ADVERTISER readers have reacted with fury to the news that the demolition of the former Station Hotel building has been halted. 

Works have ground to a halt at the site this week, more than seven months after the decaying building was ravaged by a huge blaze.

South Ayrshire Council confirmed on Wednesday that the property's owner, Malaysian businessman Sunny Ung, had lodged a petition at the Court of Session for the safety works to be halted.

The entrepreneur, also known as Eng Huat Ung, will have his case heard at the court in Edinburgh on Friday.

He is reportedly accusing the council of demolishing the hotel without giving him proper notice following the devastating fire in September last year.

Train services through the station remain suspended, and most of the southern section, which suffered the worst damage in September's fire, has already been razed to the ground.

Work began recently on demolishing what is left of the tower that previously stood in the central section of the building, as well as part of the northern section, with the council stating the additional work was required on safety grounds.

Locals and visitors alike have been left shocked by the revelation that the hotel's owner now wants to stop the diggers. 

Many have aired their views that the council should bill the businessman for the job to make the fire-hit building safe so far. 

One Advertiser reader said "bill him for the works already carried out", with another adding "send them the bill for the last few years"

The impact of the fire and subsequent works are felt no more keenly than by local businesses, who are suffering due to train services being suspended. 

One reader said: "Get it ripped down, the delay is only going to further disrupt businesses and trains into and from Ayr."

Many readers took a more cynical approach to the news, with one accusing the businessman of "p****** in the wind". 

Another said: "I wouldn’t give him the time of day. He’s had numerous chances. Make him pay for all the work."

However, not everyone thought the fault lay with Mr Ung, with one reader commenting: "All those blaming the owner are quite wrong.

"The owner quite rightly abandoned the hotel because of the intransigence of the council and Network Rail. 

"The council have always conveniently put the narrative forward of the bad owner. This simply is not true."

Ayr's Westminster MP Allan Dorans said on Wednesday that the council had his "full support" in its legal battle, while Siobhian Brown MSP said she hoped the situation "comes to a resolution as quickly as possible".