MEMBERS of West Devon Borough Council have overturned a decision to close the bus station toilets in Tavistock, despite the authority facing budget pressures.

At a recent meeting of the borough council's environment and community committee members decided to close the block of toilets at the bus station in Plymouth Road along with those in Mill Road, Okehampton and at the Leg O' Mutton in Yelverton in order to save £31,460.

But at a budget meeting last week councillors overturned the decision because they were felt to be an important and well-used facility.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green said: 'The bus station toilets differ from all the other ones in West Devon. Yes, they are used by tourists but they are also used by a lot of West Devon residents that come to Tavistock to shop or have hospital appointments and so on.'

She said many people changed buses at the bus station and someone waiting for another bus would not want to walk half a mile to the next nearest toilet and miss their connection.

The councillor moved an amendment to keep the bus station toilets open and continue negotiations with Tavistock Town Council on the way forward. The town council is currently undertaking a survey on the condition of the three public toilet facilities in the town.

All town and parish councils with public toilets in their boundaries are being asked to contribute 30% towards their running costs. The borough council said this was a necessary move to making savings in discretionary budget areas, given the tough financial challenges facing the authority.

The council will look at making the saving of £12,300 lost through keeping the toilets open at the bus station by sharing services with South Hams District Council and reviewing senior management structure.

Cllr Margaret Garton, chair of the strategies and resources committee, said the borough council had received a number of representations about the bus station toilets proposal, and councillors had 'carefully weighed those comments against the very difficult budget challenges faced this year'.