Glasgow footfall bounces back after fire but business fears persist

Glasgow city centre is proving "remarkably resilient" after the recent fire in Union Street, according to new statistics. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said the number of people in the city centre every day - including workers and shoppers - was back at normal levels and slightly up on last year. So-called "footfall" - a measure of the number of people entering a shop or shopping area in a given time - fell badly after the fire on 8 March, when train services and local bus routes were badly disrupted. A significant part of Gordon Street and parts of Union Street and Renfield Street remains closed off while work on the ruins continues. The fire destroyed a prominent Victorian building and forced the closure of neighbouring Central Station, the busiest railway hub in Scotland. Businesses directly affected by the fire - including those whose premises were destroyed and those unable to open because of road closures - are entitled to compensation of up to £25,000 from an emergency fund. Business leaders have been watching the situation across the city centre in case customers stayed away from shops, restaurants and other attractions because of the disruption. On Monday 9 March - the day a