Ancient monuments, dating back to Pictish times, could form the centrepiece of a new-look Deeside station.
Aberdeenshire Council has suggested moving the Tullich Kirk symbol stones into a revamped Ballater’s Royal Station, which was devastated by a huge blaze last May.
However, the idea has been received with a mixed reaction by locals – some of whom want the monuments to return to their churchyard home.
Last week, the local authority revealed £3million proposals to restore the station – which was famously used by Queen Victoria on her trips to Balmoral – as a community facility and square.
The symbol stones were located at Tullich Kirk for many years before being removed for specialist stone conservation, and are currently in storage in Mintlaw.
The idea is at an early stage and is being put before the Marr area committee next week.
Following that meeting, another consultation could be launched and support for the proposal sought from Historic Environment Scotland.
If the scheme gains approval, the iconic stones could be located in a new exhibition space at the station.
Chairman of the Ballater Heritage Society, Alistair Cassie, said he hoped they would go back to Tullich Kirk – which itself is hundreds of years old – to attract visitors.
He added: “They were taken out of the kirk yard a number of years ago. Nobody knew where they were. I think artefacts pertaining to the station should stay in the station, but things like that should be in the kirk yard where they were.”
Vice-chairman of Ballater and Crathie Community Council, Jim Anderson, said the group would discuss the plans at its meeting next week.
But he stated: “They have more chance of being seen and admired if they are somewhere busier [than a church yard].”
The report to councillors declares: “If moved to Ballater, a location within the Royal Station would provide a dry and secure site which could be lit to show the stones to their best advantage.
“It is also thought more people would see the stones. By locating the stones indoors, the need for recurrent cleaning would be negated.”
The proposals for the Royal Station have been lodged to the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the council hopes to begin work on the project within six months.
The goal is to have the station reopened by winter, 2017.
