Spending a penny in any of Kent’s towns and cities can leave some shoppers and visitors baffled as to where they can go, as the changing face of our high streets has put the squeeze on many basic facilities.

With council budgets being slashed, the costs involved in maintaining public toilets has proved too much for many – especially with so many a constant target for vandals and other anti-social behaviour.

Nationwide, it is estimated more than 1,700 public facilities have closed over the last 10 years alone.

And that can cause inconvenience to those of all ages.

A spokesman for the British Toilet Association, which campaigns for more public toilets, explained: “When any of us are travelling and away from home for an extended time, we will, on one or more occasions, require the use of a decent, clean toilet.

“There are also an increasing number of specialist user groups, whose lives are adversely affected by the poor state of public toilets across the country.

“These include people with mental or physical disabilities and their carers; older persons and many focus groups; families with babies or young children; schoolchildren and residents; and visitors of all ages who are coping with a range of medical conditions.

“This is a basic human function and we need to have a greater level of adequate provision for everyone and anyone who has a sudden urge to find relief when they are away from their normal residence.

“Failure to get to or use a toilet when we need to can lead to embarrassing medical and social problems.”

So what is the situation here?

The county currently has a patchwork of different approaches depending on the local authority.

Some still rely on a backbone of council-owned toilet blocks while others have sought out partnerships with retailers, allowing those caught short to use their facilities, regardless of whether they are a paying customer or not.

As for some of those former toilets? Well the demand for property is ensuring they don’t remain empty for long.

In Tunbridge Wells, for example, the popular Forum music venue was once a toilet block, while in Canterbury, former underground toilets will be transformed into a glitzy bar at night and coffee shop during the day by Christmas.

In the county town of Maidstone, the town centre is bereft of public facilities and an initiative was implemented for shops, pubs and restaurants to allow individuals to take a comfort break, regardless of whether or not they are a customer.

A decline in the number of council-owned and operated toilets meant pubs and restaurants, including the Muggleton Inn and McDonald’s, began opening their doors for shoppers and visitors to use their loos.

Maidstone Museum, The Mall, Maidstone Market in Lockmeadow and the Royal Star Arcade are all part of the Maidstone Community Toilet Scheme.

The McDonald’s restaurants in Broadway and Week Street, The Royal Albion pub and Society Rooms make up the rest of the businesses in the scheme.

Both Gravesham and Ashford borough councils employ a similar system with Asda, Burger King, the Civic Centre and the library all playing their part in Gravesend.

Darnley Road’s Adult Education Centre and the High Street’s Borough Market also have toilets on offer to the public.

In Ashford, toilets are made available thanks to 12 restaurants and shops including Debenhams, Muffin Break, McDonald’s and Pizza Express.

Despite some councils choosing to adopt a strategy of working with businesses and restaurants in the towns and cities, some have decided to maintain a healthy amount of toilets primed for public use.

Folkestone and Hythe has no less than 27 toilets for shoppers and visitors to choose from, Thanet also has 31 public loos including those at cemeteries, car parks and shopping centres while Medway Council provide more than a dozen public toilets across its area.

"This is a basic human function and we need to have a greater level of adequate provision for everyone and anyone who has a sudden urge to find relief" - British Toilet Association

Dartford Borough Council’s three public toilets in Market Street, Central Park and Hesketh Park, are cleaned and restocked at least twice a day and are locked overnight.

Three privately-operated toilets are also open to the public in Orchard Shopping Centre, Priory Shopping Centre and Bluewater.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council maintain 14 public toilets in the area with most open 24 hours a day, apart from those at Haysden Country Park and Leybourne Country Park, which are both open during car park opening hours as advertised at the parks.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has 13 while a further 12 private toilets offer the public an alternative if they are caught short.

Sixteen toilets are available across Dover and Deal thanks to Dover District Council, while Canterbury City Council has 32 across the city and surrounding areas.

Swale Borough Council runs 14 toilets in total in the Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham area.