Charge for loos blighted by anti-social behaviour

Charges for a town centre's public toilets are being brought in to deter drug users and anti-social behaviour.

The toilets at Moore Street in Redcar, on Teesside, are near the esplanade overlooking the beach, and are particularly well used during summer.

Following a rise in anti-social behaviour and vandalism over the last few years, the Labour-run Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is installing barriers and a 30p entry charge.

Conservative councillor Carolyn Curr said the move was "not ideal" but accepted the authority needed to do something to make the toilets safe.

There have been reports of children witnessing drug-taking in the toilets, along with blood stains and abandoned needles.

Staff have also faced abuse when attempting to keep the toilets clean.

The council has tried other methods to control the issue, including hiring a security guard over the summer months.

But the authority's cabinet agreed that was not sustainable, and a more permanent and cost-effective solution was needed.

Between £30,000 to 35,000 is being spent on the new barrier system, and with about 60,000 people estimated to be using the toilets annually, it is expected to take two years for the authority to recoup the money.

Curr, the leader of the council's Conservative group, said it was important the council worked "to stop this idiotic behaviour which is hard to comprehend".

She said toilets were an "important and often undervalued public service".

"When people are coming into the town - whether residents or tourists - it's important they have clean and safe facilities to use," she added.

"The cost makes this a medium-term solution and we'll be looking to make sure it's a worthwhile expense, that's the caveat."

The council said the barriers should be installed within eight weeks, and people would be able to pay via a contactless payment system.

The accessible and Changing Places toilet would remain free at the point of use, the council said, but would continue to require radar key and passcode access.

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