AN ACTION group to save Ayr’s Station Hotel from demolition wants to see the venue restored to its former glory. 

Members of the Ayr Station Hotel Action Group feel there are many options for use and for finding the money and have organised a public meeting to encourage residents to get involved.

Esther Clark, of Ayr, said: “There are a lot of options for use and for finding the money. This is a last chance and we hope it is not too late. 

“The group would ideally like the 75 bedrooms to be flats with reasonable rents and the communal areas to be a community cafe and a social / community centre.”

But last week South Ayrshire Council issued a Dangerous Building Notice to the private owners of the Station Hotel after monitoring the recent changes in the building structure. These changes could become a safety risk to station users and members of the public.

The notice relates to various items including defective sandstone and decorative ironworks, loose slates, loose downpipes and unstable roof signage.

The details are set out in the Dangerous Buildings Notice that has been issued, and the owners of the hotel now have 21 days to advise the Council of what they intend to do to meet the requirements of the notice.

The owners of the Station Hotel have the responsibility to ensure the building is safe.

Councillor Douglas Campbell, Leader of South Ayrshire Council said: “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."