Glasgow should establish a fire recovery fund to help small businesses recover from the devastating Union Street fire, the Federation of Small Businesses says.
The FSB is calling for a package of support, including hardship rates relief, similar to that offered to businesses affected by the Glasgow School of Art and Victoria’s nightclub fires in 2018.
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.
Neighbouring Glasgow Central Station remains closed to high level trains but low level services have resumed.
Hisashi Kuboyama, FSB’s Glasgow development manager, said: “The business owners affected are feeling devastated, but they are resilient and very keen to rebuild and restart. We need to do all we can to help them do that.
“At FSB, we are offering practical help, including specialist advice on insurance issues. We are asking Glasgow City Council to look at a range of measures, including hardship rates relief, to support the large number of businesses who are being affected.
“Given the scale of damage and disruption, it is important the Scottish Government also stands ready to offer financial support should the impact prove to be long term.”
Small businesses in the area are facing a number of challenges. Around 20 have seen their property destroyed by the blaze, while scores more have been forced to close or are otherwise facing severe disruption as a result of the ongoing emergency and public safety response.
A wide range of independent businesses are being affected including a high number of cafes, restaurants, takeaways, hairdressers and beauty specialists.
FSB Scotland is calling on Glasgow City Council to put emergency measures in place including:
- a fire recovery fund to ensure it can provide necessary support to small businesses affected
- hardship rates relief for those affected by the fire and disruption,
- support for small businesses needing to relocate.
Mr Kuboyama added: “Many of these businesses will need practical help in the days and weeks ahead. That might mean help to find suitable new premises through the council’s City Property organisation or speeding up licensing and planning processes to ensure they can quickly get back to work.
“By ensuring this kind of support is in place, the council can make a huge difference to these businesses as they look to bounce back.”
Among those affected, Alessandro Varese, who owns the renowned Blue Lagoon chip shop and neighbouring Sexy Coffee, said both were “completely destroyed” in the blaze.
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.
He said he wanted all the business owners in the block to “stick together” and rebuild.
“The good thing was that nobody got hurt,” he said. “It’s so important that we stick together, because it’s 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.”
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.
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