A VILLAGE shop and a petrol station could be demolished to make way for new homes.

Mr and Mrs R N Thornton have applied to Scarborough Council to build three new homes on the site in High Street, Snainton.

In their submission to the authority, they say the store, Post Office and petrol station closed a year ago when “its lack of viability could no longer be sustained”.

Their planning statement added: “Long before the closure of the convenience store, post office, petrol station people preferred and started to use to use the shops, post office and petrol station at nearby East Ayton with its good, safe parking facilities thus reflecting changing living patterns.”

The couple ran the business for almost 20 years but have now decided to press ahead with the demolition plan to make way for the new homes.

The planning statement goes on to say that Snainton as a village has moved away from needing a local store.

It states: “Like many other similar villages over a period of time the demographic of the village has changed.

“One aspect of this change has resulted in pedestrian visits into the village to ‘do the shopping ‘ becoming less frequent and often not even necessary.”

The plans are now out to consultation.