THE owners of a Balloch nightclub have hit out at West Dunbartonshire Council after the authority’s licensing board refused to allow it to sell alcohol until 4am from Thursday to Sunday.

Desire’s owners released a statement accusing the board of creating an “unfair playing field” by allowing Cheers Nightclub in Dumbarton to trade until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights, while rejecting its own application.

A spokesman for the Balloch Road venue expressed “disappointment” at the decision and warned the trade was in need of “urgent assistance” to prevent the loss of livelihoods.

He said: “Our application was driven by the unfair playing field that was created by the board back in March when they awarded a full 4am licence to Cheers Nightclub in Dumbarton.

“Paul Smith, who is chair of the council’s licensing forum and also owns Cheers, advocated that the extra hour would enable customers to disperse over a longer period.

“The arguments put forward by Paul Smith are valid for all nightclubs, but it seems the same laws or policy doesn’t apply in Clydebank or Alexandria.

“The night-time economy is in terminal decline and requires urgent assistance otherwise jobs will go and not be replaced.

“If this happens it will mean that the consumers of these areas will be forced to travel even further afield for entertainment.”

Clydebank nightclub Club Mango also had an application to extend its hours to 4am on Friday and Saturday nights refused by the board.

However, Councillor Jonathan McColl, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, explained the Dumbarton Road venue’s application had been refused because it contradicted the board’s licensing policy, which states nightclubs should only sell alcohol until 3am the following day between Thursday and Sunday.

In response to Desire’s statement, a spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council’s licensing board, said: “Desire nightclub sought a licence for the sale of alcohol to 4am from Thursday to Sunday.

“The board’s current policy for these days is 3am and the application was refused under Section 30 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

“Cheers nightclub sought permission in September 2017 to trade until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights only.

“Following a successful trial period this application was granted on the condition that there would be a curfew of 2am, and that no further applications for the occasional extension of licensed hours would be lodged.

“The board views each application on its own merits.”