Time for action on hotel hell
Council bosses could be landed with a costly repair bill for the Station Hotel after the iconic building lurched into crisis.
Worried chiefs have taken the “exceptional” step of issuing a Dangerous Building Notice.
Defective sandstone, loose downpipes and slates and the removal of the hotel’s roof sign are among a list of concerns.
The hotel’s Far Eastern owners have now been given 21 days to respond.
In an internal email seen by the Ayrshire Post, council property boss, Donald Gillies, said: “It should be stressed that we are issuing this notice to require the owners to identify appropriate action before there is significant risk to the public.”
Now the council is ready to incur the cost of that action should it receive no response.
An insider said: “The first task is making the structure wind and water tight.
“Longer term, the issue of demolition is the elephant in the room that nobody wants to touch.
“It has become far too much of a political hot potato.”
The B- Listed pile was purchased for £ 750,000 in 2010 by Malaysian businessman, Eng Huat Ung.
But its rapid decline has now left council executives facing a headache.
Council leader, Douglas Campbell, added: “While this property is privately owned and should be maintained to a safe standard by its owners, we have a statutory duty to take action when we have concerns and evidence that public safety could be at risk – and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
“I hope this provides the necessary wake- up call to the owners and we see decisive action taken promptly and effectively.”
• A newly formed pressure forum, The Station Hotel Action Group, is to stage a public meeting at Ayr Town Hall this Friday at 7pm.
Founder Esther Clark said: “I don’t care what they do with the hotel – as long as they keep it.”