Karen Terry
Plumber Daniel Terry (left) repaired the destroyed toilet without the local community having to spend a cent
A plumber has repaired a destroyed beach toilet in Cornwall for free as a Christmas present to the local community.
Daniel Terry, 46, of Based Plumbing and Heating, found out via social media that the women's toilet at Widemouth Beach had been destroyed with a rock.
Mr Terry, who regularly walks the “beautiful beach” near Bude with his wife, children and dog, said he decided to repair the toilet himself, free of charge, to save the council and residents the expense .
He said he wanted to spread some “Christmas cheer” as there was a lot of “gloomy news and bad weather” at this time of year.
He also said the rock used to destroy the toilet was “back on the beach where it belongs.”
“The perpetrator should be ashamed”
According to Poundstock Parish Council, which manages the toilet block, the toilet at the beach car park was damaged earlier this week.
It came days after a trailer containing surfboards worth £15,000 was stolen from the same beach.
Stephen Blake, leader of the council, told the BBC he was “extremely disappointed that this has happened at a time when people only count pennies – the perpetrator should be deeply ashamed.”
Mr Blake said earlier this week that replacing the toilet was “not cheap”, adding: “Unfortunately the cost of incidents like this is ultimately paid for by residents through increased council tax.”
After learning that Mr Terry had replaced the toilet, he said it was “a real Christmas cheer story”.
Bethany Lauder
The repairs would have cost around £400 at a commercial price
Mr Terry, who moved to the area from Dorset earlier this year, said he wanted to do something to help the “incredible community”.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the attitude of the locals,” he said.
“I was totally blown away by the community spirit and the way everyone welcomed my family, so it was a no-brainer [to help].
“I got the parts from Plumbase in Bude,” Mr Terry said. “Mark Jones, the assistant manager, was a legend and reduced them significantly.”
He said the labor and parts would have cost around £400 if he had charged normal prices.
However, Mr Terry said he “wouldn't have dreamed” of engaging the council as he had previously done free work for other organizations such as Monkey World in Dorset and the falconry park there.
“For me it’s a given,” he said.
Although the toilet was replaced without locals having to spend a penny, Mr Terry said the “real gift” was “the excellent community spirit and hospitality we felt from the locals”.
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