HELENSBURGH'S hottest topic - the future of Faslane - will come under the spotlight this month in a Big Debate hosted by the Advertiser later this month. Faslane's long-term future has been cast into doubt after the Scottish Government failed to clarify how it would support the region if an independent Scotland led to the axe of Trident nuclear weapons, currently based at HMNB Clyde.

Public debate on what will happen to the base has been fierce nationally, locally and in the Helensburgh Advertiser's comment page and website.

As a result, the editor has organised the Advertiser's first Big Debate - where the whole town will have the opportunity to put their questions to some of the UK's key politicians.

Held in the Victoria Hall on February 21, an expert panel of five will provide insight into the issue and answer public questions in a meeting chaired by Advertiser editor Henry Ainslie.

Already confirmed on the panel will be: Labour MP Jim Murphy, former Scottish secretary and current shadow defence secretary; Annabel Goldie MSP, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives; and Alan Reid MP, Lib Dem Argyll and Bute MP and member of the Scottish Affairs committee .

There will also be representation from the SNP-led Scottish Government and an independent panellist.

There will be room for up to 350 members of the public to attend free-of-charge, with tickets available online from http://helensburghbigdebate.eventbrite.co.uk.

Henry Ainslie, editor of the Helensburgh Advertiser, said: "There is no bigger issue facing the Helensburgh and Lomond public at the moment, and ahead of next year's referendum on independence, we want to provide the community with a platform to put their questions to the politicians who matter.

"No community in Scotland will be impacted more by the potential removal of Trident nuclear weapons than Helensburgh and Lomond - from the servicemen and women on the base and their families to the town's traders and the wider community - everyone will be affected.

"As such I am delighted to welcome some of the UK's most respected politicians to Helensburgh to debate this issue right on our doorstep.

"I would like to thank the panellists for agreeing to attend, and also the Friends of Victoria Hall, and in particular Vivien Dance, for their help in staging this event.

"I hope and fully expect the Helensburgh community to seize this opportunity with both hands, and make clear how strong public feeling is on both sides of this most emotive of subjects." The Big Debate will be covered live from our website and via Twitter by Clyde Weekly Press regional editor Emma Quigley, and Advertiser reporters Jennifer Russell and Ruth McClean, with live coverage available by tuning in to Your Radio on the night as well. Of course it will also be covered in full in your Helensburgh Advertiser after the event.

To get ready for the debate you can pick-up a copy of our Big Debate guide inserted into the Helensburgh Advertiser on February 21. Inside will be all the facts and opinion you need to prepare yourself for the discussion.

To attend, all you have to do is visit http://helensburghbigdebate.eventbrite.co.uk and the ticket will be emailed directly to you. Tickets will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis and are available now. There will be a limited number of seats available for on-the-door entry on the night.