CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating  after people power forced a  U-turn from the city council over  its plans to close more than a  third of Exeter’s public toilets.

In the face of widespread outrage at the proposal to shut 10  toilets in the city, the council has  announced the measure will be  dropped from its proposed budget when its executive committee  meets next week.

Since the launch of  Save Our  Toilets campaign in the Echo  nearly two weeks ago, support  from all sectors of the community has been overwhelming.  More than 500 coupons in support of the campaign have been  sent in. Hundreds of these were  handed to the council leader  Adrian Fullam ahead of an executive committee meeting a  week ago,  but these pleas were  initially ignored as members voted to include  the toilet cuts in the  draft budget.

But with pressure continuing  to mount, the Liberal Democrat  administration confirmed yesterday it would formally withdraw the closure programme  when the executive meets again  a week today.

The news prompted scenes of  jubilation outside one of the  saved toilets in Blackboy Road,  that was only rebuilt at a cost of  £110,000 five years ago.

 The other toilets that have received are reprieve are Buddle  Lane, Okehampton Street and  Cowick Lane in St Thomas; Ennerdale Way in Exwick; Hamlin  Lane and Higher Cemetery in  Heavitree; and King William  Street, Musgrave Row and  Guinea Street in the city centre.

The savings of £60,000  now look set to be made  by reducing the current  provision for next year’s  pay award for local government workers from  one per cent to 0.7 per  cent. While discussions  are still on-going at national level about public  sector pay, the Local  Government Employers  has proposed a freeze for  the next financial year.

 Defending the way his  Liberal Democrat council has handled the situation, Cllr Fullam said:  “We put all the information out early for discussion on a whole range of  cuts and the biggest reaction we got was the  toilets, so we have reflected and reacted on it.

“This has shown we  have listened and acted  on what we have heard.  We have very difficult  decisions to make and all  the areas where cuts are  made people are not going to be happy.

 “We have listened to  feedback from residents  in the Echo, on websites  and those who have contacted us directly

“We had to be careful  as if we reacted to every  objection and reversed  all cuts we would end up  bankrupt but we did not  hide anything.

 “Making cuts is an  emotional process and I  would rather be seen as  performing a U-turn  than being stubborn and  arrogant. If we did not  make the right decision  the first time round it is  only right we should  change our minds.”

His Liberal Democrat  colleague Cllr Kevin  Mitchell confirmed that  plans for an all-party  working group to look  into the future provision  of public toilets in the  city would continue with  a view to looking at a  “community toilet  scheme”.

 This would see shops,  restaurants and pubs  open up their facilities to  be used by members of  the public.

He said: “It is envisaged that the general  public, including those  organisations and members of the community  who were concerned  about the toilet closure  proposal, will have the  opportunity to play a key  part in this review.”

Opposition councillors  welcomed the decision  and praised the Echo for  its role in bringing about  the change.

Leader of the Labour  Group for the city council Pete Edwards said: “I  am pleased that common  sense has prevailed.

 “This is something the  Labour group has opposed all the way along,  storing up trouble for the  future and the Lib Dems  have done a total U-turn  because of Express &  Echo campaigning and  the opposition by us. It is  a panic reaction.”

Leader of the Conservative group Yolonda  Henson, said: “I am more  delighted for the public  than anything.

 “It was a big mistake to  even think about closing  the toilets.

 “Exeter would have  got a bad name. Why  should people think  about coming here if we  could not provide the  most basic of facilities?

“We now need to have  a serious look at all those  toilets and I would not  advocate closing any of  them until we have had a  proper look at the implications.”

The closure plan had  also been attacked for the  impact it could have on  the vulnerable, disabled  and elderly.

 Charities representing  these groups had expressed strong concerns  about the proposals.

 After being told of the  reprieve, Martyn  Rogers, the director of  Age Concern in Exeter,  said: “I think this is good  news for common sense.  A whole lot of groups of  people rely on good provision of public toilets in  the city. I think the very  fact some of the ones  most well used were targeted for closure shows  this would have had a  real impact.

 “It is really great news  the city council has listened to the concerns of  the citizens of Exeter  who responded in their  hundreds. Well done to  the Echo.”

Nick Hall, of Headway  Exeter, a charity that  supports people with  brain injuries, said:  “Congratulations to the  Echo on its campaign. It  is very good news that  now people with brain  injuries will be able to  use the city centre more  easily knowing that public toilets will be available for them to use.”

 Member of the public  also expressed their delight at the outcome.

 Julia Clarke, 64, of  Whipton, said: “That is  fantastic news and I am  over the moon.

 “I have a  severely disabled daughter and public toilets are very important to her. She can  only communicate by facial expressions and we  can be in a cafe one  minute and then go outside and she will need the  toilet, which has happened, and we need to  know that one is nearby.  Disabled people are getting more out into the  community but things  have to be accessible to  them.

“This should never  have come up in the first  place. People accept  there have got to be cuts  but public toilets are essential and what sort of  message would this have  sent to visitors?

 “I am so pleased this  has been resolved.”