Sir, I was saddened to read that The Prince of Wales pub is still being threatened with demolition (Didcot Herald, January 7). Just when will our town and district councillors realise that it is almost the last remnant of the old Didcot station area before expansion of the town began.

So much has already gone — the Corn Exchange (later the Station Garage), the railwaymen’s hostel, the old station frontage, The Junction Arms (or Dragon) Hotel and its annexe, Jean’s Café, the railway engineers’ buildings — all swept away in the name of progress. If The Prince of Wales is replaced by housing under the Gateway Plan, and (as is likely) the GWR Staff Association buildings disappears under a multi-storey car park, Didcot will have successfully erased its history in that part of the town.

Railway travellers have a right to expect amenities opposite a station, not more housing. A pub is an amenity, which should be retained. While a new hotel is to be welcomed, the corner of Haydon Road is hardly the place for an eight-storey monstrosity.

Your article also suggests that a car dealership is thought inappropriate in this area. My response is to say that in the years when I commuted daily by train to London, I found it very useful to have my car serviced while I travelled to work, as have, no doubt, many others.

How about giving local people and rail users a say, rather than being guided by consultants and developers, whose only interest is financial?

Ron Head

Merritt Road

Didcot