Former Ayr Police Station to be demolished
Ayr town centre will undergo another dramatic change as the former police station on King Street is to be demolished - almost exactly 50 years after it opened.
Police Scotland have confirmed that demolition work will begin in the coming weeks as the deteriorating building is no longer viable to maintain.
Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow said that demolition of the building which housed Ayr's police for almost 50 years was "the most viable option".
Opened in May 1975, Ayr King Street Police Station became a much-loved building that was at the heart of delivering policing services in Ayrshire.
The building's poor condition was discussed at a Scottish Parliament committee in 2019, with officials admitting it was no longer fit for purpose.
A move from the site was first mooted in November 2020 before a temporary closure was needed in October 2021 with some of the 200 officers based at King Street moving to share Newton House with South Ayrshire Council.
The intention at the time was to repair the ailing building which was feared would contain asbestos.
However, this didn't come to pass and Police Scotland announced their intention to base their Ayr operations at Newton House in April 2023.
Newton House was refurbished internally to create a "modern and improved working environment" for officers and staff and for members of the public who attend the station.
A consultation was then launched on the future of the building - as well as the former police stations on Ladyland Road in Maybole and Main Street in Kilwinning - in December 2023.
The consultation found that the building was "perceived to be a deterrent to crime and strategically well placed in a central location" but 83 per cent of respondents agreed to its "disposal".
No decision has yet been taken on whether the land that the soon-to-be-demolished building sits on will be retained by Police Scotland.
Chief Superintendent Chow said: 'Ayr police station had been located at King Street for almost 50 years, however the building has deteriorated over time and required significant investment to meet health and safety standards.
'Following review, it was determined that demolition of the building was the most viable option.
'Work on the demolition will commence in the coming weeks. The safety of the public and contractors is our priority, health and safety measures will be in place throughout the project to minimise disruption to the surrounding area.
'The future of King Street site is currently under review as part of the Estates Masterplan. We are committed to creating an estate that is best for our officers and staff, meets our operational requirements and supports the communities we serve.
'I would like to reassure the local community there will be no change in how incidents are responded to or in the service provided. Officers will continue to maintain a visible presence and deliver a high-quality service.
'Our site at Newton House has significantly improved working conditions for officers and staff. The front counter is open to the public seven days a week from 7am to 11pm.'
'The Ayr King Street consultation report can be found on the Engagement Hub.'
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