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Council calls for more regulation on vape shops after Union St fire

BBC A large building on fire on a city streetBBC
The Union Street fire started in a vape shop

Glasgow City Council is set to push for greater regulations on vape shops and storage of lithium-ion batteries following the devastating Union Street fire that wrecked a historic building.

Councillors will call on the Scottish government to strengthen rules around the sale and storage of the products at the first full council meeting since the blaze, which is being held on Thursday.

The SNP, Labour and the Greens are all proposing various motions demanding action to improve safety.

Flames spread through the B-listed Victorian building on Union Corner, next to Central Station, after the fire began in a vape shop at about 15:45 on 8 March.

Among options suggested by councillors include enhanced licensing and planning regimes, increased fire safety requirements and clearer guidance on storage of vaping products.

Council leader Susan Aitken, of the SNP, has called on the Scottish government to "explore bringing forward legislation on the greater regulation of vape products and the storage of lithium Ion batteries".

Her motion notes the council currently has "no regulatory, licensing or planning role in relation to vape products, other than those tobacco control functions which apply to the sale of all nicotine products".

It also pledges to bring forward a new masterplan for the Central Station quarter. This would cover ongoing work, like the proposal to implement a compulsory purchase of the Egyptian Halls building.

Network Rail The Union Corner building is reduced to rubble after a fire in Glasgow. Victorian buildings and street furniture surround the iron and sandstone remains. Network Rail
The Union Corner building was reduced to rubble after the fire

A Union Street fire recovery group has been established to bring together partners from the public and private sector as well as the city's heritage community. They will consider potentially purchasing the Union Corner site.

Bailie Christy Mearns, of the Greens, has put forward a motion which notes growing public concern with the safety and regulation of "certain commercial premises", which includes those selling vaping products.

It calls for regulations to be reviewed and strengthened to ensure the sale of these products is "appropriate for high street settings".

Her motion also asks the council to consider if there are opportunities to "better integrate and share information across different regulatory and departmental 'silos' in respect of businesses who are not complying with their legal and financial responsibilities", like planning, licensing and non-domestic rates."

Thomas Rannachan will present Labour's motion. It calls for a review of council activity relating to the risks of lithium-ion battery fires, and sets out options for "enhancing fire prevention and emergency preparedness measures" within heritage buildings in the city, following several incidents in recent years.

All the motions acknowledge the investigation into the fire is ongoing, but there are concerns that vape products may have contributed to the fire.

Reporting by Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Drew Sandelands.