Argyll and Bute Council was under fire yesterday after featuring a nuclear submarine on the front cover of a brochure to attract visitors to the region.
The Faslane Royal Navy base – home to the UK’s fleet of Trident-armed subs – is located at Helensburgh in Argyll.
Yesterday, the council pulled some posts from its social media sites after SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson was among those who expressed concern at the promotion exercise.
Mr Robertson said it was the launch of “one of the worst advertising campaigns ever”.
The now deleted pictures of the launch featured the Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Argyll and Bute Council leader Dick Walsh with a brochure headlined “Welcome to Argyll and Bute” and featuring a picture of a nuclear submarine.
A post on the council’s social media page yesterday said: “We are keen to welcome the Royal Navy personnel and their families who will be coming to Argyll and Bute over the next few years, and to ensure that there are benefits for both our local residents and our new families.
“A photo originally posted here on Monday featured a brochure – this brochure was produced specifically for people serving in the Royal Navy, not as a general guide to the area.
“This is all about delivering opportunities for local people and Navy families to build happy, prosperous lives together.”
Millions of pounds of investment in HMNB Clyde is set to bring jobs, transport, leisure and business growth opportunities to Helensburgh, with an agreement signed between the UK Government, Royal Navy and Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership.
But the replacement of the Trident weapons – estimated to cost more than £100billion – is a hugely controversial project, and opposed by the Scottish Government.
SNP Councillor Julie McKenzie said: “Argyll and Bute was trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.
“It is making a laughing stock of our council again.
“I think service personnel would be more likely to be attracted to come to our area if we put a picture of our amazing scenery or excellent schools on the brochure rather than our weapons of mass destruction.”
