Bid to help fire-hit firms
THE first plans to help businesses hit by the Sauchiehall Street fires have been revealed.
A task force will help liaise with insurers and hold meetings between the council and businesses forced to close.
A TASK force set up in the wake of two major Sauchiehall Street fires has announced its first plans to help affected local businesses.
The Sauchiehall Street Task Force met on Monday and now says support will be arranged for those who have lost their jobs.
Among the promises, members have pledged to ensure the Sauchiehall Avenue project goes ahead as quickly as possible.
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said the impact on what is a main Glasgow shopping street has been “one of the biggest challenges to face the city in recent years”.
He said: “The impact upon businesses from these two major incidents has been huge. Even though parts of the street are trading as normal, many shops, restaurants and bars have been forced to close temporarily due to vital restrictions within the safety cordon and others have seen their footfall reduced dramatically.
“It’s hard to underestimate the negative effect this has had on many businesses locally, but the task force is determined to do all it can to alleviate the effects on traders in one of Glasgow’s most important and best-known thoroughfares.”
The task force is made up of the local Business Improvement District, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
A full list of the actions agreed at Monday’s meeting will be shared on the chamber’s website, the BID Facebook page, through on-street ambassadors and on a local traders’ WhatsApp Group, as well as on the main Glasgow City Council website.
They also include liaison with the Association of British Insurers to support local firms having difficulties with business interruption claims; Co-ordinating meetings for Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken and senior officials with businesses inside the safety cordon that have been forced to close; Liaison with Scottish Government regarding business rates for affected businesses; New signage for businesses.
Mr Patrick added: “The sheer scale of the task is enormous, but, having spoken on a daily basis to various council departments, it’s clear they are doing everything humanly possible to mitigate the worst impact on local businesses and residents.
“Whilst no-one is underestimating the sheer scale of the challenge before us, the task force has outlined a number of key priorities to try to minimise the negative impact as much as possible.
“While this work is under way, we encourage the public to continue their support for the traders who have remained open, still choosing to visit Sauchiehall Street and its offering for retail, leisure or entertainment.”
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The council will work with our partners on the task force and all those affected by these tragic fires to ensure that action is taken to make Sauchiehall Street the fantastic city centre location that it should be.”