Loos at pubs and restaurants are set to throw open their cubicle doors to the public.

Maidstone council is renewing its Community Toilet Scheme.

It started in 2008 when the authority began closing toilets in the town centre.

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The council pays small businesses and larger firms £600 a year to help with cleaning supplies, with their locations publicised on websites, maps and apps, and stickers displayed in windows.

Some new firms are joining, replacing five businesses which have left, including Fortify Cafe which closed this month.

Those involved are Muggleton Inn in High Street, McDonald’s in Barker Road, Royal Albion in St Faith’s Street, McDonald’s in Week Street, Maidstone Museum in St Faith’s Street, Society Rooms in Week Street, Fremlin Walk, Royal Star Arcade, The Mall and Maidstone Market.

The scheme was described by Cllr John Perry (Con) as a “sensible and pragmatic solution to a difficult issue”, but Cllr Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem) was less than enthusiastic.

He described it as a “token response” to the current lack of public toilets and questioned the need to pay businesses with a high footfall any money at all.

He added: “The scheme is a disadvantage – to the elderly, the young, taxi drivers,
council staff working out in the roads and utility workers.

“I think we ought to go and look for a public loo as soon as possible and look for one with disabled facilities.”

Maidstone council began closing facilities in 2009 to save £160,000 from the £524,000 it was spending on maintenance. It still runs some, such as the one at Brenchley Gardens.

The closures sparked outrage from some residents who considered this to be a basic council service.

And some people are not entirely comfortable with community toilets.

Doreen Jenkins, 72, said: “It would be awkward if you’re not going to buy anything but if they aren’t going to have any council toilets you’ve got to go somewhere.”

Cathy Hall, 52, added: “If I was in a restaurant I wouldn’t want people causing a long queue for the toilet, and there are people who don’t use public toilets appropriately.”

Some rural areas, including Staplehurst, took on the cost of maintaining the toilets themselves in 2010.