One of Britain's leading structural engineers has been granted access to the crumbling Station Hotel as part of a campaign to save the iconic building from demolition.
Ed Morton spent two days inside the walls of the tented dome this week carrying out a detailed survey for SAVE Britain's Heritage.
The group insists the "stunning details" of the hotel remain intact despite years of neglect, which culminated in the building being set on fire last month.
Bosses at South Ayrshire Council, who have taken charge of the site in the absence of the hotel's absentee owner, plan to raze the building to the ground and forge ahead with a potential new train station if gaining support from stakeholders such as Network Rail and the Scottish Government.
But campaigners claim the Category B listed hotel should be saved for the town - and say this week's survey will provide evidence to back up their stance.
Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said: “We are delighted that the detailed inspection has been completed – this is part of a wider ranging plan to help secure a sustainable new future for this landmark building in the centre of Ayr, so that it can once again be the pride of the town. We look forward to sharing the results of Ed Morton’s report.”
Mr Morton, managing director of The Morton Partnership, added: “It’s been a privilege to be up close to such a vast and historic Victorian structure over the past two days. The hotel was obviously built to exacting standards with no expense spared on architectural details inside and out, from the decorative stone detailing at roof level down to what looks to possibly be the original lift of the 1880s running through the main staircase.”
SAVE has been campaigning to rescue and bring life back to the hotel since 2016. In August 2022, they published a report setting out plans to repair and transform the building. Five possible options for reuse ranged from a boutique hotel and events venue to flexible office space and new station facilities.
The hotel has been listing since 2018, when South Ayrshire Council were forced to step in and encapsulate the building with scaffolding whilst slapping a Dangerous Building Notice on the structure. The encasement is costing the taxpayer more than £60,000 per month.
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