The move was agreed by councillors to boost neighbourhood safety.

Details of where the one-year priority programme of works will be targeted were agreed in a report approved by councillors on the Environment Policy Board.

Schemes have been chosen on the basis of replacing old or unreliable equipment, and reducing maintenance costs and power use.

The programme of investment includes £135,000 to install new energy-efficient white lights in Erskine, a further £100,000 to replace damaged or corroded columns throughout Renfrewshire and £100,000 to introduce more energy-efficient traffic lights.

On top of that, new, white lighting will be installed in Houston Road, between Bridge of Weir and Houston; Gilmartin Road in Linwood; Glenshiel Avenue and Glenapp Road in Paisley; Woodside Road in Brookfield and Moss Vale Square in Paisley.

The changes are predicted to cut energy bills by around £16,000 every year.

Councillor Eddie Devine, convener of the council's environment board, said: "The improvements detailed in this programme will help improve safety for residents and drivers.

"The commitment to introduce energy-efficient schemes will help bring down the council's power bills by a five-figure sum each year."

SNP councillor for Linwood, Houston, and Crosslee, Audrey Doig, welcomed the investment for Gilmartin Road in her ward,

She said: "The environment board agreed that a major package of investment for new street lighting would be delivered to the Gilmartin Road, and I am delighted.

"I moved to East Fulton from Glasgow at the age of 12, and the lighting, which was in poor technical condition, badly needed an makeover.

"For years now I have been campaigning for East Fulton to get new lights. Some of them are now over 40 years old, and are beginning to show their age.

"There was a particular problem that some residents had with the globe type, which meant that when they were faulty they were too tall for council workmen to easily repair."

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk