Parkhall man David Hamilton is aiming to create a private hire taxi firm and lodged an application for a booking office licence with West Dunbartonshire Council.

Mr Hamilton intends on operating the private hire taxi business from 193/1 Dumbarton Road and attended last week’s licensing committee to explain his plans.

However, Clydebank and District TOA is trying to put the brakes on the proposals, Drivers fear it will hurt their already suffering trade and 27 of them wrote letters of objection to the council.

Clydebank and District TOA also hired lawyer Tom McIntaggart to argue their case. He attended last week’s licensing committee and called on councillors to reject the application.

The lawyer insisted that the premises are not suitable due to inadequate parking spaces, the potential for traffic problems and the “detrimental effect” it would have on businesses in the area.

He said: “The premises are located in a busy area where there are already a number of businesses. It doesn’t have off road parking to allow vehicles to operate from the premises.” The lawyer then handed over photos to the committee which he claimed demonstrated the lack of parking provision and how traffic congestion was likely to occur.

Five drivers from Clydebank TOA also attended the committee meeting and one man insisted there was not enough taxi trade for another company.

He said: “There’s not enough work to go round. I choose to sit at Asda and you wait for 40 minutes to one hour for hires. There’s very little work.

“We are concerned a private hire firm will come and take away business.” Mr Hamilton told the committee he had spent a lot of time and money to get his taxi business on the road and was frustrated at his plans being blocked.

He said: “There was a taxi office operating from these premises before and I never saw any issues then.

“There is parking at the back. I have a letter from Mr Donaldson who runs the garage at the rear and Linda Cunningham, who runs the snack bar, and they have no issues with the office being there.

“There are no yellow lines on the other side of Dumbarton Road so there is parking off site aswell.

“This is costing me big money. I’ve already shown I’m committed to this and to bringing business to the town. If people want to phone a private hire car then they will phone one and if they want a black Hackney they will phone for a Hackney.

“I’m going to pay for these licences and the council will benefit from that.” Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “I’m moving continuation to get more information on the land and input from our roads department.” Mr Hamilton responded, saying: “You are making it very, very difficult for anyone to open up their own business.

“Waiting another two months — that’s ridiculous.” The committee delayed their decision until the next licensing committee on Wednesday, December 3.