#unionstreet — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #unionstreet, aggregated by home.social.
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Glaswegians optimistic as city centre area reopens after devastating fire – The Irish News
Glaswegians have said they are optimistic about the city’s future after the streets around Glasgow Central fully reopened,…
#Glasgow #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #Scotland #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #Britain #Business #fire #GlasgowCentral #GlasgowCityCouncil #Glasgowfire #GordonStreet #GreatBritain #UnionStreet #UnionStreetfire
https://www.europesays.com/uk/1095525/ -
https://www.europesays.com/uk/1095525/ Glaswegians optimistic as city centre area reopens after devastating fire – The Irish News #Britain #Business #fire #Glasgow #GlasgowCentral #GlasgowCityCouncil #GlasgowFire #GordonStreet #GreatBritain #Scotland #UK #UnionStreet #UnionStreetFire #UnitedKingdom
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SWANSEA: First look at the new Swansea Market entrance as makeover works progress on Union Street
Swansea Market’s long-awaited makeover is now visible to anyone walking past on Union Street, with the market’s new entrance design emerging from behind the hoardings.
The market confirmed on Tuesday that the Union Street entrance has been partially reopened while lower-level works continue — meaning shoppers can once again access the market from that side as the transformation progresses.
The new design features a bold geometric canopy in orange and brown tones, a striking new bilingual fascia reading “Marchnad Abertawe / Swansea Market”, and illuminated signage with a distinctive fan-shaped logo — a far cry from the tired exterior that had greeted shoppers for years.
The new-look Union Street entrance to Swansea Market taking shape. Picture: Swansea MarketThe reaction from inside the market has been positive. Storm In A Teacup Coffee House, one of the market’s well-known traders, said simply: “Looks great.” Fellow trader Rachel Jones added: “I’m sure our customers will see the difference.”
The design was chosen by the public in a vote held last year, after Swansea Council launched a consultation giving shoppers a say in what the new entrances should look like. Hundreds of people took part, with the geometric stained-glass-inspired canopy proving the overwhelming favourite from a shortlist of three options developed with Wales-based consultants Tangent Partnership.
Council cabinet member and joint deputy leader David Hopkins said at the time that the new entrances would make the market “smarter, more visible and vibrant” and help attract customers. He also said the work would improve security and help deter anti-social behaviour.
The striking geometric canopy above the Union Street entrance to Swansea Market. Picture: Swansea MarketWork is continuing on the market’s other entrances on Oxford Street and Whitewalls, with the same design set to be applied across all three entry points once the full programme of works is complete.
The entrance revamp is the latest in a sustained programme of investment in the market over recent years. In recent years the council has invested in new public toilets at the award-winning market and introduced the Market Garden, a popular spot to eat, meet and enjoy events. Wikipedia
The Market Garden was created following a public consultation and opened in late 2021 as a new space at the heart of the venue where shoppers could eat, meet friends and enjoy themselves. It quickly became one of the market’s most popular features.
The Market Garden in Swansea Market
(Image: Swansea Council)The investment in the market’s facilities has helped cement its reputation as one of the best in Britain. Swansea Market was judged Britain’s Best Large Indoor Market in 2024 by the National Association of British Market Authorities — the third time it had won the title, following previous victories in 2015 and 2020. It has also been ranked in the top two in the UK.
Wayne Holmes, chair of the Swansea Market Traders Federation, said when the award was announced: “It’s great that the market has won this award. Recognition like this helps make all the hard work of our traders feel really worthwhile.”
The entrance works also form part of the wider Future Swansea vision for the city centre, which sets out plans to make Swansea Market a destination in its own right — with better links to the Quadrant and surrounding streets forming part of a decade-long regeneration strategy.
That wider plan, which is expected to be adopted as council policy later in 2026, also includes a new transport hub, a potential cultural quarter and improvements to the Oxford Street arcades — all designed to drive footfall into the city centre.
The market sits at the heart of what the council calls the Core — the retail, leisure and nightlife centre of the city — and the entrance revamp is seen as a key part of making it more welcoming and visible from the surrounding streets.
Works at Union Street are ongoing, and shoppers have been thanked for their patience. The market remains fully open throughout the works, with business continuing as usual inside.
More on Swansea Market
Market entrances to get new look after public vote
How shoppers chose the winning design for the new-look entrances.Swansea Market named one of Britain’s favourites
The market’s third national award win — and what the judges said.Market shoppers enjoy taste of the market’s new attraction
When the Market Garden first opened its doors to visitors.Swansea’s future mapped out: transport hub, market revamp and cultural quarter
#marketEntrance #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaMarket #UnionStreet
The bigger picture — how the market fits into Swansea’s decade-long regeneration plan. -
https://www.europesays.com/dk/39709/ Man hospitalized after tree falls on car in Warsaw #Car #falls #hospitalized #man #Poland #tree #UnionStreet #Warsaw #wndu
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Via Glasgow Times
"Assistant Chief Officer David Farries spoke to press after Union Street fire at Glasgow Central.."" -
Via Glasgow Times
"Assistant Chief Officer David Farries spoke to press after Union Street fire at Glasgow Central.."" -
Via Glasgow Times
"Assistant Chief Officer David Farries spoke to press after Union Street fire at Glasgow Central.."" -
Via Glasgow Times
"Assistant Chief Officer David Farries spoke to press after Union Street fire at Glasgow Central.."" -
Via Glasgow Times
"Assistant Chief Officer David Farries spoke to press after Union Street fire at Glasgow Central.."" -
Firefighters tackle huge blaze near Glasgow Central Station | STV News
Another sickener as we lose more heritage buildings in our city centre. 🔥 🚒 .
Thankfully no loss of life reported.yet🙏#Glasgow #UnionStreet #CentralStation
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/streets-closed-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-glasgow-city-centre
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Firefighters tackle huge blaze near Glasgow Central Station | STV News
Another sickener as we lose more heritage buildings in our city centre. 🔥 🚒 .
Thankfully no loss of life reported.yet🙏#Glasgow #UnionStreet #CentralStation
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/streets-closed-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-glasgow-city-centre
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Firefighters tackle huge blaze near Glasgow Central Station | STV News
Another sickener as we lose more heritage buildings in our city centre. 🔥 🚒 .
Thankfully no loss of life reported.yet🙏#Glasgow #UnionStreet #CentralStation
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/streets-closed-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-glasgow-city-centre
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Firefighters tackle huge blaze near Glasgow Central Station | STV News
Another sickener as we lose more heritage buildings in our city centre. 🔥 🚒 .
Thankfully no loss of life reported.yet🙏#Glasgow #UnionStreet #CentralStation
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/streets-closed-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-glasgow-city-centre
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Firefighters tackle huge blaze near Glasgow Central Station | STV News
Another sickener as we lose more heritage buildings in our city centre. 🔥 🚒 .
Thankfully no loss of life reported.yet🙏#Glasgow #UnionStreet #CentralStation
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/streets-closed-as-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-glasgow-city-centre
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Swansea Cancer Research shop among 58 set to close as charity cuts high‑street presence
The charity says rising costs and changing shopping habits have forced a nationwide restructuring of its retail network, with dozens of shops already closing and more expected over the next two years.
Union Street store to shut as charity cuts back
The Swansea city centre branch at 19 Union Street is one of the latest locations confirmed for closure. Cancer Research UK says the move is part of a long‑term plan to streamline operations and focus on its most profitable sites.
The charity previously announced it intended to close up to 88 shops by 2026, but the wider restructuring could eventually see nearly 200 stores shut across the UK.
Cancer Research UK shops set to close
Aberdeen – 19 Rosemount Viaduct
Ballymena – 49 Ballymoney Street
Banbury – 9 Parsons Street
Belfast – 17 Bloomfield Avenue
Birkenhead – Borough Pavement
Bognor – 1–2 Clock WalkBurton‑on‑Trent – 25 Station Street
Chesham – 34 High Street
Clevedon – 1 Station Road
Coatbridge – 20–22 Main Street
Crewe – 10 Market Street
Dewsbury – 22 LongcausewayDudley – 258 Castle Street
East Barnet – 276 East Barnet Road
Edinburgh – 9–10 Ormiston Terrace
Fakenham – 26 Market Place
Falkirk – 18 Vicar Street
Gillingham – 90 High StreetGravesend – 34 New Road
Halesowen – 79 High Street
Harrogate – 24A Oxford Street
Hazel Grove – 129B–C London Road
Hemel Hempstead – 101 Marlowes
High Wycombe – 8 Church StreetKeswick – 24 Main Street
Lancaster – 54–54A Market Street
Lisburn – 4 Smithfield Square
Louth – 20 Market Place
Ludlow – 3 Castle Street
Maidenhead – 101 High StreetMerthyr Tydfil – 14 Graham Way
Mill Hill – 37 The Broadway
Moreton – 242 Hoylake Road
Newark – 26 Stodman Street
Northwood – 38 Green Lane
Paddock Wood – 5 Commercial RoadRedruth – 71 Fore Street
Retford – 25 Carolgate
Ross‑on‑Wye – 11 Market Place
Rushden – 22 High Street
Selby – 40A Gowthorpe
Sevenoaks – 137 High StreetShrewsbury – 9 High Street
Sidmouth – 19 Fore Street
Skipton – 91 Caroline Square
St Ives – 6 High Street
Stalybridge – 44A Grosvenor Road
Stockport – 26 Princes StreetSwansea – 19 Union Street
Swindon – 28 Havelock Street
Tiverton – 15 Bampton Street
Urmston – 16 Station Road
Welling – 26C Bellegrove Road
Welwyn Garden City – 20 HowardsgateWest Bromwich – 203 High Street
Whitby – 70 Baxtergate
Wick – 36 Bridge Street
Workington – 26–32 Murray RoadRising costs blamed for closures
Cancer Research UK says the closures are being driven by mounting operational pressures — including higher National Insurance contributions, rising energy bills, increased delivery costs and inflation affecting stock and logistics.
Once the restructuring is complete, the charity expects to operate around 320 shops, concentrating on locations that generate the strongest returns.
The organisation says the changes will free up around £12.4 million over the next five years, money it says will be redirected into life‑saving cancer research.
Online marketplace also being axed
As part of the overhaul, Cancer Research UK will also close its online marketplace in early 2026, meaning donated items will no longer be sold through external resale platforms.
Instead, the charity plans to shift towards larger “superstore”‑style outlets, with 12 new retail‑park‑sized stores planned by 2028.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams as major revamp gathers pace
Exclusive photos reveal the dramatic transformation of the former department store as redevelopment continues.Swansea BID launches 24/7 crime hotline for city centre businesses
New round‑the‑clock reporting line aims to support traders facing crime and antisocial behaviour.Swansea’s Quadrant rolls out sensory packs for shoppers
The shopping centre introduces new accessibility support to help visitors with sensory needs.Two big names, one big day: Skechers and Boyes land in Swansea
#CancerResearchUK #Charity #CharityShop #shopClosure #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #UnionStreet
Major retailers open new stores in the city centre as part of ongoing regeneration. -
Swansea magistrates extend closure of vape shops in crackdown on illegal sales
Eight vape shops across Swansea will remain shut for up to three months after magistrates backed council action against the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco.
The closures follow Operation Ceecee & Marvel, a three‑day joint operation led by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards with support from South Wales Police, HMRC, Home Office Immigration officers and tobacco detection dogs.
Raids lead to extended closures
Officers targeted 14 shops where earlier test purchases had confirmed illicit sales. Nine were issued with temporary 48‑hour closure notices while the council sought longer orders through the courts. Magistrates have now approved applications to extend the closure of eight shops, while the owner of the ninth has opted to shut down permanently.
The shops ordered to remain closed are:
- Morriston Mini Market, 86 Woodfield Street, Morriston
- Crystal Vapes, 95 High Street, Gorseinon
- World of Vapes, 89 St Teilo Street, Pontarddulais
- Bob Marley Vapes, 75 St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
- Asia Vapes, 40 St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
- Kubus Vapes, 31b St Helen’s Road, Swansea city centre
- Bob CBD Vapes, 29 Union Street, Swansea city centre
- Snoop Vapes, 71 High Street, Swansea city centre
More Trading Standards news
Stay up to date with the latest investigations, prosecutions and community crackdowns led by Trading Standards teams across Swansea Bay and beyond.
Browse all Trading Standards stories
Illegal goods seized and arrests made
The raids led to the seizure of 971 packs of cigarettes, 970 packets of hand‑rolling tobacco and 2,292 vapes, with a combined retail value of more than £77,000. Five vehicles linked to the shops were also confiscated, and 11 people were arrested in connection with the sales.
Council and police warn of risks
Andrew Williams, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Performance), said:
“This council is taking the sale of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco in Swansea very seriously. Our Trading Standards Team has made this issue a priority… I’m delighted that magistrates have supported our applications to extend the closure of eight shops in the city.”
Inspector Andrew Hedley, South Wales Police, added:
“Counterfeit tobacco and vapes are not only illegal, but they are incredibly dangerous for those who use them. These businesses were all given warnings to stop selling these items but disregarded them. They will now face prosecution for various offences as a result.”
Related articles
Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown on illegal sales
Trading Standards and police closed nine shops across the city after uncovering widespread sales of illegal vapes and counterfeit tobacco.Second jail term for man selling counterfeit tobacco in Swansea
A repeat offender has been jailed again after being caught with thousands of counterfeit cigarettes destined for city shops.Port Talbot trader branded ‘epitome of a rogue trader’ after probe
A Port Talbot businessman has been heavily criticised in court following a Trading Standards investigation into his practices.Illegal vapes, fake dolls and tobacco stash seized in Neath Port Talbot raids
Raids across Neath Port Talbot uncovered counterfeit goods including vapes, toys and tobacco products.#AsiaVapes #BobCBDVapes #BobMarleyVapes #Business #CllrAndrewWilliams #counterfeitTobacco #CrystalVapes #Gorseinon #HighStreet #illegalVapes #KubusVapes #Morriston #MorristonMiniMarket #Pontarddulais #retail #SnoopVapes #SouthWalesPolice #StHelensRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards #UnionStreet #vapeShop #vapeShopClosure #vapes #WoodfieldStreet #WorldOfVapes
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When neighbors asked the city to make Lake Washington Boulevard safer for people walking and biking, the city kicked off a half-decade public outreach process that stalled out once Bruce Harrell became mayor before concluding with a lackluster plan to add some speed humps and a couple stop signs. Then without any outreach at all, Seattle Parks this summer announced they were cancelling the rest of the speed humps and stop signs after building just a handful of them.
But when a few business and property owners asked the city to allow cars to use the bus-only access point to westbound Union Street from Madison Street that was part of the extensive RapidRide G project, SDOT got to work making it happen without any public outreach at all. How will allowing car traffic affect crosswalk safety? How will the change impact safety for the eastbound bike lane? I cannot tell you because there is no project website, and SDOT has not yet responded to my requests for more details even though the project is already under construction. The only reason we even know this is happening is because someone from Central Seattle Greenways saw workers jackhammering away and asked them about it.
When Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck heard about the surprise change, she went there herself and talked to the work crews to find out what’s happening. Then she posted a video saying that she “disagrees with SDOT’s decision” and her staff is working on what to do “before this Saturday” when crews are scheduled to conduct more work.
-- Advertisement --https://bsky.app/profile/councilmember-amr.bsky.social/post/3m263tlgg2c25
The Transit Riders Union also has an online petition going to “Save our Union St bus lane!” that has 2,145 signatures as of press time. CHS also reports that TRU is planning a protest rally at the site 8 a.m. Saturday morning.
There are multiple layers of insult at work here. There’s the fact that the city would choose to allow cars to drive in what is currently a car-free access point to the Pike/Pine business district. Worse, the city is doing it without any public outreach or even any prior notification. Even worse still, the city is demonstrating a gross double-standard in which community efforts to improve our streets for walking, biking or transit are forced to slog through an endless public process while a change that benefits car drivers at the direct expense of everyone else does require any public notice at all. Worried about your kid getting killed while biking to the park? Organize a big public campaign, get your fix into the annual city budget, then engage with a public outreach consultant for one to five years and then maybe the city will fix the issue or at least do a little something that is better than nothing. Are you a property owner who wants to allow cars in the busway? Just fire off a few emails and it will happen with no process at all.
“Over the last few months, communications were restarted primarily at the request of Dunn & Hobbes, the owner of the Chophouse property, Hunters Capital, and Madrona Real Estate along with business representatives on 12th Avenue north of Madison Street,” an SDOT spokesperson told Capitol Hill Seattle. They went on to stress to CHS that the project is intended to help people driving into the heart of Capitol Hill from the Eastside and other wealthy Seattle neighborhoods. “While development in the area is meant to maximize the appeal of dense urban living, coming off the impacts of COVID and challenges of major street and sidewalk construction, representatives had specific concerns about customers who drive from the Eastside or neighborhoods like Madison Park and Madrona […] They are having a hard time getting to their destinations or are confused by the new traffic pattern.”
This is a pattern for the city under Mayor Harrell. When SDOT repaved Denny Way, there was hardly any discussion at all about adding desperately-needed bus lanes as part of the very high-budget project despite our city’s stated goals of prioritizing walking, biking and transit improvements when making transportation investments. The city was only forced to give their unconvincing reasons for excluding the bus lanes after hundreds of people clowned on them by racing (and defeating) the 8 bus while playing leap frog and line dancing and performing other silly displays of bus inefficiency on the street. As Ryan Packer at the Urbanist put it, “What’s easier than adding a bus lane in Seattle? Deleting one.” This little bus lane on Union Street is itself worth fighting for, but it is also representative of a larger recurring problem with Mayor Harrell’s SDOT that has been getting much worse since the departure of former SDOT Director Greg Spotts. Harrell is demonstrating how he will handle transportation issues in his second term when he no longer needs to convince voters to pass a major transportation levy, which is why Seattle Bike Blog has endorsed his opponent Katie Wilson.
Allowing cars through here will have a direct negative impact on biking and walking because people will now have a whole new source of car traffic to cross that wasn’t there before. There will be new conflict points and new delays. From what I have been able to discern, no bike groups were consulted about the changes or how to handle the new crossing. People heading east on Union need to transition from a one-way bike lane on the south side of the street to a two-way bike lane on the north side of the street. Before workers destroyed it this week, that transition happened near the bus lane, so people biking east only have to cross a single bus-only lane to get from the one-way lane to the two-way lane:
The bike crossing on Union south of 12th Ave before crews jackhammered the concrete triangle away.But by allowing oncoming car traffic, the city also feels the need to change the bike lane transition. It sounds like SDOT is rolling out their go-to solution that everyone hates: A diagonal bike lane crossing through the middle of an all-way stop intersection. I cannot confirm the details because SDOT has not published materials about them, but an SDOT spokesperson told CHS they would be “redirecting people biking eastbound to the north side of Union St sooner, to shift the crossing from midblock to the all-way stop controlled intersection at 11th Ave and Union St.” So I assume it will be the mirror version of the 9th and John intersection near Denny Park:
9th and John before the green paint (I guess I don’t have a more recent photo). I flipped it horizontally to give an idea of what 11th and Union might look like facing west with a diagonal bike lane crossing.Navigating an intersection like this is a dramatically worse biking experience than crossing a single bus-only lane. It is both less safe and less inviting to use. It’s not the worst possible bike crossing, but it has some significant issues. The problem with these diagonal crossings is that people biking have a very long crossing and must watch for threats in a 270-degree range the whole time because there are four different places where someone in a car could blow through the stop sign or proceed out of turn because they don’t understand that you are going to bike diagonally. Biking safely in a city requires riders to always be on the lookout for someone in a car who is not following the rules because you bear the consequences of their mistakes, and these diagonal crossings have so many possible conflict points riders have to watch for all at the same time. Would you feel comfortable letting an 8-year-old child navigate through this intersection on her own? Because that’s the all ages and abilities standard we are supposed to be trying to achieve, and it falls short here.
SDOT should cancel work on this project and restore the previous condition. Then if they want to put forward a proposal to reopen it to car traffic, they can make their case to the public about why we should invest public money to make it easier for more people to drive cars into the heart of the Pike/Pine business district and listen to people’s feedback. If they can’t make a good case, then they shouldn’t do it. Maybe realigning the bike lane is the best option for bus and street operations for reasons I can’t figure out on my own. That’s totally possible, but they haven’t given folks any chances to understand what is happening or why, so the public’s only real option is to demand that work stop. I’m not saying it needs endless outreach, but there should be some happy point between zero notice and a half decade of consultant-led meetings. And the same standard should apply to walk, bike and transit improvements as well. Propose a change, listen to feedback, make a decision.
I will update this post if I hear back from SDOT (I asked for project design drawings and whether they had conducted any outreach).
https://bsky.app/profile/mattbaume.bsky.social/post/3m26egjfuss2r
#SEAbikes #Seattle
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ABERDEEN TAKE CAREFUL NOTE:
“They weren’t lazy about it—they didn’t just throw up barriers and ban cars,” he said. He also marvelled at how much was done with comparatively little funds—a little over C$1 million.” #unionstreet #aberdeenhttps://www.theenergymix.com/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/
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ABERDEEN TAKE CAREFUL NOTE:
“They weren’t lazy about it—they didn’t just throw up barriers and ban cars,” he said. He also marvelled at how much was done with comparatively little funds—a little over C$1 million.” #unionstreet #aberdeenhttps://www.theenergymix.com/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/
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ABERDEEN TAKE CAREFUL NOTE:
“They weren’t lazy about it—they didn’t just throw up barriers and ban cars,” he said. He also marvelled at how much was done with comparatively little funds—a little over C$1 million.” #unionstreet #aberdeenhttps://www.theenergymix.com/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/
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ABERDEEN TAKE CAREFUL NOTE:
“They weren’t lazy about it—they didn’t just throw up barriers and ban cars,” he said. He also marvelled at how much was done with comparatively little funds—a little over C$1 million.” #unionstreet #aberdeenhttps://www.theenergymix.com/montreal-adds-nine-more-car-free-streets-after-mind-blowing-success/
