A city centre community group has raised concerns over a proposed vape shop on Sauchiehall Street.
Garnethill Community Council [GCC]has written to local councillors regarding the opening of the shop next to the historic Mackintosh Tearooms, saying the plans require "careful consideration".
It comes after the Union Street fire, which began in an unlicensed vape shop, on Sunday, March 8.
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A statement, shared on Facebook, read: "Glasgow has already lost Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art to fire, and more recently another significant heritage building was severely damaged by a fire which reportedly started in a vape shop.
"While the risk of fire may be considered small, recent events demonstrate that it is real.
"We believe the proximity of a vape shop to such an important heritage asset warrants careful consideration.
"We have asked councillors to consider what measures could be taken to protect the Mackintosh Tearooms and Glasgow’s wider architectural heritage."
We previously reported that street artist Ashley Rawson took an 'unexploded vape' to the streets in protest about the shop being opened next to the tearooms.
He initially produced the work following the Union Street fire as he wanted to "hint at the threat of many more 'unexploded vape' shops that might exist across the city".
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Speaking to our sister title The Herald last week, he said: "Yesterday on a trip to the emerging ‘Sauchiehall Street Heritage District’ I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that a Vape and electronics shop was preparing to open next to Glasgow's surviving jewel in the crown of Mackintosh heritage: The Mackintosh Tearooms.
"The Tearooms are stunning with glass, timber and plaster interiors: the sort that burn easily."
GCC said they are supporting the concerns raised by Ashley, "particularly given the importance of protecting Glasgow's remaining architectural heritage".
The Union Street fire saw the blaze spread from the vape shop through the historic B-listed structure located at the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street, next to Glasgow Central Station.
Only the facade of the Victorian building was left standing, but it was later demolished due to safety fears.
The Mackintosh Tearooms, renamed from the Willow Tearooms in February this year, were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald and opened in 1903 by Catherine Cranston.
They are the only surviving tearooms designed by Mackintosh for the local entrepreneur and patron.
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