Like a double dose of deja vu, the sight that greeted me in Tuckingmill over the weekend was as unexpected as it was unpleasant.

In last Tuesday's edition of Living Cornwall – under the headline "We can't let destruction of heritage happen again" – was a picture of the twisted remains of what was once clay country poet Jack Clemo's Goonamaris cottage. The article went on to explain that Heritage Kernow, a body responsible for Cornwall's historic environment, is this month consulting the public over what features and monuments in the Cornish landscape should be preserved.

So imagine my surprise when driving up North Roskear Road, at the eastern edge of Camborne, to see a digger finishing off the job of demolishing one of three remaining sets of headgear from South Crofty mine.

It is not many years ago – before the designation of World Heritage Site status – that developers routinely bulldozed these relics of industrial archaeology. We could do little to stop them then – but we can now.

It's easy to get romantic about such symbols of a bygone age... so here goes, I have no shame. Anyone who has grown up among the industrial remains that litter Redruth, Camborne and their environs, look upon them as the landscape of their childhood. And while accepting it is unrealistic to expect every block and spoil heap to remain untouched, some structures must be sacrosanct.

More than anything else, the redundant mine buildings that are such distinctive features of our landscape present a daily reminder of the people who went before us. Their toil and the wealth they created was what shaped most of our towns and villages, from Liskeard in the east to St Just in the west.

Today we wouldn't dream of knocking down the Crowns engine houses or Kit Hill's chimney. So why smash up the Roskear headgear?

However, before you all rush to picket the Tuckingmill site, it must be pointed out that the truth is often less interesting than our initial outrage.

On this occasion there is no demon developer hell-bent on destroying our heritage, just a concerned Cornish company fearing for the lives of our younger citizens.

Bernard Ballard, of civil engineering and drilling specialists Brownfield Investments, which owns the Tuckingmill site, explained that the company's decision to demolish the Roskear headgear was driven by safety worries raised by nearby residents. Mr Ballard, whose firm is part of the Carnon Group based at Wheal Jane, said: "The equipment was redundant and no longer part of the Crofty operation. It was designed in the first place as a temporary structure, but these days, as mining has developed, it is all much more specialised and headframes are bespoke for each mine, shaft or engine.

"However, the operational details are only part of the story.

"The fact is it has been the target of vandalism for some time and consequently an enormous drain on our resources.

"Children and vandals have been breaking into the site and climbing to the top of the structure. This has been witnessed by numerous local people and reported to us.

"Although we put in extra security measures, it is an old site and difficult to secure. Young people have broken through fences and gates and I've lost count of how many padlocks have been cut through. To be honest, the situation had become impossible."

Mr Ballard added that, although the site has been earmarked for residential development, there are no immediate plans for building and the decision to demolish the structure was taken "purely on safety grounds".

So that's that. However, while it may be too late for Roskear, as today's picture shows, the loss of this landmark illustrates most graphically that we all need to remain vigilant. Perhaps there should be a "heritage hotline" for people to use when they spot damage to features of the Cornish landscape.

Cornwall has the largest number of listed buildings (12,430) and scheduled monuments (1,341) of any unitary authority area, and also has the largest number of statutorily protected heritage assets in the care of any local authority (about 1,150 owned and managed by Cornwall Council). Let's keep it that way by making our views heard.

Spearheading a new campaign of protection for the region's historic places, Cornwall Council is inviting the public to have their say on the future of heritage protection. And Julian German, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Historic Heritage, is urging you to get involved, saying: "We are very interested in hearing from the public on this matter and urge people to get in touch with their views."

In that spirit, a spokesman for Western United Mines, which owns the New Cook's Kitchen headgear at South Crofty, said the iconic structure would "definitely be staying as an enduring landmark".

To take part in Heritage Kernow's survey, visit www.heritage-kernow. org or to receive one in the post, call Simon Thorpe on 01209 615612. The consultation continues until September 17.