THE first steps to building the long awaited Waitrose store in Helensburgh began on Tuesday, February 12 with a 'turf cutting'.

Residents and community representatives, including councillors Vivien Dance and Maurice Corry, marked the start on site by donning their hard hats and high visibility jackets.

The councillors, along with members from the Helensburgh Waitrose Supporters Group including Gail Maddick and George Hargan, held up a banner stating 'Waitrose coming here soon'.

The beginning of the building works marks almost a year to the date the supporters group triumphed at the planning hearing on February 21 2012.

Representing Waitrose was Jen Martin who was accompanied by Paul Griffen, construction director for Barr Construction, who have been contracted by developers Drum Property to build the store.

Councillor Dance has been a strong supporter of the project from the beginning and is now pleased progress as been made and plans have come to fruition.

She said: "I am sure work will now progress to schedule as the time consuming legal and paperwork challenges are now behind us and the real business of building the store can commence. "This will be an exciting summer for Helensburgh as the store takes shape because there will be jobs to apply for and the chance for businesses to discuss supplying into the new store and before we know it we will be shopping in the latest addition to our retail choices.

"Now we see the future emerging. I am sure Helensburgh will gain huge benefit from being a Waitrose store so once again, "Bring it On" and Tuesday was a great day as we secured much needed jobs and an exciting future."

Enabling works will start on the Cardross Road site immediately with the main construction programme commencing on Monday, February 25 and is expected to last 28 weeks.

Councillor Maurice Corry, said it was a dream come true and a big move for Helensburgh especially with the amount of Navy families coming to and already living in the area.

He said: "As the Armed Forces veteran it is great the Waitrose brand will be available on our doorstep, as it is exciting for Navy families to know there is a Waitrose store in the area."

The new Waitrose store and petrol filling station will open its doors in August.