THE U-turn to save four public toilets is a victory for people power. Oxford City Council courted unpopularity when it decided to close seven of the city’s public conveniences to save £50,000.
Given that it was then planning to spend £300,000 on creating a ‘world-class’ loo in Gloucester Green, something did not smell right for a lot of people.
The reaction was predictable, but those who campaigned to save their neighbourhood toilets in Blackbird Leys, Littlemore and North Oxford deserve credit for making themselves heard.
The council, of course, receives praise for reversing its decision on the Knights Road, Littlemore, Woodstock Road and South Parade facilities, after finding itself with some financial freedom courtesy of an unexpected Government grant on concessionary bus fares.
While it cannot use the Government’s money to extricate itself from this mess, the council has sensibly decided cash it had initially committed for bus fares could be diverted.
But protesters can feel satisfied their complaints had some effect.
It’s good to see the council listen and act, particularly as it emerges a message has been sent to the Feestkapel Decibel band from Leiden in Holland to avoid last year’s farce, when the musicians felt they were banned from wearing Santa suits at Oxford’s Christmas festivities.
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