Council sells disused public toilet by beach for £169,000 at auction — more than eight times its valuation
A COUNCIL is feeling flush after a disused public toilet by the beach sold for £169,000 at auction — more than eight times its valuation.
The Sun told on Tuesday how the former lav overlooking a castle and the sandy shore had a guide price of £20,000.
But online bidders smashed past that sum for the Long Rock property near Penzance that was being auctioned off for Cornwall Council.
The building was sold with a 0.12-acre strip of land.
Senior auction appraiser Katie Semmens said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire this freehold detached former block of public conveniences with land to either side.
“Located in a truly spectacular position on the seafront, it boasts stunning views towards St Michael’s Mount and Mount’s Bay.
“Occasionally these type of properties come to auction although rarely in this type of location.
”They may offer a variety of future uses, all subject to all necessary consents.”
It is not the first time an old toilet block in Cornwall has brought in heaps of cash.
In 2008, ex-public loos in Newlyn went for £73,000 — five times the guide price.
And in 2015, another in Charlestown sold for a whopping £115,000.
In 2018, a former toilet block in Newlyn with a sea view sold for £73k – nearly five times the asking price – whilst in 2015, a former toilet block in Charlestown went for £115K.