Hotel D- Day hit by new delays
Crucial report is months behind schedule
end the crisis at the gateway to town. Network Rail have already shelled out £ 724,000 in compensation due to the ongoing chaos surrounding the building.
And they fear that bill will soar again if engineers produce a damning report that shuts the site again.
An exclusion zone remains in place, with the station’s former ticket office and some sections of the platforms still off limits.
Council chiefs say they have no plans to remove the zone.
A spokesman said: “Work on the full structural survey was halted as greater works were identified to secure the building. Now that the scaffolding work and other protective measures are largely complete, the survey work will restart.
“A report is expected to be provided by our contracted consultant engineers at the start of March, although this will be subject to safe access to complete the survey works.”
They added: “The survey will play an important part in determining the next steps.”
South of Scotland MSP, Tory Brian Whittle, said extra works on site meant the delays were “not a complete surprise”.
He added: “Almost a year after a dangerous building notice was first issued, with the costs to the public purse continuing to climb, the council and the Scottish Government both need to make clear that they won’t just kick the can down the road.
“The last thing Ayr and other communities up and down the line need is to wait for a report and then hear it will be months before a decision is taken about what to do next. Time is not on the Station Hotel’s side.”
It will be months before a decision is taken about what to do next