DOWN IN FLAMES
Business owner hits out as struggling firms demand support from city council
A SHOPKEEPER has said Sauchiehall Street’s businesses are being ‘left to burn’.
A call has gone out for Glasgow City Council to do more to help the city centre after two devastating fires.
The Art School was on fire, it’s been put out but the local economy has been left to burn
SAUCHIEHALL Street businesses have been left to burn after two devastating fires ravaged the once-bustling area, a local businessman has said.
Paul Evangelista has hit out at the lack of support from Glasgow City Council after his business, Sauchiehall Street Barbers and Absolut Hair and Beauty, were locked down within the exclusion zone following the Glasgow School of Art (GSoA)fire earlier this month.
Despite being “the only lucky one” who was able to set up a temporary shop elsewhere, the 39-year-old is terrified the area will be destroyed if something is not done to protect businesses in the exclusion zone.
“The Art School was on fire, it’s been put out but the local economy has been left to burn and it’s still burning. It’s on fire,” Paul said.
“It’s just going to burn away until there’s nothing left if something isn’t done.
“The message is simple: we need help and we need it now.”
He added: “These buildings are beautiful and they’re landmarks i n this city, they’re part of the soul of our street.
“People’s livelihoods are at stake here, this is like a human tragedy.
“There are over 300 people whose jobs are affected alone, not including people who have been put out of their homes.”
Paul said he started a frantic search for information after being told he could not access his shop following news the GSoA was on fire for the second time in four years.
Fearing for his staff’s livelihoods, Paul, from Renfrewshire, attempted to call a dedicated hotline for businesses set up by Glasgow City Council, but claims it was out of order.
He then attempted to find council personnel he had been informed were contacting businesses directly to discuss the fire, but, he says, no one ever got in touch.
Eventually, he came to rely on newspapers and customers for information, which he’s branded an “absolute disgrace”.
“We’re on our own, there’s no support,” Paul said.
“We’ve heard it mentioned there’s been business officers about but no one has come to see me. I’ve had to do everything on my own.
“I want someone to get all the business owners together and explain exactly what’s happening. We’re absolutely powerless to what’s going on.”
Paul’s shops took a hit when a massive section of the busy street was closed following the Victoria’s Nightclub fire in March, but the GSoA fire on June 15 has been “a different ball game”.
And he fears his neighbours’ businesses will not survive, as so few are able to set up a temporary home as he has done, bringing an end to independent retailers on the street.
He said: “It’s an absolute nightmare. I’ve been running a business up there for nearly 19 years and I’m not allowed any access to my property.
“I’m lucky I’ve managed to relocate, although I’ve had to move heaven and earth to do it and the cost is up in the thousands to do something like this.
“There’s been no information, no one has a clue what’s going on – it’s absolutely shocking.
“We’re the only business from the exclusion zone that has been able to move, the others might not survive.
“In all my years in business I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before.”
Paul’s premises have stood at 281 Sauchiehall Street, directly across from the O2 ABC, for 19 years but were forced to move to 408 Sauchiehall Street last week.
Staff have managed to contact the majority of their loyal customers, but that vital passing trade Sauchiehall Street was once famous for is gone due to exclusion zones surrounding the Mackintosh Building and Victoria’s Nightclub.
Investigators have not yet identified a cause for the fire but Paul is determined businesses deserve answers to ensure it never happens again.
A council spokesman said: “We are doing all that we can to support businesses and residents affected by the fire, with a team from the council on hand at the Glasgow Dental School to offer support and advice – including the possibility of access to other premises elsewhere in the city – and they continue to work with those affected.
“We would ask anyone still looking for help to approach our team if they have not already done so.
“The exclusion zone has been put in place to protect people and property, and while it is of course very frustrating not to be able to access your home or place of work, it must be understood that the zone surrounds buildings at risk.
He added: “We understand the challenges that businesses currently face in this part of Sauchiehall Street, and prior to the fire at The Glasgow School of Art, were creating the Sauchiehall Avenue which will, when complete, make Sauchiehall Street a very attractive destination for people to live, work, study, visit and invest in.”