Drug-plagued public toilets where needles were "abandoned recklessly" are set to see new barriers installed alongside a 30p fee. 

The Moore Street public toilets, in Redcar, have been subjected to an increase in anti-social behaviour and vandalism in recent years. 

It has also been hit by drug use with needles being abandoned inside, exposing both families and children to dangerous conditions. 

Staff have also faced abuse while trying to clean the toilets. 

As reported, Council leader Alec Brown previously told how a grandparent of a four-year-old spoke to him about how he was subjected to someone injecting drugs and foul language in the toilets, after taking the child to use the facility.

At the time, he said closing the toilets would be a "last resort".

Redcar and Cleveland Council agreed to introduce charging at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 29, in a bid to deter the bad behaviour. 

The toilets will soon have a barrier system requiring users to pay 30 pence for entry, which will be done via a contactless payment system. 

Access to the accessible toilet and Changing Places toilet will remain free at the point of use and will not have barrier systems installed - however, this will continue to require radar key and passcode access. 

The Council said it has tried to use other methods to control the anti-social behaviour at the toilets, including hiring a security guard over the summer months, but decided that this wasn't sustainable and that a "more permanent and cost-effective solution was required".

Cllr Carrie Richardson, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate and culture at the council, explained: “The health and safety of our residents and visitors is paramount, and this action will make the toilets cleaner and safer.

Recommended reading:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Click here.

"When toilets are regularly targeted for vandalism and misuse, it not only increases day to day maintenance costs but also places the toilets out of use until repairs can be completed. 

“We must not allow this to continue, and funding security guards during the summer just isn’t sustainable, nor do we want to close the toilets permanently.

"We need public toilets to be fit for purpose, especially as Redcar is undergoing some major regeneration, which will welcome more and more visitors to the area.”