STEP by step, we are demolishing Yate’s history.

That’s the message from residents around Yate this week, following the announcement of plans to demolish the Railway Inn and accompanying barbershop.

And they’re not wrong – the town should be making a real effort to preserve buildings and sites of historic interest. As one 70-year-old put it: “Yate is not the place I knew as a little girl in 1940”.

In a world where you need planning permission to convert your own loft, it seems frankly bizarre that landowners can demolish sites of local interest at a moment’s notice.

More to the point - we want to know what is intended to replace the two buildings. What exactly justifies the destruction of two local businesses?

We’re pretty sure that it’s not going to be a play park for children.

But there is hope yet.

If the council forces the applicant to submit plans stating what they are intending to build there, the demolition may well be refused.

And if not, who knows what the future is for the historic plot on Station Road.