THE north side of Gordon Street is to reopen to pedestrians following its closure after the devastating fire on Glasgow Union Street in March.
Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said the decision was another milestone in the continuing recovery of the area – ensuring it was more accessible for those heading to and from Central Station and using the city centre more generally.
He continued, “It’s absolutely necessary for the vitality of the city centre that people can see that its open for business, and the reopening of these key pedestrian routes following the Union Street fire helps that.
“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.”
Controlled access was made available to affected food businesses on Gordon Street this week to allow them to remove any spoiled food and inspect and clean premises ahead of reopening. Support was on hand from the council’s refuse and environmental health teams.
Progress has also been made on the stabilisation of the gable wall on the western side of the fire-affected site, and work to fill voids on the wall will begin very soon.
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.”
Project Scotland spoke to Raymond Barlow, who led Glasgow City Council’s response to the fire, last month. To read the article, click here.
