Protect what makes Cornwall special

Lockdown has given me pause to think about what makes Cornwall truly special - our natural and historic environment, our sense of community and our arts and culture. I loved being able to ride my bike, something I’d normally be too scared to do because of the traffic. Finding ways to help people enjoy the outdoors without need for their cars has to be a priority. I would definitely use my bike to get to work if roads were safer. I think lots of people have valued the environment during lockdown but still too many have dropped litter or damaged historic sites - we need to do more to educate people about the value of these places so that they care for them. It’s been lovely to see the sense of community playing out and the help people have given each other on a local level. It’s also been a wake up call to witness Cornwall’s racism problem. This needs recognising and tackling. Racism shames us all and should have no place in Cornwall’s future.

I think we are at a watershed moment for tourism - we need to support high value jobs and move away from an economy dominated by low value seasonal tourism. Tourism has its place, but the growth of more sustainable jobs and sectors must be a priority.
Our museums and galleries and local cultural venues should be cherished as a place for community connection, creativity and contemplation. Cornwall’s arts and culture are a strength on which we should build and play a key role in making Cornwall a great place to live.