A road in central Carlisle will remain closed until emergency work to repair a chimney on a derelict city centre hotel starts next month.

West Walls has been closed due to the unstable structure on the eyesore building in Victoria Viaduct.

And one city publican says his pub has taken a hit as the past three weeks have been the quietest he's seen in six years.

Dave Foster, who runs the Sportsman Inn, in Heads Lane, between West Walls and Blackfriars Street, said the road closure is impacting on his business and others nearby.

"I notice everyday it has been terribly quiet," he said.

"We have noticed a dip in trade."

Following the closure of other nearby businesses Mr Foster fears that something needs to be done with the former hotel building before any more businesses close.

"I phoned the council up and they said it could be shut for 12 weeks," he said.

"It's absolutely terrible. The council has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on this place. We want to put pressure on the council to get something done.

"It's not good enough. It is going to be a continuing problem."

Staff at Carlisle's Green Room Theatre - also on West Walls - say people can still park in the Town Dyke Orchard car park at night and walk up the steps to the theatre.

Keith Harkness, building supervisor and maintenance manager for the theatre, said: "We can make arrangements with the county council to get a key for the car park so we can lift the barrier after a performance.

"Our next show is March 19 to 24 and the car park will be open for half an hour after the performance so people can move their cars.

"We are keen to let people know that they can park close by."

A spokeswoman for Carlisle City Council said: "Emergency repair work continues on the Central Plaza building. The storm damage was reported to us as a dangerous structure in late January and an inspection was made of the building.

“The damage included the partial collapse of a chimney that fronts the West Walls road.

"Due to the risk of the remainder of the chimney collapsing and the resulting debris potentially falling onto pedestrians and traffic below it was decided to partially close West Walls Road.

"Both Cumbria Highways and the Police were notified and temporary access arrangements are in place for the remainder of the road.

"Cumbria County Council has also put temporary diversion signs in place.

“Following an inspection of the chimney by a specialist contractor, emergency works are planned to start on Monday, March 5 following the preparation and implementation of all the necessary health, safety and welfare requirements.

"The work should take a further eight weeks with the road closure to be reviewed once the immediate danger posed by the structural failure has been addressed on West Walls."

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: "As the highways authority we have responded to a request to close the road until further notice.

"We will be strengthening the barriers at either end to make sure people take notice of the closure."

The road is still accessible from Annetwell Street up to Marks & Spencer's car park.

The Central Plaza is technically owned by the Crown Estate.

But the Crown's legal representatives have told the council they will do nothing that could be seen as an act of ownership.

This leaves the council with responsibility to maintain the site.

Since 2011 it has spent £250,000 to keep it safe.