Works to demolish the Station Hotel in Ayr has been halted amid claims the building's absentee owner is planning to challenge South Ayrshire Council in court. 

Property tycoon Sunny Ung, also known as Eng Haut Ung, is set to take on South Ayrshire Council in court, according to the Daily Record.

The Malaysian businessman is reportedly accusing the council of demolishing the hotel without giving him proper notice following the devastating fire in September last year.

It's believed that the case will be heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday.

Train services through the station remain suspended, and most of the southern section, which suffered the worst damage in September's fire, has already been razed to the ground.

South Ayrshire Council recently announced that it had taken the decision, on safety grounds, to demolish what's left of the tower as well as part of the northern section of the building.

The authority was hoping to complete demolition work by June 17. 

The local authority has been pulling down the building under Section 29 of the Dangerous Buildings (Scotland) Act, which gives them powers to bring down a site in the interest of public safety. 

Ung bought the hotel in 2010 for £750,000, reportedly with the intention of converting it into student residences. 

His account on the social media site Instagram documents his love of designer clothes, travel, luxury watches and high-end cars, with barely a mention of his connection to Ayr.

In November the local authority's chief executive, Mike Newall, said the council had "made numerous attempts to contact him", but that Ung "doesn't accept any correspondence" and hadn't been in touch with the council at all.

In 2021, Councillor Peter Henderson, who at the time was the local authority's leader, said the hotel’s owner owed the council £1.2 million for work carried out on the building.

A council spokesperson said: "Mr Ung has petitioned the Court of Session for the safety works to stop at the former Station Hotel.

"Work has been temporarily suspended until a hearing at the Court of Session on Friday.”

Allan Dorans, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, said: "I understand that after a number of years of non communication with South Ayrshire Council that Mr Ung has now commenced legal proceedings against the council.

"This has stopped further demolition of the fire damaged, derelict building taking place at this time.

"The making safe, maintenance and partial demolition of this building has cost the Council millions of pounds to date.

"South Ayrshire Council has my full support in any legal proceeding particularly if it results in recovering Council Taxpayers money from Mr Ung, which could be better used for the benefit of the people of South Ayrshire."

Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, added: “Unfortunately, I am unable to comment on any ongoing legal matters.

"I do hope the situation with the Station Hotel comes to a resolution as quickly as possible for the sake of my constituents, local businesses, and commuters.”