Plans to cut funding for 114 of Cornwall’s public toilets appear to have been put on hold by Cornwall Council.

The authority’s economy and environment committee recommended the controversial cuts last month, and the proposals were due to be considered by the ruling cabinet committee at its November meeting.

The plan would have saved the council an estimated £1.1 million a year, but provoked outrage from taxpayers when it was revealed two weeks ago. Now it appears the leadership of the authority have decided to put the idea on hold.

A message sent to all councillors from council leader Alec Robertson reads: “We had originally intended to discuss this report at the Cabinet meeting in November but have now agreed to defer the report to enable further consultation to take place before final decisions are made.”

The news has been given a cautious welcome by those leading the campaign against the cuts.

Councillor Andrew Wallis (Independent, Porthleven and Helston South), a member of the economy and environment committee, had argued against the proposals and vowed to fight against any cuts.

He said: “This, at face value, is great news, but hardly surprising due to the outrage this idea to stop funding the toilets has caused. The problem is: what does further consultation mean?

“Will it be along the line of the ‘take them over or they close’ to the parish and town councils? If any local council does agree to take them overm, will there be the right financial package in place?”

However, a Cornwall Council spokesman said today that although there would be a delay on the project, in order for an Equality Impact Assessment to be completed, it would only be put back by a few weeks.

He added: “This proposal is subject to a final ratification by Cornwall Council Cabinet December 14, where upon a decision will be made.”