Pedestrian routes around Glasgow Central Station have finally reopened to the public following the devastating Union Street fire earlier this year.
Pavements along the entire north side of Gordon Street reopened at 1pm today after being closed off since the blaze in March.
The reopening means commuters and visitors no longer need to take lengthy detours via Drury Street or Renfield Lane when travelling to and from the city’s busiest railway station.
Local food businesses on Gordon Street were also granted controlled access earlier this week, allowing owners to remove spoiled stock and begin cleaning and inspecting premises ahead of reopening.
Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, described the move as a major step forward in the area’s recovery.
He said: “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.
View 3 ImagesNewly released photos have shown the corner façade coming down at the site of the Union Street fire(Image: GCC)
“Given the proximity to Central Station, these are among the busiest pavements in the country and this will be welcomed by those forced to take detours to and from the station.
“The recovery of Union Street is a major priority for the city, and work is already underway to chart a way forward for the future of the street and the wider Central Station area. That’s going to be a long process, but Glaswegians will be glad to see this major milestone towards recovery.”
The council said local businesses have also been supported by refuse and environmental health teams as they prepare to reopen in the coming weeks.
View 3 ImagesFire at vape shop beside Central Station.(Image: X)
Meanwhile, progress has also been made on stabilising the gable wall on the western side of the fire-hit site, with work to fill voids in the structure expected to begin shortly.
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Councillor Millar added: “I’d like to thank the affected businesses for their patience, and hope that the reopening of the pedestrian areas assists businesses in returning to normal as quickly as possible.”
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