Councillors meet to discuss work to rebuild fire-hit Ballater station

Councillors are today being updated on plans to rebuild a historic Aberdeenshire rail station destroyed in a fire.

Nearly 50 firefighters were called to the Old Royal Station in Ballater in May after a huge fire broke out and devastated the building.

Aberdeenshire Council has vowed to restore the B-listed structure, retaining its original features where possible.

The Marr area committee has met to discuss the progress of the plans to date and will also hear of the full extent of the damage.

Investigations have shown that the waiting room and visitor centre are the only sections of the original station building that can be salvaged.

The building contained a railway museum honouring Queen Victoria’s use of the station on her trips to Balmoral.

It also housed a visitor centre, restaurant and businesses, and was described by the community as the “centrepiece” of the village.

The cost of clearing the site of debris, removing the canopy and installing an enclosure to protect the waiting room is £150,000.