This is the first look at £3million plans to rebuild an historic Deeside landmark destroyed in a huge blaze last year.
Aberdeenshire Council yesterday lodged proposals to restore Ballater’s fire-hit Old Royal Station back to its former glory – vowing to begin work within six months.
If the plans are backed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), the station would be redeveloped as a community facility forming part of a village square.
Last night, locals welcomed the news that their “centrepiece” attraction could soon be attracting visitors again, and said it would be a “highlight” after a turbulent year.
The station, which housed a museum – and a replica of the royal carriage used by Queen Victoria on her trips to nearby Balmoral – restaurant and tourist information centre was devastated when the fire broke out on May 12 last year.
More than 50 firefighters battled the blaze for six hours, and although they could not salvage much of the wooden building, they miraculously managed to save the royal carriage and part of the royal waiting room.
Both will become a key focal point for the revamped station, alongside a new exhibition space extending along the old platform, taking the form of railway sheds.
A VisitScotland information centre, public library and restaurant will also be built.
A new-look public square outside the station, linking to the nearby Victoria and Albert Halls, will also be created.
It is hoped the revamped station, which dates back to 1866, will be fully opened come Christmas 2017.
The blaze had a knock-on effect on businesses in the village last year, with less visitors stopping by.
And in a second blow for the village last year, hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged when the River Dee burst its banks during Storm Frank.
Last night Richard Watts, chairman of the Ballater Business Association said if all goes to plan the station’s reopening could be “the highlight of 2017”.
He added: “We would like it back for Victoria Week 2017, that would be an amazing achievement.
“I think things are looking quite optimistic now, the shops are reopening after the floods, the Darroch Learg is due to start again this summer; there is much more of a positive buzz about and the station will be the icing on the cake.”
John Sinclair, co-owner of HM Sheridans butchers on Ballater’s Bridge Street, said: “That is a year now since it took place. It has taken a hell of a long time to get it going again, but it is obviously going to help the village when it does.”
He added the butchers was one of the many local stores hit by the downturn following the fire.
“We supplied the restaurant up there,” he said. “That was a blow. You’d go up to the station on a Saturday morning and the place would be hoaching with people. It did make a difference.
“But here things are starting to look a wee bit more like a high street again.”
Fellow Bridge Street businessman and chairman of the Ballater Heritage Society, Alistair Cassie, said: “It is just over a year since it was burnt and there has been nothing in the way of construction since.
“It is just one of the attractions in Ballater. It will help having it back. The station is very important. It is really part of the culture and the way of life.”
Vice-chairman of the Ballater and Crathie Community Council, Jim Anderson, said: “It will be good to see it rebuilt, it is a bit of an eyesore at the minute with the big tent over it.
“I don’t understand why it has taken them so long. But the more we can get going in the village the better. Ballater is going to be back better than ever.”
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside SNP councillor, Geva Blackett, said: “We will have a visitor facility and library fit for the 21st century and have a much loved cafe back again too.
“I am keeping my fingers crossed that the building will be open as quickly as possible.”
The council’s Marr area manager, Janelle Clark, said the rebuild was a “key project” which would help the “wider economic recovery of Ballater and the surrounding area”.