Generous act on the Black Isle helps to flush away anger over toilet vandalism in Rosemarkie
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ILL feeling over a mindless act of vandalism which temporarily deprived a Ross-shire village of its public toilet has been flushed away with a random act of kindness.
Damage to the gents toilet in Rosemarkie at the end of October left only one usable urinal and understandably triggered an angry response from locals and visitors alike.
Locals though rallied round with all forms of support, ranging from words of goodwill to cash donations.
One kind local resident donated £100 to the Rosemarkie and Fortrose Trust, the group responsible for the toilets, while others left donations in the cash boxes in the toilets.
But RAFT Trustees were astounded this week to find that the broken urinal had mysteriously disappeared and a brand new one appeared in its place, expertly fitted and looking like nothing had happened.
Local businessman Donald John Morrison of Caley Timber and Building Supplies had spotted the reports of the damage to the toilets and had stepped in to source a replacement urinal and to arrange to have it fitted. Doug Maclean, chairman of RAFT, visited the toilets on Sunday to empty the donations boxes, and thought he was imagining things when he saw the new urinal in place.
He quickly got on the phone to Caley Timber, as their representative John Hearmon had previously contacted the trustees to ask about the nature of the damage and what was needed to fix it, "and sure enough, they had fixed it!"
RAFT trustees, who have been working for over two years to find the funding to get the toilets in both Fortrose and Rosemarkie renovated, declared themselves overwhelmed by the support shown by people in the community.
Mr Maclean said: "It is so utterly demoralising when someone comes along and mindlessly damages a facility that so many people, both local and visitors, make use of and value. But when the community rallies round as much as the people of Rosemarkie and Fortrose have done, it really restores your faith in humankind."
