West Berkshire Council Chief Executive Nick Carter wrote to more than 20 businesses on Friday warning them that once Standard Life confirm whether they still want to go ahead, compulsory purchase orders will be enforced. As the proposed start date is now September 2008, this means that businesses will have to be evicted within the next nine weeks.

The tight timeline presents a major challenge for some businesses, as not all have secured new premises.

In the letter, seen by newbury.net, Mr Carter said he would find out next Monday whether the current deal was still on, after an "unfortunate period of uncertainty".

The council recently agreed to scrap a package of benefits for the town centre due from Standard Life to keep the £130m project on track, including an arrangement where the developer would pay for a proposed revamp of the Broadway.

Details of the letter emerged as another deadline was changed. Plans to dig up Northbrook Street outside Waterstone's to divert a mains sewer into Park Way have now been moved to January, amid council fears that the disruption would damage Christmas trading.