away.

He said: "The new loading bay is 40 metres away from my cellar doors and it will mean deliveries are likely to take more than an hour.

"Some of my delivery drivers are refusing to transport the 22-gallon barrels of beer that far. It is a breach of their insurance and health and safety regulations.

"The pub has been here for more than 100 years and the deliveries have always been made in the same place.

"We have 14 members of staff and many of them are family members. All our livelihoods are at risk."

Mark Bradbury, head of Chatham development at Medway Council, said: "We don’t have any choice but to rearrange the junction by his pub. The position of his cellar is very close to the junction and as a result we have had to stop deliveries being made there.

"We have, however, offered a loading bay just around the corner and offered trolley equipment to carry the barrels from the bay to the cellar doors."