Latest News - BT has set a closing date of Thursday 4th June at noon for bids.  Response is high with many interested parties.  The possibility of converting the two former radio station buildings into houses was implied in the sales brochure subject to planning approval.  However housing in the countryside is against Aberdeenshire Council policy.  Any development at the site will have a long road to gaining listed building consent due to public interest in any development in the coastal area.  A key feature of the historic site is the power generator room and this is seen as part of the maritime museum area.

Welcome to our newly renovated maritme radio halls located at Dunnottar, Stonehaven.  We have a coastal radio museum, ships radio room, television interview studio, broadcasting of radio & TV programmes, summer art lessons, meeting rooms for community groups, public internet and tearoom.  Unfortunately that is all only a dream at present.  The building has boards across the window space where only glass remnants remain,  internal fittings are damaged or missing, and a feeling of dampness chills your bones. 

Stonehaven Maritime Radio Heritage Halls, a new charitable company, aim to purchase and renovate the building which was previously known as Stonehaven Radio.  Architects have been instructed to undertake a feasibility study of our intentions for the building. Also we intend to carry out a study of the community benefits and budget costs for the radio museum and community halls. If you have any suggestions and/or you live near Stonehaven please send us a message via the contact page.  We welcome you to get involved in this project.  Meetings in a local hall will be arranged for interested persons.

It is important that we have a viable business plan and deliver facilities to existing and new community organisations.  A local property developer has provided an experienced architect team to assist us. 

See the videos about maritime radio stations:

Wick Radio 1960's  click here

Portishead Radio 1960's click here

Ideas for community use - Proposed Climbing Wall   click here 

BT (British Telecommunications PLC) and Telereal have decided to market the former coastal maritime radio station located at Stonehaven which was the birth place of Baron Reith first director general of the BBC.  The building owners have decided to maximise their income by selling on the open market rather than assist the community group to save it as a maritime museum.

The office of Ian Livingston, chief executive officer of BT, rejected recent appeals for the maritime museum and community facilities. See the photographs below which show typical interior damage.  This building was in pristine condition.  An embarressed BT/Telereal have brushed up the debris.  Sir Mike Rake BT GROUP  chairman should come to Stonehaven to see this mess.

It is hard to comprehend how a major company like BT has allowed a listed building to degrade and then remain in a shocking condition whilst BT protrays itself as an exemplory organisation with a charitable community face.  The law protecting listed buildings does not require the owner to undertake normal maintenance.  If vandals smash down walls, rip out kitchen fittings and destroy important architectural components it is ridiculous that owners who have building insurance are not required to undertake repairs.  The Scottish goverment agency Historic Scotland has regulations which only take effect as remedies of last resort. The Aberdeenshire Council planning office at Stonehaven, which has responsibility for this category C(S) listed building in January 2009 only looked at the building externals rather than the internal condition.  Open door / windows were boarded up by owner representatives within the required fourteen days. 

New Scottish Government Culture Minister Mike Russell MSP has been brought up-to-speed on the heritge project at BT PLC Stonehaven Radio Station. 

More Later

This website is dedicated to the community effort to save the redundant radio station for the benefit of the inhabitants of Stonehaven and rural surroundings.

“BT Maritime Coastal Radio Station – Stonehaven”

Unfortunately the BT corporate policy is to maximise profits rather than assist in the preservation of a heritage site.

Since summer 2007 Sir Robert Smith MP has written to Sir Christopher Bland (previous chairman of BT) and Mike Rumbles MSP has written to Linda Fabiani MSP (responsible minister for Historic Scotland) concerning the redundant radio station. BT is such a large organisation that correspondence is deflected by administrators and those with ultimate responsibility do not understand what is happening. 

A charity, Stonehaven Maritime Radio Heritage Halls, has been formed and plans were being made.  An Options Appraisal study was being arranged; conservation qualified architects have quoted to undertake feasibility work; and a marketing consultant sourced to identify a sustainable future for the site.  In December 2008 BT estate management blocked this effort to identify all possible future uses for the site.

In February 2009 an early day motion was made by Sir Robert Smith MP in the House of Commons concerning the radio station.  It was signed by fifteen MPs.

In March 2009 a motion was made by Maureen Watt MSP in the Scottish Parliament concerning the radio station.  It was signed by eleven MSPs.

Funding / grants to purchase and renovate the radio station would come from residents, industrial companies, lottery distributors, local authority and national charitable bodies. 

Enjoy browsing our website and learning all about the history of the Radio Station and what our plans are for the future. 

All donations are welcome as we try to save this important heritage site and improve the community facilities in Stonehaven.