Ayr Station Hotel works delayed after north section probe uncovers 'severe damage'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Works on the burnt out Station Hotel shell will be delayed for a further month after 'severe damage' was discovered in the surviving northern section, council chiefs have confirmed.Specialist crews working at the Ayr site have discovered further blaze damage in the surviving north section.

Now officials fear they may have to tear down part of the tower - which collapsed during the inferno last September.A structural inspection was recently carried out on the northern wing where teams discovered badly burnt floor joists and a severely damaged wooden support beam.

Council bosses say the damaged beam is one of the main structural supports for the tower and have admitted that "part of this structure may need to be removed."Officials say they will have to further investigate the problem but they say the latest find will have an impact on the completion date of the safety works.

It comes after they told how they were on track to finish the demolition works by March, but it now appears the work will continue until April.The vast majority of the southern section has been left flattened with just a small section adjoining to the station canopies remaining.