MEDIA RELEASE
From: The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society
Re: Vape Shop next to Mackintosh Tearooms, Sauchiehall Street.
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society is disturbed to see that a new vape shop will be opening on Sauchiehall Street next to the world-renowned Mackintosh Tearooms, a move which would increase the risk to this outstanding building by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Director, Matthew Williams said:
“The city has already suffered the horrific fire at Central Station which is alleged to have started in an unlicensed vape shop, alongside the destruction of the masterpiece Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art. The Mackintosh Tearooms are an architecture and design gem, an important part of Glasgow’s story, and a real boost for tourism in the city. The increased risk of fire posed by a seemingly unlicensed vape shop next door is completely unacceptable.”
Chair, Michael Dale said:
“The Society calls upon Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to take any and all measures necessary to halt the opening of the shop. In this case the landlord also needs to reconsider the lease on this retail unit. Their commercial imperative cannot take precedence over increased risk to this national treasure”
In addition to the risk to the Mackintosh Tearooms, the opening of yet another vape shop undermines the hard work of the Sauchiehall Street Culture and Heritage District, and The National Trust for Scotland as custodians of the building. Regeneration of the street, still failing to recover from the tragic fires at the Mackintosh Building and ABC music venue, plus the recent closure of the CCA, is supposed to be a priority for the city.
Director, Matthew Williams said:
“Charles Rennie Mackintosh is one of very few artists and architects whose work is instantly recognised around the world. His designs are a source of national pride and artistic inspiration, as recently evidenced at the Commonwealth Games. The Society welcomes the recent support of politicians for the rebuilding of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building. It would be a further cultural tragedy if the Mackintosh Tearooms also went up in flames. Prevention is better than cure, so politicians and officials must act without delay.”
ENDS