Martin Traynor has blasted the Scottish Government for overturning the council and community-led decision to reject planning permission for another bookies in the centre of Clydebank.

The 26-year-old was shocked after reading in last week’s Post that Betfred will now open its second betting shop in the town centre.

Martin said: “There are more than enough bookies in Clydebank and surrounding areas. Especially in the shopping centre, there are far too many.

“Those who can gamble responsibly may not see a problem but I know there are a hell of a lot of people out there with a gambling addiction and this is basically a slap in the face to them.” The Radnor Park man is a welder fabricator who in his late teens became sucked into a life of gambling abuse.

He revealed how every single penny he had would be given to the bookies — and it drove him to feeling suicidal at his lowest point.

Martin fell into a dark pit from where there seemed no escape, hooked on gambling, suffering from stress and anxiety, and being chased for the growing amounts of money he owed people.

It caused hell for his family but Martin eventually found help before it was too late — and has urged others affected by gambling addiction to seek support.

“The urge to gamble was a horrible feeling,” Martin admitted.

“If I ever had any money I would put it in the machine, even if it was only a pound, I would spend it there.

“All my hard earned money would go into the bookies when I got paid. I honestly started hating having money because I knew what I was going to put myself through and exactly where it was going. I was happier without money because I knew I wouldn’t be anywhere near a bookies.” It all started with a few small football bets and the odd play on gambling machines — but Martin never thought he would end up an addict.

He said: “I used to put on some coupons and a few shots on the roulette machine at the weekend. It started off a couple of pound bets, a bet here and there — nothing major. I would win and lose but not a lot of money and I wasn’t fussed about it, I could walk away.

“As I started to work and earn more money I used to put on bigger bets and I started losing more money — but also winning bigger amounts occasionally.

“I guess the excitement of winning grabbed hold of me. I never thought for one second I would end up a gambling addict.

“I was constantly thinking about putting money into the machine. If I did win a lot of money I would stay away for a few days and try to enjoy the money I won. But I always ended up back in the bookies for my next bet, hoping for another result.” Martin fell down a dark path after becoming hooked on the thrill.

He said: “Financially, I was always owing people what I had borrowed. It was a vicious circle I got myself into.

“If I couldn’t afford to pay back everyone I owed money to I would try and gamble it to win more. And when I did lose it I would lie about not being paid off my work and have to make up other excuses why I couldn’t pay it.” After years of a frantic, anxiety-packed, lifestyle, filled with lies and pressure — life eventually became too much for Martin.

He said: “Gambling made me feel suicidal. I got myself into so much horrible stuff I couldn’t see another way out other than taking my own life.” Eventually, he sought help to get past his increasing pain that transformed him into a different being.

“If it wasn’t for my mum and my girlfriend of 11 years I would be in a box right now. They helped me through it and could see who I really was, and who I could become again.

“I made the closest people to me upset, scared and made them unable to trust me with all my lies and what I put them through.

“I had to fight with this demon inside of me to overcome the addiction.” Martin ended up attending Gamblers Anonymous most days of the week after hitting rock bottom.

The friendly, welcoming and understanding people there knew his pain all too well, and helped him escape.

He said: “I cut it out of my life even though where I stay everywhere I turn there is a bookies shop or another one getting put in.

“I just tried my best to walk past them.

“If I was ever in doubt or felt I couldn’t trust myself with money I would phone someone, either family or a friend from Gamblers Anonymous and they would talk me out of it and make me remember the feeling of losing and letting everyone down, and every bit of baggage that goes with it.” Martin has been free of gambling for a year now and has taken strong action to remain that way.

He said: “I will never step into a bookies again. I could never gamble responsibly due to being a gambling addict. Anything to do with it — scratch cards, lottery, bingo — is a no go.” The gambling addict in recovery has urged people suffering from the addiction to seek help before it is too late.

He said: “If anyone is feeling that they are gambling too much or think it is a problem please get in touch with someone to talk about it.

“I was ashamed, that’s why I kept it to myself for so long. But I do wish I told someone sooner and maybe I could have been saved from a good few years of hell.”