Appeal to save Turnberry inspiration

An appeal has been launched to save the hotel that inspired Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort.

Campaigners Save Britain’s Heritage have called for the“splendid landmark” Ayr Station Hotel to be rescued from its owners.

The move to secure the future of the B-listed building came as South Ayrshire Council launched a threeweek consultation on its future.

Built in 1885 in a French cha te au cum Scottish baronial style, the hotel has been derelict for seven years. Its success prompted the Glasgow and South Western Railway company to build the Turnberr y Hotel – now Trump Turnberry – in 1906.

Stars who have performed there have included Billy Connolly and Tom Jones.

The council served a dangerous building notice on the building in 2018.

But when repairs were not made by its Malaysian businessman owner Eng Huat Ung, it imposed an exclusion zone to protect people from the“significant and immediate dangers” caused by the condition of the building.

Save Britain’ s Heritage executive president Marcus Binney said: “This is a splendid landmark in one of the loveliest resort towns in Scotland.

“A determined effort must be made to wrest it from its owners who cannot be contacted .” The group has called for a twoyear grace period to develop a rescue plan.