Let’s be more welcoming

Too many posts and messages on local and Cornwall wide social media were negative or just nasty. There were posts targeting those from other countries; posts criticising the cars visitors drive, or the fact they create queues in local shops or, conversely they don’t shop locally; suggestions that anyone without the right postcode should be denied medical treatment; some wanted to put posters on all holiday and second homes telling occupants to go home. Nearby a car was vandalised whilst parked legally on the roadside

Regular visitors will have read those posts and not only feel they aren’t welcome now but that they never were. I’d urge people to reflect on the long term impact on jobs of reduced tourism and to delete any of their posts which might discourage people who have supported our community for many years. Already friends have decided to go elsewhere this year. If we lose our regulars shops, hotels, cafes, restaurants and other businesses won’t survive.

I’d like people to understand that second home owners and owners of holiday homes have paid the prices set by those who sold the houses in the first place. It’s always been possible to sell your family home to a local person at a price they could afford but how many people are willing to do that?

Too many local people think high house prices, low paid jobs and high levels of tourism only affect Cornwall but people across the country have similar concern. Let’s learn from each other, not try to divide and conquer that means nobody wins