THE eagerly-awaited Scottish Submarine Centre in Helensburgh will finally open its doors to the public this week.

Almost five years after the idea of bringing a lasting memorial to Scotland’s submarine heritage to the town was first suggested, the doors will open to the public at the West King Street centre at 10am on Friday, March 30.

Following a launch event on Armistice Day last year, there will be no ceremony around the opening of the facility to the public – just a sigh of relief from the team behind the project before they move on to the next stage.

Burgh businessman Brian Keating, the chairman of the Scottish Submarine Trust, said: "It will be openin on Friday, with no ceremony.

“There is a feeling of relief that we’re ready to have the centre open, but we’re moving straight in to the next phase.

“We’ve booked a booth at the VisitScotland Expo this spring and will be meeting 1,200 tour operators and talking to them about how we can help encourage more visitors to Helensburgh.

“We want the whole town to see the benefits of the new centre. It’s not just a case of opening the doors and hoping people will come in.”

The centrepiece of the new facility will be a Cold War midget submarine, X51 – or HMS Stickleback – which was manoeuvred carefully into the centre in October 2016 after a long journey north from the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire.

Though the submarine itself is too small for visitors to get inside, the use of innovative digital technology will enable members of the public to experience the inside of the claustrophobic vessel for themselves.

Mr Keating added: “There have been some delays through the process, such as getting the submarine itself and getting the technology in place, but in hindsight those have actually helped us in a sense.”

Mr Keating also praised the help of volunteers in getting the project to this point and said: “There have been around 35 volunteers engaged in the project at various stages and without them this wouldn’t have happened.”

Argyll and Bute Council leader and Helensburgh councillor Aileen Morton said: “It will be good to see the Submarine Centre open in time for this year’s tourist season – giving another reason for people to visit Helensburgh.

“I look forward to seeing how the museum works as it opens to the public.”

Helensburgh’s MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Local volunteers have been working hard to get everything ready and I am delighted that local residents and tourists will get their first glimpse of the Submarine Centre over the Easter weekend. Congratulations to Brian Keating and his team for all their effort in pulling this together.

“The centre is a celebration of our proud naval heritage and I am sure it will prove to be a fascinating new visitor attraction for tourists in Helensburgh.”

The town’s MP, Brendan O’Hara, added: “Helensburgh is rapidly putting itself back on the tourism map so this is great news for the town.

“It’s great to see attractions coming to the town centre, and I have high hopes that this will be a boost for our local economy.”

A spokeswoman for the Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce added: “We are delighted to hear that the long awaited submarine Centre will be opening on Friday.

“It has taken four years to get to this stage since the first promised opening in 2014 and the Chamber of Commerce welcomes this valuable addition to Helensburgh and Lomond’s exciting tourism offer.”