Toilet Project 2005

 

When the project was first mooted (about 2+ years ago!) we decided to opt for a fully flushing toilet rather than the “greener” option of a composting loo, because the main town sewer runs under the gardens on the south side of ‘A’ road. It was a comparatively simple job to plumb into it once permission had been obtained. So we have a properly flushing toilet and a wash basin with cold running water. (Perhaps the engineers amongst us could come up with a solar powered system to heat the water in the future?)

 

Berkhamsted Town Council paid for the Planning and Building Regs costs, and for the connection into the sewer. The concrete for the base and some of the insulation were paid for out of SAS funds, but most of the rest of the materials, furnishings and fittings etc. were either recycled or donated. The toilet door was once the front door of one of our tenants and it still has the number on it. No doubt “going to 116” will soon become the Sunnyside euphemism for going to the loo.

 

Once given the go-ahead by the Council, the Readymix concrete was delivered at the end of June and from then on it was all systems go. In spite of being in the middle of the growing season, all the labour was provided by tenants and the job has been accomplished with enthusiasm and good humour. It has been a real cooperative effort and the result will be of great benefit to both current and future tenants. Special thanks are due to the Carpenter (Jim Ellisdon) and carpenter’s mate, and to the Plumber and plumber’s mate who have given so much of their time and expertise. But our grateful thanks go also to the many other tenants who willingly became labourers, tilers, decorators and fitters. The Mayor of Berkhamsted performed the official opening ceremony on Saturday 26th November after the AGM.