Treasury and Resources’ head of estate management John Silvester, left, with Karen and Geoff Meagher, of Rent-a-Loo, who have been driven by vandals to remove their units from North Beach where they had been sited while the main public toilets were being refurbished. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0557788)
VANDALS have forced the owners to remove temporary toilets from North Beach. Seven units, put there while the main public conveniences undergo a £50,000 refurbishment, were targeted on Friday night for the second time in two weeks.
Owner Rent-a-Loo was so disgusted by finding smashed locks, graffiti and excrement smeared on the walls that it cancelled its contract with Treasury and Resources.
‘The disabled unit, which is the most expensive, was worst. The door lock was completely smashed and it looked as if people had been eating in there and there were alcopop bottles in the toilet and graffiti and excrement on the walls,’ said Karen Meagher, who owns the company with her husband, Geoff.
‘It’s not a nice job anyway, but when you have to put up with that it’s just so unfair. We hope to offer a good public service but when something like this is done, it means people will not be getting that.’
Rubble from a nearby skip was also put in the toilets and toilet-roll dispensers broken and paper strewn around the car park.
Vandals had also been jumping onto the roofs of the units.
A similar incident occurred over the Easter weekend, but Mr Meagher said this was the worst damage he had seen since starting the business five years ago. He estimated the cost to be around £1,000.
‘It’s not so much the money but the inconvenience. It’s so frustrating and time-consuming and cancelling a contract is something we’ve never had to do before,’ he said.
Treasury and Resources’ head of estate management John Silvester was disappointed but understood the owners’ reasons.
‘I urge the public to come forward and report this. It happened in a very public place on a Friday night and police have not heard from anyone.
‘We will not waste taxpayers’ money putting up more toilets because it looks likely this will happen again.’
The North Beach facilities are due to open in three weeks. In the meantime people are asked to use those on the Crown Pier or the New Jetty.
Deputy minister Jonathan Le Tocq said that Treasury and Resources deplored what had happened.
‘Such mindless incidents of criminal damage and antisocial behaviour have got to stop. They hit each and every one of us and damage the Guernsey we hold so dear.’
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