KNOWING where to go to the loo has never been more important for people in Darlington, the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire who are planning to meet family and friends after lockdown but may be stuck outside depending on tiered restrictions.

As England comes out of lockdown, areas in Tier 2 and Tier 3 can only meet up to six people in outdoor spaces, but if you are meeting for a coffee and a walk you'll probably want to know where the closest public toilet is too. 

And the loo issue is even more pressing for people heading to and who live within seaside towns - some of which had dunes soaked in urine thanks to sunny days in the first lockdown. 

The issue was so potent that in June Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clark wrote to the Environment Minister Rebecca Pow expressing concern.

The letter stated: "The combination of the hotter weather and the Government’s push to support outdoor hospitality has reinforced the need for public access to toilets. Again, councils should consider the harm to public health and the local environment caused by people relieving themselves in public.

"Public authorities should also consider the equality implications of those with particular health needs who need to use the toilet more often."

Despite cold weather setting in, residents of Tier 3 areas can only meet friends and family in public outdoor spaces while most of the hospitality industry will be closed - meaning no running into pubs or cafes to use the toilet. 

While finding a public loo in lockdown can be a tricky task, an interactive map has revealed open toilets across the region.

Here are all of the toilets open to the public in Darlington and the Tees Valley:

  • Shell Woodland Road Darlington

Toilets are said to be open 24-hours, though this may change. Lockdown Loo has been assured by Shell they are cleaning regularly and doing everything they can to keep station toilets open.

  • Cornmill Shopping Centre, Priestgate, Darlington

Toilets and baby change facilities.

  • Asda Darlington, Whinbush Way, Darlington

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 8am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Tesco Extra, Durham Rd, Stockton-on-Tees ​

​Toilets at bigger Tesco stores are open under social distancing rules. They may sometimes close for cleaning. Open Tesco opening times, which is 6am to midnight through the week.

  • Wellington Square Shopping, Wellington St, Stockton-on-Tees

Male and female with disabled and baby changing facilities. The shopping centre is open from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30 to 4.30 on Sundays.

  • Asda, Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 7am to 12pm Monday through Friday, 7am to 10pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees

Comments on Lockdown Loo say there is a large dated toilet block, which have restricted opening times to main daytime hours. On Preston Park website, it says toilets are next to the cafe by the adventure play area in the park.

  • Tesco Superstore, Myton Rd, Ingleby Barwick

​Toilets at bigger Tesco stores are open under social distancing rules. They may sometimes close for cleaning. Open Tesco opening times, which is 6am to midnight through the week and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Shell, Thornaby Rd, Thornaby

Toilets are said to be open 24-hours, though this may change. Lockdown Loo has been assured by Shell they are cleaning regularly and doing everything they can to keep station toilets open.

  • Asda, Allensway, Thornaby

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 8am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Shell, Thirsk Rd, Yarm

Toilets are said to be open 24-hours, though this may change. Lockdown Loo has been assured by Shell they are cleaning regularly and doing everything they can to keep station toilets open.

  • Shell, Marton Rd, Middlesbrough

Toilets are said to be open 24-hours, though this may change. Lockdown Loo has been assured by Shell they are cleaning regularly and doing everything they can to keep station toilets open.

  • Tesco Superstore, Leeholme Rd, Billingham

​Toilets at bigger Tesco stores are open under social distancing rules. They may sometimes close for cleaning. Open Tesco opening times, which is 6am to midnight through the week and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Middlesbrough bus station, Newport Road, Middlesbrough

The bus station has men and women's toilets, with baby change facilities and two accessible toilets that need a RADAR key for use. Comments on Lockdown Loo say there is reduced capacity and they are closed for a short time once and hour for cleaning. 

Middlesbrough Council website says they are open Monday to Sunday from 5am to midnight but this may have changed.

  • Middlesbrough Town Hall, Albert Road, Middlesbrough

On the ground floor. there are men and women's toilets and two accessible toilets that need a RADAR key to use.

Lockdown Loo reports that they are open Monday to Friday only, from 9am to 4pm, and social distancing is in place.

  • Hill Street Shopping Centre, Hill St, Middlesbrough

 

The shopping centre is ppen from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10.30 to 5pm on Sundays. 

  • Asda Superstore, 2 North Street, Middlesbrough

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 6am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Asda, Allensway, Thornaby

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 7am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Tesco Extra, Trunk Rd, South Bank, Middlesbrough

​Toilets at bigger Tesco stores are open under social distancing rules. They may sometimes close for cleaning. Open Tesco opening times, which is 6am to midnight through the week and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Zetland Park, Coast Road, Redcar

A person told Lockdown Loo they visited the ladies toilets where there were around five cubicles, clean and had a lot of social distancing signage with foot markings for queues. There was also plenty of hand soap and paper towels.

  • Moore Street, Redcar

Not much information provided but these toilets may be by the lifeboat station.

  • Redcar Beacon Newcomen Terrace

Not much information was provided to Lockdown Loo but online information suggests these toilets should be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

  • Hartlepool Beach Front

There are two sets of toilets at each end of the pier.

  • Seaton Carew clock tower

They are two toilets, male and female, in Seaton Carew Hartlepool clock tower. There is also disabled access.

  • Lidl Teesbay Retail Park, Brenda Rd, Hartlepool 

​There is one toilet unisex toilet inside the store with disabled and baby change facilities. 

  • Tesco Extra, Belle Vue Way, Hartlepool

​Toilets at bigger Tesco stores are open under social distancing rules. They may sometimes close for cleaning. Open Tesco opening times, which is 6am to midnight through the week and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Victoria Rd, Hartlepool

Lockdown Loo reports that the toilets near Primark are closed but here are facilities available near Poundland, which have disabled access. The shopping centre is open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Ward Jackson Park, Off Woller Rd, Hartlepool

This public toilet is council run and allows for one person at a time. There is sanitiser available and regular cleaning.

  • Morrisons, Clarence Rd, Hartlepool 

The store's toilets have baby change and disabled facilities. It is open from 7am to 10pm Monday through Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Asda, Marina Way, Hartlepool

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled and baby change facilities. Asda is open from 7am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Croft Garden, Hartlepool headland, Northgate

There are about four toilets each for ladies and gents with baby change facilities and disabled access. 

  • Roseberry Topping, public car park

There are four toilets for both male and female in the public car park, open from 10am to 4pm.

  • EG Guisborough Service Station (Shell), Middlesbrough Rd, Guisborough

Toilets are said to be open 24-hours, though this may change. Lockdown Loo has been assured by Shell they are cleaning regularly and doing everything they can to keep station toilets open.

  • Fountain St West Car Park, Fountain St, Guisborough

Men and women's toilets available in the coach car park with two toilets in each.

  • Asda Skelton, Pheasant Fields Lane, Skelton 

Toilets within the supermarket are open and have disabled facilities. Asda is open from 8am to 10pm Monday through to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

  • Skinningrove near Saltburn

Two ladies toilets are reportedly available in the village. One person told Lockdown Loo that they were very clean and socially distanced, with plenty of hot water and soap.

The writer's husband happy with gents facility too. There are also baby change and disabled facilities. 

  • Station Buildings Station Square, Saltburn by the sea

A person to Lockdown Loo used the female toilets, which had two cubicles, hand washing with paper towels. They are cleaned regularly, have social distancing in place by waiting outside as well as disabled access.

  • Saltburn seafront

Here there are ten or more cubicles, described as clean and well-stocked.

  • Staithes Car Park, Whitegate Close, Staithes, Saltburn-By-The-Sea

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning. 

  • Bank Bottom, Seaton Garth, Staithes, Saltburn

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning.

  • Runswick Bay, Yorkshire coast near the lifeboat station

Separate male and female facilities described as clean. There is a notice on social distancing and they are located just above lifeboat station.

  • Lythe Bank, Sandsend, Whitby

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning but there are disabled facilities.

  • Sandsend Car Park, Scarborough

There are toilets for ladies, old fashioned public toilets but clean with soap and hand dryer provided. Social distancing signs are in operation and there is disabled access.

  • East Row, Sandsend, Whitby

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning but there is disabled access.

  • Whitby, West Cliff, on North Terrace

Toilets are located next to the skatepark and outdoor swimming pool. The public toilets are said to be open 24/7 but cost 40p to use.

  • Whitby Beach Management Centre, The Beach, Whitby

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning.

  • Market Place Whitby, Yorkshire

Council toilets cost 40p, payable via card or cash at the turnstile. There are six cubicles and all have an automatic flush.

  • Langbourne Road, Whitby

Council-run, male and female toilets which did not have a queue when reported to Lockdown Loo but also no hand sanitisers. These toilets are just past the Co-op on the right-hand side. They also have disabled access.

  • Marina Car Park, Langbourne Road, Whitby

Scarborough Council has said the toilets it operates are open. People should follow social distancing rules. These toilets may close for cleaning.