HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition protesting against plans to demolish a pub in Yate and the barbershop next door.

UKS Group wants to demolish the Railway Inn and Station Road Barber’s Shop and submitted an application to South Gloucestershire Council earlier this month, although whether the site has been marked for a new housing development is yet to be confirmed. 

Peter Crawford, 44, owner of the barbershop, said the demolition would “devastate” his business, which has traded for over 20 years, and the livelihood of his staff.

Mr Crawford said: “It would be extremely difficult to move my shop elsewhere. People know who we are because of the location – moving would be like starting the business over again.” 

He has started a paper petition to save the shop, which has received more than 400 signatures so far. 

Richard Cole, 28, who works at the barbershop and has just bought a house, also expressed his concern.

He said: “I’ve been working here for 11 years and it’s very worrying, this is my livelihood at stake.”

The Railway Inn, which is a locally listed building, made news in September last year after a 60-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after cutting a man’s throat on the premises. 

It has had a number of landlords in recent years, the most recent being Chloe and Dan Motuel-Escott.

The former Railway Inn landlord and landlady spoke out against the plans, saying that the "closing of the Railway will be a massive loss to the community."

They said: "The pub has played a part in many lives for generations, and we speak for everyone when we say that it will be sadly missed. 

"It's always frustrating as a publican when pubs are shut down to make way for developers, which unfortunately is happening everywhere."

The pub closed for trading on January, 2, but is described as a “building steeped in history” by local residents. 

Cllr Chris Willmore (Yate North) said that Yate Council is “completely against” the demolition. 

“It’s not just any building and it’s very important in local terms - we want to preserve the history of the area,” she said.

She urged residents to submit their objections to the proposal on the South Gloucestershire planning portal website, and so far over hundred responses have been submitted. 

Jennifer Wass, a neighbour who lives opposite the site in question, particularly opposes the demolition plans.

She said: “The Railway Inn is an old building with history linked to Yate.
“There are very few original properties left in Yate and we are killing the history of the area.” 

She added: “I can’t see on the planning application what is proposed to be built on the land after it’s demolished.

“If it’s for modern style housing with limited parking then I object strongly to this – I do not want to look out of my property onto an ugly new build.”

John Rooney, the agent working on behalf of UKS Group, could not confirm whether the site has been marked for housing development.

He said: “Nothing is set in stone – at this stage the applicant is applying for demolition of the site.”

Barber Peter is hoping to exploit a loop in planning law which means that the applicant may have to submit a planning application alongside the demolition plans, which may be refused.