Ayr’s very own ‘ Hanging Gardens of Babylon’
Public fury over state of train station
The mere mention of the Station Hotel can get anyone in Ayrshire ranting for hours.
But little focused on is the effect the crumbling hotel has on Ayr train station. And last week we told the station was plunged into danger zone status as it was partly sealed off with hazard tape. So we hit the streets to find out what the good people of Ayr thought. Outspoken Gary Ferguson, 40, of Ayr, said: “The station is like Ayr’s answer to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. “It has looked terrible for 10 years so I don’t think this will suddenly affect the town. “They should take it down from the inside out and copy the idea of Liverpool Lime St which is an old building and new station inside.” Billy Gillon, 64, of Ayr, said: “It’s really bad for the town and it just looks like a disgrace. “I don’t use the train station very often, but I’ll never use it again because of the state it’s in.” Clark McCrindle, 55, of Mossblown, said: “It’s the council’s [ fault] though for letting it get in such a state. “It should have been dealt with long ago, but the owner is waiting until the council are forced to buy it off him, and he will make a mint off it.” Nan Wood, 83, of Ayr said: “The station and town are in a terrible state. “It used to be nice, but not now - the only way to describe it is rubbish. “When I was younger I used to drink in the Station Hotel and it was a lovely place.”
It’s really bad for the town and just looks like a disgrace Billy Gillon