Rob Denning, 44, of Mount Pleasant, Exeter, who works for Stagecoach, said: "It was a travesty that they were planning to close them and I don't think the council has done itself any favours with the electorate. They have shown their true colours but at least they have come to their senses.

"I used to be a taxi driver and these toilets (Blackboy Road) are a godsend if you are driving around and need to stop."

Bob Clarke, 73, of Whipton, Exeter, said: "I could not understand why the council proposed this in the first place. They could have saved a lot of money by not having the arch in Heavitree.

The question now is where are they going to get the extra £60,000? I can't imagine the council workers being happy with their pay rise being cut.

"It is fantastic news they have finally seen sense."

Liz Hicks, 55, of Starcross, said: "You have got to still have good toilet provision. People need them and need to know where they are.

"I think the fact the council has listened to what people have to say is admirable really but they shouldn't have planned to close them in the first place. If they had closed them, the toilets that would have remained would have been a lot more unpleasant."

Mary Harvey, 89, of Beacon Avenue, Exeter, said: "It was disgusting that they were planning to close them in the first place. It is good to do a U-turn and accept when a wrong decision has been made. I am very pleased they have done this as it was a crazy plan.

"For the paper to have so many responses shows the strength of feeling from the public and indicates that the decision to close them was the wrong one."

John Wade-Olson, 79, of Pennsylvania, Exeter, said: "I've never heard of anything so stupid as closing the toilets. You don't do that. The council must have lost their head to ever come up with such a thing. They should turn their heating down and wear an extra jumper in their offices instead if they want to save some money.

"It is good to see they have finally come to their senses."

Emily Lawrence, 19, a university student of Mount Pleasant, Exeter, said: "Toilets are a basic need and should never be taken away. It is a fundamental human right. I tend to use the toilets in Marks and Spencer but for a lot of elderly people and those with disabilities public loos are vital . For most people the news that the council has seen sense will have come as a relief — literally."