Ayr Station Hotel fire

Last updated
Ayr Station Hotel Fire
Ayr Station Hotel fire, September 2023.jpg
The building ablaze at late evening, 25 September 2023
Date25–27 September 2023 (2023-09-25 – 2023-09-27)
Time5:37pm (BST)
LocationAyr Station Hotel, Burns Statue Square, Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland, KA7 3AT
Coordinates 55°27′30″N4°37′33″W / 55.4583°N 4.6258°W / 55.4583; -4.6258
Type Fire
CauseDeliberate starting of fire to derelict building
OutcomeThree arrests and charges by Police Scotland
Site transferred to South Ayrshire Council for monitoring and determination of structural integrity
Demolition of south wing of a Listed Building, subject to Historic Environment Scotland approval
Arrests3
Charges3

On 25 September 2023, at 5:37pm, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were first alerted to a fire at the derelict Ayr Station Hotel building, a Category B Listed Building next to Ayr railway station in Ayr, on the west coast of Scotland. [1] Three arrests were made, one 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were arrested shortly after the fire, with a third, another 13-year-old boy, being arrested by Police Scotland on Wednesday 27 September. [2]

Contents

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service returned to the scene on 2 October 2023, following reports of a second fire. [3]

Background

The station hotel building in 2005 21. Station Hotel, Ayr001 1.jpg
The station hotel building in 2005
Much of the building had been wrapped in protective sheeting and scaffolding since 2018. NS3421 - Still No Entry To Ayr Station.jpg
Much of the building had been wrapped in protective sheeting and scaffolding since 2018.

Ayr Station Hotel was designed by Scottish engineer Andrew Galloway and opened in 1885. The hotel had become a symbol of Ayr, and had become best used for wedding receptions and other functions. By 2023, the building was owned by Eng Huat Un, a Malaysian businessman, who bought the hotel in 2010, and by 2013, the hotel had closed permanently due to a period of low use. The closure was initially thought to be for refurbishment purposes, but no Planning or Listed Building Consents were ever received to South Ayrshire Council. [4] Shortly after closure, members of the public began expressing concern for the building's poor condition, and had advocated for the building to be included on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. The building was formally deemed to be "at risk" and was placed on the register in September 2014. [5] The building was wrapped in protective scaffolding and measures were taken to encapsulate the building from the public. The measures and erection of protective scaffolding to prevent parts of the building from crumbling and landing in the surrounding area were estimated to be costing taxpayers £52,000 per month. [6]

The building had become a target for break-ins which had heightened concerns about the state of the building, with serious water leaks and parts of the hotel in a perilous condition. [7] A fire occurred at the building in May 2023, with two teenage boys arrested and charged in connection with the fire. [8]

There had been much public debate and speculation regarding the condition of the building, and South Ayrshire Council and the absent owner of the building in Malaysia reaching a stalemate over the future of the building. Months prior to the fire occurring, charity group Save Britain's Heritage were commissioned to carry out a structural assessment on the condition of the building. The report, which was made public on September 14, days prior to the fire, found the building to be "in much better condition than previously thought" and that it was "perfectly practical" to repair the building and bring it back into some form of use. The report also estimated repair costs to the building standing at £9.2 million, compared to the £6.6 million estimated by South Ayrshire Council for demolishing the southern section of the building which had been proposed. [9] Save Britain's Hertitage who carried out the report and had been campaigning since 2016 to save the building and restore it back into use said it was "devastated" following the fire, and advocated for an "urgent survey" to be carried out to determine the impact the fire had on the structural integrity of the building and whether it could be saved. [10]

The fire

25 September

Ayr Fire Station had specialist high rise fire fighting equipment removed one month prior to the fire. Ayr Fire Station - geograph.org.uk - 2785584.jpg
Ayr Fire Station had specialist high rise fire fighting equipment removed one month prior to the fire.

On Monday 25 September 2023, at 5:37pm, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received the first report of a fire at the Station Hotel and quickly arrived on scene. Operations control of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had mobilised 15 fire fighting appliances at the scene at the height of the fire, and members of the public were advised to keep away from the area as well as keeping all windows and doors closed to prevent smoke from the fire entering homes and public spaces. [11] The local fire department, Ayr Station, were forced to wait for 20 minutes for specialist high rise fire fighting equipment to arrive from Kilmarnock, approximately 14 miles (23 km) away, as, following budget cuts, the high rise equipment was removed from Ayr station one month prior to the fire happening. [12] The Fire Brigades Union criticised this decision to remove the equipment, with Colin Brown, Scottish Executive Council member of the Fire Brigade Union, saying that the decision was "endangering the lives of firefighters” Brown further added that "the fire at the Station Hotel Ayr is the latest example of the madness of the cuts being imposed on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. At a time when fire appliances and high reach vehicles have been withdrawn this huge fire meant that fire appliances were called from across the South and West of Scotland leaving communities behind with little or no cover should another incident have occurred at the same time. Surely, with this incident Siobhian Brown can see that the cuts she is overseeing are endangering the lives of firefighters and the communities they serve.” [13]

Rail operator ScotRail, responsible for Ayr railway station next to the Station Hotel, had cancelled all trains in and out of Ayr railway station due to safety concerns. Replacement buses were commissioned, with trains between Glasgow Central railway station and Ayr having to begin and terminate at Kilwinning railway station as a result of the fire and the impact on railway services. [14]

Local MSP for Ayr, Siobhan Brown, also serves in the Scottish Government as Minister for Victims and Community Safety, and is responsible for overseeing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. [15] In an interview with West FM, Brown said that whilst she does not "have a blank cheque", she affirmed that she would be "fighting to ensure the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is properly funded", following criticism received at the decision to remove specialist high rise equipment from Ayr fire station. [16]

26 September

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continued to fight the fire into the early hours of Tuesday morning. By 6:30am on Tuesday morning, the emergency operation had been reduced to three pumps and two high-reach vehicles. Fire crews with an aerial appliance travelled more than 35 miles (56 km) from Castlemilk in Glasgow to assist local firefighters in their response to the continued efforts to extinguish the fire. [17] Rail services continued to be cancelled on Tuesday, with a number of roads in the area surrounding the building being closed, causing significant disruption and delay in Ayr town centre. [18] Rail operator ScotRail announced that they were not expecting to be able to run services to or from Ayr station for "at least the next few days". [19]

27 September

By Wednesday, concerns were growing for the building and fire and rescue operations due to the imminent arrival of Storm Agnes. Fire crews continued to be on site on Wednesday 27 September, three days since the first began, in an attempt to douse the fire. Fire chiefs from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the building would be under close and careful watch as the storm was expected to hit land, and that they had some initial concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building which had already been a concern prior to the fire occurring. A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that fire crews were "likely to remain on scene throughout today (September 27) and tomorrow (September 28). [20]

On 27 September, Police Scotland confirmed a third suspect, a 13 year old boy, had been arrested in connection with the fire. [21]

2 October

Two crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended a second reported fire at the Station Hotel building on 2 October 2023. It was quickly confirmed that crews had left the scene, but the fire service confirmed they would send appliances to the building later that evening to "ensure the fire does not return". [22]

Aftermath

By 28 September, emergency response units from both the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland were preparing to stand down, allowing the site to formally be handed over to South Ayrshire Council. In a statement, South Ayrshire Council said "the site will be handed over to the Council today to allow our Building Standards team to begin to carry out safety works. Fencing will be erected around the site to create a secure compound for the duration of the safety works. It's too early to say how long these works will last for, and we will provide a further update when more information becomes available. 24 hour security will be in place at the site. We anticipate that more roads around the site will be able to re-open from today and we'll issue information about this when we know more." [23] By September 29, the building and site was formally handed over to South Ayrshire Council by the emergency services, with the council confirming that the councils building standards team had secured the area. The owner of the Station Hotel, who lives in Malaysia, has not contacted the council, with the council instead attempting to make contact with him.

South Ayrshire Council confirmed that safety works will begin on Monday 4 October.

It was deemed to be unsafe to access the building, therefore, drone footage and high level access platforms were used to undertake structural inspections of the condition of the building. South Ayrshire Council anticipated that the first drone inspection will take place on 29 September. [24]

Following review of drone footage used to gain access to the building, it was confirmed that the building was in an unstable condition and that demolition could occur "within days". [25] Any request for demolition would require to be approved by Historic Environment Scotland due to the buildings listed building status. [26]

Reaction

The fire led to mixed reactions from locals, many of whom had deemed the building an "eyesore" in the town and that the fire and destruction of the building being "only a matter of time". Many locals said that they would "not be surprised" if the Category B listed building was demolished, with one eyewitness saying "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". Another claimed he was "speechless at the devastation", with another claiming "it was an eyesore but it still feels a bit sad". [27]

Demolition

Demolition progress at the Station Hotel, January 2024 NS3421 - Station Hotel demolition.jpg
Demolition progress at the Station Hotel, January 2024

By the end of September 2023, South Ayrshire Council had confirmed that whilst the building was still unsafe for entry, drone footage confirmed that the fire had caused "extensive damage" to the structure of the building, with "external walls of the southern section may be at risk of falling". At that time, South Ayrshire Council had not concluded its next steps regarding a full or partial demotion of the building. [28] By December 2023, demolition work began at the Station Hotel, with contractors beginning work onsite to demolish the gable end wall at the southern section of the hotel. Local reaction to the demolition was mixed, with one local claiming they were "sad to see it go" but claiming that the demolition of the vacant building was "long overdue". [29]

Campaign group, Save Britain's Heritage, said they were "shocked at the level of demolition" of the building. In a statement, a spokesperson for the group said that "we have requested South Ayrshire Council urgently make public all the advice and reports relied on to justify the current level of demolition of Ayr Station Hotel, as well as their plans for the remainder of the south wing, the north wing of the hotel which was largely unaffected by the fire, and the ornate glass and steel station canopy". In response, South Ayrshire Council defended its demolition decision, stating that "the condition of the southern section is being continually assessed and safety works will continue until the building is no longer a danger to the public or the surrounding infrastructure. Those working on the site are best placed to assess the condition of the building". [30]

By January and February 2024, most of the southern wing of the building had been demolished, leading for calls of "transparency and preservation" of the building and its associated demolition works. In January 2024, Save Britain’s Heritage, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS), Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, Ayr Station Hotel Community Action Group, Ayr Development Trust, Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Ayrshire Architectural Heritage Trust were signatories of a letter to Chief Executive of South Ayrshire Council, Mike Newall, calling for "the need for South Ayrshire Council to make public their plans for the remaining elements of the hotel". The letter claims that in Scots law, there is an obligation which would make it necessary for the council to consider various and different options in order to "ensure the safety of the listed building before resorting to demolition". [31]

Suspects

Police Scotland arrested two suspects, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy in connection with the incident shortly after the fire began. A third suspect, a 13-year-old boy, was arrested and charged in connection with the incident on Wednesday 27 September. Police Scotland stated that each of the three suspects "will be sent to the relevant authorities" and a report made in connection to each arrest. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumfries and Galloway</span> Council area of Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway is one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, located in the western part of the Southern Uplands. It is bordered by East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and South Lanarkshire to the north; Scottish Borders to the north-east; the English ceremonial county of Cumbria, the Solway Firth, and the Irish Sea to the south, and the North Channel to the west. The administrative centre and largest settlement is the town of Dumfries. The second largest town is Stranraer, located 76 miles (122 km) to the west of Dumfries on the North Channel coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Ayrshire</span> Council area of Scotland

South Ayrshire is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire. South Ayrshire had an estimated population in 2021 of 112,450, making it the 19th–largest subdivision in Scotland by population. With an area of 472 sq mi, South Ayrshire ranks as the 15th largest subdivision in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr</span> Administrative centre and town in Scotland

Ayr is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. A former royal burgh, today it is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Council, and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With a population of 46,982, Ayr is the 15th largest settlement in Scotland and second largest town in Ayrshire by population. The town is contiguous with the smaller town of Prestwick to the north. Ayr submitted unsuccessful bids for city status in 2000 and 2002, and as part of the wider South Ayrshire area in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Prestwick Airport</span> Airport in Scotland, UK

Glasgow Prestwick Airport, commonly referred to as Prestwick Airport, is an international airport serving the west of Scotland, situated one nautical mile northeast of the town of Prestwick Scotland, and 32 miles southwest of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the less busy of the two airports serving the western part of Scotland's Central Belt, after Glasgow Airport in Renfrewshire, within the Greater Glasgow conurbation. The airport serves the urban cluster surrounding Ayr, including Kilmarnock, Irvine, Ardrossan, Troon, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning, and Prestwick itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilmarnock</span> Burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland

Kilmarnock is a town and former burgh in East Ayrshire situated in southwest Scotland. The town has served as the administrative centre of East Ayrshire Council since 1996 and is the region's main commercial and industrial centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girvan</span> Burgh in South Ayrshire, Scotland

Girvan is a burgh and harbour town in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Girvan is situated on the east coast of the Firth of Clyde, with a population of about 6,450. It lies 21 miles (34 km) south of Ayr, and 29 miles (47 km) north of Stranraer, the main ferry port from Scotland to Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathclyde</span> Former local government region of Scotland

Strathclyde was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. The Strathclyde region had 19 districts. The region was named after the early medieval Kingdom of Strathclyde centred on Govan, but covered a broader geographic area than its namesake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troon</span> Town and sea port in Scotland

Troon is a town and sea port in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Troon has a port with ferry and freight services, and a yacht marina. Up until January 2016, P&O operated a seasonal ferry service to Larne. In May 2006, a ferry service to Campbeltown was added, although this was withdrawn the following year. Since March 2024, Caledonian MacBrayne have operated a ferry service to Brodick on the Isle of Arran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestwick</span> Town and former royal burgh in Scotland

Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr to the south on the Firth of Clyde coast, the centre of which is about two miles south, and the small village of Monkton to the north. It had a population of 14,901 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranraer railway station</span> Railway station in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Stranraer railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The station is 94.5 miles (151 km) southwest of Glasgow and is the terminus of the Glasgow South Western Line. It has two platforms and is staffed on a part-time basis. Stranraer station remains owned by Stena Line and not Network Rail

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troon railway station</span> Railway station in South Ayrshire, Scotland

Troon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr railway station</span> Railway station in South Ayrshire, Scotland

Ayr railway station serves the town of Ayr in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is situated in Smith Street, off Burns Statue Square. The station, which is managed by ScotRail, is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 41+1⁄2 miles (66.8 km) south-west of Glasgow Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girvan railway station</span> Railway station in South Ayrshire, Scotland

Girvan railway station is a railway station serving the town of Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail, who operate all passenger services from there. It is on the Ayr to Stranraer section of the Glasgow South Western Line and is situated 62 miles south of Glasgow Central. It has two platforms and is the location of one of the five passing loops on the single track line between Dalrymple Junction and Stranraer. Immediately south of the station, the line climbs steeply towards Pinmore tunnel – the climb is known as the Glendoune Bank and has a ruling gradient of 1 in 54.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centrum Arena (Prestwick)</span> Former ice hockey arena in South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

The Centrum Arena was a 2,733 seat ice arena in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland that opened on 25 August 1996. The arena was used during the winter months for recreational ice skating and ice hockey matches. In the summer months, the arena was used for various events such as the Chinese State Circus. The Centrum was famous as being the home of the Ayr Scottish Eagles ice hockey club from 1996 until 2002. The building was located at 125 Ayr Road on public land and was demolished in 2009. Today the site is occupied by a supermarket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marr College</span> School in Troon, Scotland

Marr College is a co-educational secondary school in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is owned by the Marr Trust and is operated by South Ayrshire Council which was transferred to then Strathclyde Regional Council in 1975, with South Ayrshire Council being responsible for the school's educational provision. The school was gifted to the town of Troon by Charles Kerr Marr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 South Ayrshire Council election</span> South Ayrshire Council election

Elections to South Ayrshire Council took place on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Fire and Rescue Service</span> National fire and rescue service of Scotland

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is the national fire and rescue service of Scotland. It was formed by the merger of eight regional fire services in the country on 1 April 2013. It thus became the largest fire brigade in the United Kingdom, surpassing the London Fire Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STV2</span> Scottish local television network

STV2 was a British local television network in Scotland, operating five city-based TV licences serving Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Ayr. It was owned and operated by STV Group plc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Grant (politician)</span> Scottish politician

William Grant is a Scottish Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock UK Parliamentary constituency from June 2017 to November 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Ayrshire Council election</span> South Ayrshire Council election

Elections to South Ayrshire Council took place on 5 May 2022 on the same day as the 31 other Scottish local government elections. As with other Scottish council elections, it was held using single transferable vote (STV) – a form of proportional representation – in which multiple candidates are elected in each ward and voters rank candidates in order of preference.

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish Fire and Rescue Service statement". Facebook. Ayrshire Daily News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ayr station hotel fire: Third teenager arrested over blaze". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Fire crews attend blaze at derelict hotel for second week in a row". STV News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Station Hotel, Ayr". Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Station Hotel, Ayr". Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Station Hotel in Ayr could cost taxpayer £50 million if left for next 30 years". Daily Record. Daily Record. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Station Hotel in Ayr could cost taxpayer £50 million if left for next 30 years". Daily Record. Daily Record. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Two 17-Year-Old Teens Charged Following Station Hotel Ayr Fire". Ayrshire Daily News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ayr Station Hotel 'game-changing' report from SAVE campaign". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ayr Station Hotel fire is 'tragic day for historic buildings in Scotland,' say SAVE Britain's Heritage". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Fire Service Update". Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Response to Ayr hotel fire proves 'madness' of fire service cuts". STV News. STV News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "Response to Ayr hotel fire proves 'madness' of fire service cuts". STV News. STV News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Glasgow ScotRail services cancelled due to Ayr station hotel fire". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Response to Ayr hotel fire proves 'madness' of fire service cuts". STV News. STV News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Interview with West FM". X.com. West FM. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Ayr station hotel fire: Commuters hit as blaze burns through night". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Ayr station hotel fire: Residents fear fire-hit hotel will be demolished". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Ayr station hotel fire: Residents fear fire-hit hotel will be demolished". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Storm Agnes fears for Ayr's Station Hotel as fire ravaged building open to elements". Daily Record. Daily Record. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Ayr station hotel: Third teenage boy arrested over fire". The Herald. The Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Fire crews attend blaze at derelict hotel for second week in a row". STV News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Ayr Station Hotel Fire - Update". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "Former Ayr Station Hotel Fire - Update". South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Station Hotel demolition set to be approved 'within days'". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  26. ↑ "Station Hotel demolition set to be approved 'within days'". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Ayr station hotel fire: Residents fear fire-hit hotel will be demolished". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "Former Station Hotel - Safety Work Update". www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk. South Ayrshire Council. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  29. ↑ Thom, Ryan (4 December 2023). "Moment walls of historic Ayr Station Hotel are torn down as diggers move in". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  30. ↑ "SAVE group "shocked and surprise" by level of recent demolition at Station Hotel". www.ayradvertiser.com. Ayr Advertiser. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  31. ↑ "AHSS advocates 'transparency and preservation' in Ayr Station Hotel demolition". www.scottishconstructionnow.com. Scottish Construction Now. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  32. ↑ "Third arrest following fire at Station Hotel, Ayr". Police Scotland. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.