Ayr station hotel fire: Residents fear fire-hit hotel will be demolished

Residents of Ayr fear the derelict station hotel will have to be demolished after it was ravaged by two fires in four months.

Firefighters were sent to the scene on Monday afternoon and were still on site on Tuesday morning.

Rail services remain disrupted through Ayr and roads have been closed for public safety.

Two teenage boys, 17 and 13, have been arrested and charged with wilful fire-raising.

They will both be reported to the relevant authorities and further inquiries are ongoing.

ScotRail have said they are not expecting to be able to run services to or from Ayr station for "at least the next few days".

'It's been shocking for ages'

Designed by the noted Scottish engineer Andrew Galloway, Ayr Station Hotel originally catered for an affluent clientele holidaying on the coast when it opened in 1855.

In more recent years it has held parties and weddings as well as being a key landmark for commuters in the town centre.

Campaigners say the hotel fell into disrepair after an "absentee owner" failed to maintain the building or respond to enforcement action.

In 2018, a dangerous building notice was issued and the former hotel was wrapped in a protective scaffolding.

Locals have said the Victorian listed building holds memories for many - but has been an eyesore for years.

Alexandria Smith, 71, told BBC Scotland News she watched the blaze unfold from her bedroom window - and would not be surprised if the building was demolished.

Alexandria Smith said the building holds fond memories for locals

"It's been there a long time, a lot of folk will miss it," she said. "A lot of folk have got great memories, younger days when there were discos and a lot of people had weddings in it.

"But it's been a bit of an eyesore for quite a few years."

William Ramage, 57, told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme he saw firefighters trying to bring the blaze under control and was "speechless at the devastation".

William Ravage said he was "speechless at the devastation" caused by the fire

He said: "They really couldn't get to the fire because of the sheet on the outside - whatever that sheet's made of, they couldn't get the water through the sheet. They were having to douse it from the top.

"It's shocking, it's been shocking for ages since they've put the cover on it. There are that many places in Ayr that are sitting all boarded up.

"It'll have to be pulled to the ground now I would think. It's been an eyesore for ages. Even if you're coming in from Craig Tara [a holiday park south of Ayr], it's the first thing you see on the horizon - the big white icicle."

Wendy and Bethany Williams visited the scene of the blaze on Tuesday

Wendy Williams was in a local pub when the fire started and was shocked to find crews were still dealing with it almost 20 hours later.

She said: "We were in The Growler last night when the smoke started.

"I can't believe it is still burning.- It was an eyesore but it still feels a bit sad."

Daughter Bethany, 12, agreed, adding: "It is really sad to see it go because it was a nice building."

'Tragic ending'

South Ayrshire independent councillor Bob Shields told BBC Scotland News it was a "tragic" final chapter for a hotel which many locals had fond memories of in its heyday.

He added: "It is the ending that nobody wanted but a lot of people feared."

Mr Shields expects the building, which is owned by a Malaysian businessman, will now be demolished but believes such an outcome would offer a "fresh start" for the seaside town.

He would like to see a new transport hub in its place and believes such a project would rejuvenate the area.

The derelict hotel has been wrapped in protective scaffolding since a dangerous building notice was issued in 2018

But conservation engineer Ed Morton hopes another solution can be found.

He said: "The architectural detailing on the building is really magnificent.

"Whilst some of that has been lost through the fire we have got good records of it so it can be replicated.

"So absolutely, definitely, this building should be saved."

The latest fire is the second to take hold at the derelict building in four months.

Two teenagers were charged after the last blaze in May.

Road closures in the area include:

• Kyle Street at High Street

• Smith Street at Mill Street

• Pedestrian closure of Smith Street from the Station Hotel to Ayr Central

• Castlehill Road at the Market Inn

• Parkhouse Street

• Burns Statue Square at Killoch Place

The fire has also affected public transport and police said commuters should check with their operators for current updates.

Supt Gillian Grant said: "We are aware of the significant disruption that this fire continues to cause for local residents in businesses in Ayr.

"I would urge people to be aware of the road closures and plan their journeys accordingly.

"I would ask people to avoid the area wherever possible to allow emergency services to work safely at the scene."

This story was updated on 28/9/23 to reflect the fact that residents were not calling for the station to be demolished.