Developer’s £169,000 Purchase of Disused Coastal Toilet Block

A developer has explained his rationale for acquiring a former toilet block situated on a narrow strip of land positioned between a rail line and a coastal path. Simon Ayres, the developer, stated, “The view is the only reason I bought it,” after purchasing the public convenience from Cornwall Council for £169,000 in March. The toilet block, which ironically lacks any functional toilets, offers views of St Michael’s Mount and Mounts Bay. Mr. Ayres intends to lease the property as a cafe, install a new unisex toilet block, and construct 18 beach pods on the adjacent strip of land. He acknowledged that this proposal has drawn some criticism from local residents, who believe it would “alter their views.” One resident commented that it would render the area a “complete eyesore.” Mr. Ayres has removed all internal walls and fitted large windows, one of which he indicated would “probably be a serving hatch.” He described the renovation as challenging due to the lack of vehicle access: “The concrete was old and very hard and I had to get rid of it myself because you can’t get a vehicle down here so it’s been hard work.” He reiterated his primary motivation, adding, “The view is the only reason I bought it though – it’s a wonderful place to come and work.” He further clarified that the 18 beach pods are designed to function “like a traditional beach hut.” He elaborated, “They will be curved roof pods so that they can stand up to the conditions down here, and so people will lease them and they might decide to rent them out on a day to day basis.” Simon Walter, a resident whose home overlooks the proposed site for the pods, expressed his concern that they would create a “complete eyesore.” He elaborated, “These are basically three-metre high sheds and we’ll have a view of the back of them.” Mr. Walter added, “We have no problem whatsoever with developing the cafe, have some tables out there… it’s a real benefit to the area, but this row of sheds it’s just going to be a complete eyesore.” Mr. Ayres acknowledged that the plan had received some objections from local individuals regarding the impact on views, but he maintained that the overall feedback was predominantly positive. He explained his personal motivation for undertaking the project: “I took the project on because I got a bit bored, I was retired, I was playing golf and tennis every day and I felt like I was a bit useless, so I just decided to look for a project because I used to do projects, it was my job and it was a fantastic opportunity down here.” He also noted the public’s interest, stating, “Everyone who walks past wants to know what’s going on. I do spend about half my day just talking to people, I would say 99% are positive about the change and the plans.” For further updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.