Last week, the Reporter exclusively revealed British Land, the owners of St James Retail Park in Dumbarton, had applied to change the use of the former General George Carpets outlet to a pet store with treatment facilities.

Now, it has emerged the superstore has advertised a vacancy for a dog grooming stylist on several job websites including www.totaljobs.com.

Dumbarton councillor George Black last week condemned the council for not doing more to persuade companies like Pets at Home to move to the High Street.

Cllr Black this week reiterated his feelings and told the Reporter: “If you’re supposed to be regenerating the High Street, you shouldn’t be bleeding it dry.

“Let’s see the council man up and say you can come to the town but you’re coming to the town centre — in one of the empty units in the Artizan Centre.” Last week, Dumbarton businessman Joe Graham, who took over the ownership of Ryan’s Pet Centre, in July told the Reporter he feared his business would be ‘decimated’ if Pets at Home moved into the retail park.

The vacancy is offering a salary of £7.78 an hour with benefits including holiday pay and a 20 per cent staff discount.

Another Dumbarton councillor says there is not much the council can do if the planning application is in line with government guidelines.

Councillor Tommy Rainey added: “We deal with planning applications in accordance with planning laws.

“Anybody can put in an application for planning consent and we need to look at them on an individual basis.” Speaking to the Reporter last week, a spokeswoman for Pets at Home said: “We have stores in Greenock, Linwood, Drumchapel and Abbotsinch offering our unique product range and customer service.

“We hope to bring the Pets at Home experience to the St James Retail Park in the town of Dumbarton in the near future.”