West Dunbartonshire planning councillors voted unanimously to reject Betfred’s plans to open a second bookies in the town centre — and were backed by local community councils.

However, this decision was recently overturned by the Scottish Government after Betfred launched an appeal, and the firm is preparing to open premises in Clyde Shopping Centre.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, who is convener of the planning committee, has since launched a petition against the controversial move and is rallying Bankies for support.

Councillor O’Neill said: “I’m asking for many people to sign the petition, as well as sharing it with others to attempt to publicise this real issue affecting some of the most deprived communities across Scotland and Clydebank in particular.” Gambling firm Betfred’s application to take part of Harry Corry interior furnishing store and turn it into a bookies was thrown out by West Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee last October Councillors said it would damage the character of the town and create an unnecessary loss of retail space.

However, the Scottish Government planning reporter has dismissed the council’s concerns and those of the wider community by granting the gambling giant planning permission to open the outlet on Britannia Way.

The permission means Betfred will have two gambling shops in Clydebank and brings the total number of outlets in the town centre to four.

Councillor O’Neill’s petition has received more than 250 signatures and he is appealing for more.

He said: “I have taken the unusual step of organising the petition calling on the Scottish Government to overturn the decision of their Planning Reporter to grant planning permission to Betfred to open another shop in the Clyde Shopping Centre. I’ve started it as a non-party political petition with cross-party and community support.

“I have had many discussions with national planning officials in the last two years or so in my capacity as the convenor of the planning committee at West Dunbartonshire Council — I have also raised the subject of too many bookmakers, and payday loan companies, being able to get permission from the reporter under appeal after being rejected by the planning committee locally.

“I have also raised this directly at the national planning convenors conference as well as at COSLA Annual Conference and at a Scottish Government seminar hosted by the previous local government and planning minister, Derek MacKay. He advised that he would be speaking to civil servants regarding this ‘blight’ and his leanings towards leaving shop units and spaces vacant as they didn’t assist with the ‘vitality and vibrancy’ of an area — reasons often cited by the planning reporter.

Councillor O’Neill told how he has been asked by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to attend a meeting in late March with the Gambling Commission to highlight the issue.

He added: “I have attempted to contact the first minister and MSPs Alex Neil and Marco Biagi via Twitter but alas have had no response.” To sign the online petition visit www.change.org and search for ‘betfred clydebank’.