Pedestrian access around Glasgow Central Station has been further widened following the major fire on Union Street that occurred in early March. Glasgow City Council announced on Thursday that the north pavement along the full length of Gordon Street is now open to the public, eliminating the need for detours via Drury Street or Renfield Lane.
Recovery Milestone
Angus Millar, the council's convener for city centre recovery, described the reopening as a significant milestone in the ongoing recovery effort. "It's absolutely necessary for the vitality of the city centre that people can see that it's open for business, and the reopening of these key pedestrian routes following the Union Street fire helps that," he said. Given the proximity to Central Station, these pavements are among the busiest in the country, and the change will be welcomed by those who had to take detours to and from the station.
Business Support
Earlier in the week, affected food businesses were granted controlled access to remove spoiled goods and clean their premises ahead of reopening. The council continues to work with impacted residents and firms as recovery progresses over the coming weeks and months. A multimillion-pound fund was established in late March to support businesses affected by the blaze.
Structural Progress
Significant progress has been made on stabilising the gable wall on the western side of the fire-affected site, with work to fill voids on the wall expected to begin shortly. The fire, which started in a vape shop on Union Street on Sunday, March 8, spread through the building and around the corner, leaving only the facade of Forsyth House, a B-listed Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street. That facade has since been demolished.
Glasgow Central Station was closed for several days after the fire, partially reopening on March 18 and fully reopening all platforms on March 25. More than 70 businesses lost their premises, while dozens more were unable to operate due to the safety cordon. Mr. Millar thanked affected businesses for their patience and expressed hope that the reopened pedestrian areas will help them return to normal as quickly as possible.
