AN “uncivilised” proposal by Waverley Borough Council that would have shut Haslemere’s only public conveniences and redirected users to local cafes, was flushed away on Monday, when Haslemere Town Council became the new managers.

An online petition launched by the town council in June to save the High Street Car Park toilet block triggered just under 400 signatures in four days, with 176 comments posted, branding the impending closure “uncivilised” and an “utter joke”.

The town council condemned the move as “utterly unacceptable”, particularly as the block contains the only accessible 24/7 disabled toilet facility in Haslemere.

The cost of running the public toilets now rests with the town council, which has been granted a 20-year lease, and it will have to be incorporated into the budget for the next financial year. It is likely this will result in a “modest” increase in residents’ council tax.

Haslemere Mayor Malcolm Carter said: “The council is delighted to have taken over the management of this important asset in the town.

“In the immediate future some basic remedial work is planned to bring the toilets up to the basic standard we think our residents will expect.

“In the longer term, some investment may well be required to ensure the toilets are brought up to a good standard for those people who regularly use them.

“This is a great example of localism in action.”