PLANS to revamp four public toilets in Fenland at a cost of �500,000 could be delayed because a council received its consultation documents late.

Councillor Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for environment and street scene, declared it was “full speed ahead” for ‘pay and go’ toilets in each of Fenland’s market towns at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

However, the Mayor of Whittlesey, Councillor Kay Mayor, brought developments to a temporary halt when she complained about the consultation process.

Cllr Mayor said: “Whittlesey Town Council had not received any consultation and when we did it was far too late to give any response.

“The planning officer said the documents had got lost in the post but I find that unacceptable. Plans were changed at the last minute and we were never notified of the changes.”

Toilets in Station Road, Whittlesey, Furrowfields, Chatteris, Broad Street, March and Church Terrace in Wisbech are the only public loos earmarked to remain open in Fenland.

Cllr Mayor also revealed that the town council hoped toilets in Grosvenor Road, near Eastgate Car Park, could remain open too - and if given the choice would prefer them to be refurbished rather than the loos in Station Road.

Council Leader, Alan Melton, said Cllr Mayor’s comments about the consultation process would be investigated and that she would “receive a proper and thorough response” to her complaints.

Cllr Melton said: “It appears there are some anomalies in the system in this case and I want a resolution to be found as soon as possible.

“I want Whittlesey Town Council to come up with a way forward before the next cabinet meeting in January. I do not want any conflict between Fenland District Council and Whittlesey Town Council or any other statutory bodies.”

The necessary planning applications had been approved on Wednesday.

Cabinet still approved the plans, subject to further conversations between Cllr Murphy, Cllr Mayor and council officers, which a council spokesman said would be taking place “very soon”.

If matters can’t be resolved, after conservations with Cllr Mayor, the topic could come back to Cabinet in January.