A mechanical walk behind sweeper is expected to arrive in around eight weeks, with the existing hire machine being used until then.

In addition, the council has ordered a mechanical floor scrubber which will be shared between key town centres across the area on a two-month scheduling basis. This is expected to arrive and be ready for use within the next fortnight.

Councillor Ellen Morton, policy lead for Roads and Amenity Services, told the Advertiser: “The council has invested millions in Helensburgh town centre’s public spaces so it makes sense to buy the right equipment, from the regeneration budget, to keep those free of litter.

“Our amenity services team in Helensburgh works very hard, but the staff numbers have reduced over the years because of budget pressures, so any machines we can buy in that help them are welcome.

“The additional machine is for cleaning the pavements and has been paid for from the central amenity budget and will be shared across town centres, adding another level of robustness to the amenity operation throughout Argyll and Bute. It’s not the type of machine you can use every day; because of the high pressure it could damage the surface, so it is being held as a central resource to be used in town on a two-month schedule.

“One of the key focuses in the community planning partnership’s single outcome agreement is the forging of strong communities. A strong community is one that takes pride in its town.” The street cleaner sweeps pavements and other public spaces without disrupting patrons, employees, or guests. It also cleans where other large city cleaning machines cannot, for example, under planters and around benches.