A COUNCIL is left feeling red after a disused beachside public toilet sold at auction for £169,000 – more than eight times its value.
The Sun said on Tuesday that the former washbasin, which overlooks a castle and sandy coast, had a guide price of £20,000.
But online bidders went past that figure for the Long Rock estate near Penzance which was auctioned for Cornwall Council.
The building was sold with a strip of land of 0.12 hectares.
Senior auction valuer Katie Semmens said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire this detached former public amenity block with land on either side.
“Situated in a truly spectacular coastal location, it offers stunning views of St Michael’s Mount and Mount’s Bay.
“Occasionally these types of properties are auctioned, although rarely in these types of locations.
”They can offer a variety future use, all subject to all necessary permissions.”
It’s not the first time an old toilet block in Cornwall has fetched loads of money.
In 2008, ex-public toilets in Newlyn cost £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 sea views sold for £73,000 – almost five times the asking price – while in 2015 a former toilet block in Charlestown sold for £115,000.