COUNTY Hall performed an eleventh hour u-turn and decided not to close its public gallery at an important council meeting yesterday.

Oxfordshire County Council came under fire after it barred people from using the first floor gallery, at its full council meeting, because of “health and safety fears”.

But shortly before the meeting, the council relented and allowed about 20 members of the public to take seats inside the chamber.

The authority had announced the gallery would be shut as it felt the narrow, spiral access staircase would be unsafe if hundreds descended on County Hall.

The Conservative-controlled council, fearful of a mass protest similar to tuition fee demonstrations in November, also drafted in two additional security guards for the 10am meeting at a cost of £200.

It also requested a police presence, and five officers arrived at the New Road offices shortly before the meeting started.

The council’s proposed budget cuts of £155m, including the closure of libraries and youth centres, were not a specific agenda item at yesterday’s meeting.

Carol Stavris, 63, from Didcot, attended the meeting as she was concerned cuts would target the most vulnerable in society.

She said: “It should be open to the public otherwise it is behind closed doors and undemocratic.”

Labour county councillor John Tanner branded the authority’s reaction to perceived public safety risks “over the top”.

He added: “We have specifically employed security guards. You would think we were being invaded.

“It is important we encourage the public, whether we agree with them or not.”

Gawain Little, president of the Oxford and District Trades Council and chairman of Oxfordshire Anti-cuts Alliance, said: “Obviously, the health and safety reasons we were given did not necessitate closure (of the gallery).”

He added the announcement earlier this week that the gallery would be closed, with video links provided in nearby meeting rooms, may have deterred residents from attending.

Council spokesman Paul Smith confirmed the decision to close the public gallery had been reversed as the number of residents who attended did not pose a safety risk.

He also confirmed two extra security guards had been drafted in at a cost of £200.

Mr Smith said police attendance had been requested due to the protest staged by students at County Hall last year.

He said the council had not looked at using alternative venues as this would incur a hire charge.

In November, students demonstrating against the Government’s plan to increase university fees stormed County Hall.

About 50 youngsters got into restricted areas of the building before mounted police were drafted in to block the entrance.

As a result, County Hall has increased security measures for its members area, the lounge and offices, and they are now only accessible using a security pass.

cburatta@oxfordmail.co.uk