A proposal to demolish Kirkcaldy’s old Station Hotel has outraged Kirkcaldy Civic Society.
The century-old building in Bennochy Road has lain derelict since it ceased operating as a care home three years ago and owner Robert Kilgour last month said he had run out of options for it.
But his plans to have Station Court pulled down, which he intends to submit to Fife Council imminently, are set to meet fierce opposition in the town.
Kirkcaldy Civic Society chairwoman Ann Watters said, “We would not want to see it demolished and have tried twice to list it.
“Can you imagine what Kirkcaldy would look like with a hole there? It’s disgraceful to think of demolishing a building that is not that old or been empty for that long compared to many other buildings in the town.
“For people coming out of the railway station, Kirkcaldy would look like a ghost town. A big empty space in a conservation area is not acceptable the civic society would like to see the building in use and is dead against any demolition.”
Mrs Watters said the society would be meeting soon to discuss the issue.
She added, “This is something that will have to be considered very carefully and I would hope that councillors would support the opinion that the building should not be demolished.”
Mr Kilgour, Kirkcaldy-born but based in Monaco, said a recent proposal by Kingdom Homes for a care home received planning permission but fizzled due to the recession.
He said there is little interest in it because of the costs of refurbishing a non-listed building.