<\/p>\n
The fire began in a vape shop<\/p>\n
Glasgow\u00a0should\u00a0establish\u00a0a fire recovery fund to help small businesses recover from the devastating Union Street fire, the Federation of Small Businesses says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The FSB is calling for a package of support,\u00a0including\u00a0hardship\u00a0rates relief,\u00a0similar to\u00a0that offered to businesses affected by the Glasgow School of Art and Victoria\u2019s nightclub fires in 2018.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Its request comes as the clean up operation continues in Union Street and Gordon Street where the historic corner building collapsed and forced the closure of this part of the city centre.<\/p>\n
Neighbouring Glasgow Central Station remains closed to high level trains but low level services have resumed.<\/p>\n
Hisashi Kuboyama, FSB\u2019s\u00a0Glasgow\u00a0development manager, said:\u00a0\u201cThe business owners affected are feeling devastated, but they are resilient and very keen to rebuild and restart.\u00a0We need to do all we can to help them do that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Empty: Glasgow Central Station<\/p>\n
\u201cAt FSB, we are offering practical help, including specialist advice on insurance issues. We are asking Glasgow City Council to\u00a0look at a range of measures, including\u00a0hardship\u00a0rates relief,\u00a0to support\u00a0the\u00a0large number\u00a0of\u00a0businesses\u00a0who are being\u00a0affected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the scale of damage and disruption, it is important the Scottish Government also stands ready to\u00a0offer financial support should the impact prove to be long term.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Small businesses in the area are facing\u00a0a number of\u00a0challenges. Around 20 have seen their property destroyed by the blaze, while scores more have been forced to close\u00a0or are otherwise facing severe disruption\u00a0as a result of\u00a0the ongoing emergency and public safety\u00a0response.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
A wide range of independent businesses are being affected including\u00a0a high number of cafes,\u00a0restaurants, takeaways,\u00a0hairdressers\u00a0and beauty\u00a0specialists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
FSB Scotland\u00a0is\u00a0calling\u00a0on\u00a0Glasgow City Council\u00a0to put emergency measures in place\u00a0including:\u00a0<\/p>\n
a\u00a0fire recovery fund\u00a0to ensure it can provide\u00a0necessary\u00a0support to small businesses affected<\/p>\n
hardship\u00a0rates relief\u00a0for those affected by\u00a0the fire and disruption,\u00a0<\/p>\n
support for small businesses needing to\u00a0relocate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Mr Kuboyama added:\u00a0 \u201cMany of these businesses will need practical help in the days and\u00a0weeks\u00a0ahead. That might mean help to find suitable new premises through the council\u2019s City Property organisation or speeding up licensing and planning processes to ensure they can quickly\u00a0get back to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBy ensuring this kind\u00a0of support is in place, the council can make a huge difference to these\u00a0businesses\u00a0as they look to bounce back.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Among those affected, Alessandro Varese, who owns the renowned Blue Lagoon chip shop and neighbouring Sexy Coffee, said both were \u201ccompletely destroyed\u201d in the blaze.<\/p>\n
He said another branch of Blue Lagoon on Argyle Street was closed due to smoke damage, while an office on the third floor of the Gordon Street building was also wrecked by the fire.<\/p>\n
He said he wanted all the business owners in the block to \u201cstick together\u201d and rebuild.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good thing was that nobody got hurt,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s so important that we stick together, because it\u2019s such a prominent spot in the city, that everybody comes together to rebuild and reopen so we can all try and get back to business.\u201d<\/p>\n
First Minister John Swinney, who visited the site, indicated there could be a crackdown on the sale of vapes after the fire began in a vape shop.<\/p>\n
\t #Call #business #support #devastating #blaze #Daily #Business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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