A PUBLIC toilet block in Clacton is being lived in by homeless people and used by drug addicts, it is claimed.

Fears have been raised for schoolchildren who may use the Magdalen Green toilets (right), off Old Road, as it is on many pupils’ routes to White Hall Academy and Clacton Coastal Academy.

Complaints have been made about homeless people being aggressive to Tendring Council’s cleaners.

Residents have also complained the issue had been reported to the police, but no action had been taken.

Nick Turner, council cabinet member responsible for toilets, said: “It is a police matter – this is antisocial behaviour.

“We are managing the best we can, but it is a complex issue.

“Homeless people are not living in there – it is only open during the day. We don’t lock people in there.

“But we are aware of the problems. They have been going on for some time. We are fully aware of the social problems that appear around these loos.”

He said the council was producing a new strategy in relation to all of its 44 public toilets and the authority’s cabinet would discuss the issues at Magdalen Green on Friday.

Inspector Julia Finch, of Clacton police, said: “We have had conversations with councillors in relation to the toilets and whether they are potentially looking at closing them or if they are required in this location.

“There have been a few homeless people living down there and sleeping in the doorways.

“With any public toilet block, there is a risk of drug abuse. We can’t patrol every toilet block and if someone was in a cubicle using drugs, we wouldn’t necessarily see them doing it.”

The inspector added the cleaners had not reported any incidents to the police.