More than £150,000 has been raised for businesses affected by the recent fire near Glasgow Central Station – as Scotland’s first minister vowed to rebuild the area.
Crowdfunding website GoFundMe said “dozens” of appeals had been launched for firms affected by the blaze, which broke out in Union Street on Sunday.
One business which lost its premises in the blaze, Lucky in Love Tattoos, had more than £21,000 raised for it.
Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney told MSPs in Holyrood on Tuesday: “We will rebuild, we will restore, and Glasgow will flourish again”.
He added: “Above all else, let me be clear today: the Scottish government will stand with the city of Glasgow as it recovers from the fire.
“Given the significant cost the city faces, we will back those costs with cash.
“To get that work started, a ministerial oversight board has been established, chaired by the cabinet secretary for justice.”
Another tattoo parlour destroyed in the fire, Hundred Demons, has also received donations of more than £18,000.
Wig Chapel studio, which also had its premises destroyed, has attracted more than £15,000 in donations.
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The owner of Willow Hair Salon, another affected business, posted on social media on Monday: “Goodbye to our beautiful old building.
“I’m left totally heartbroken this morning from the loss of our salon. The secrets these walls heard, all the gossip, the good news and the bad.”
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She added: “Recently, I had been talking about moving salons, but never in a million years did I think Willow would be shut down this way.
“Thank you to every one of you who helped build my business and who have reached out to check on us and offer your help.”
