Creating a more self-sufficient Cornwall

The colour of the sea was stunning during lockdown, the skies were clear and so were the roads! You could hear nature all around you. I want to keep some of that.

I think Cornwall has been ruined by too much tourism, taking homes which should be available for residents, blocking residential streets with camper vans and creating much of the road and coastal pollution.

We need a mixed economy enabling us to be more self-sufficient in hard times. We are a world away from London and other large cities and we have different concerns, strengths and areas for development.

We have fish from our coasts and we need to maximise food production from the land too. We have a diverse and extraordinarily creative and proud population who could provide many of our needs. We could start a new campaign backing Cornish business and become a more prosperous region as a result. The idea that tourism is all we have got is misguided and short-sighted. We need our young people inspired to stay in Cornwall by providing good quality and rewarding employment opportunities.

I would like to see a far more pro-active engagement in local affairs from our regional MPs too. They should help spearhead the changes to increase self-sufficiency and prosperity in this special place we live.