The Union Street fire has been devastating, not just for those businesses who lost everything in the flames, but for many more in the surrounding area. Its timing, just as the city centre seemed to be showing signs of shaking off its post-Covid struggles, seems particularly cruel.

But if we’re in the market for crumbs of comfort – and I would very much suggest that we are – the debate we’re now having about both the root causes of the disaster and the future of the city centre might prove to be a catalyst for real change.

How do we minimise the risk of something like this happening again?  How do we boost the resilience of local firms to withstand shocks and business disruption outside their control? Do we need a better plan for keeping the city running when a crucial piece of transport infrastructure is suddenly put out of action?

Glasgow urged to look to Italy for inspiration for fire site

Alongside the immediate priorities of supporting those businesses whose premises were destroyed by the fire and getting Central Station fully back up and running, we also need to think about all the small businesses that do so much to bring life to the streets around Scotland’s busiest........

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