Protection; environment, residents & waters.

I am so pleased to read many extracts of other Cornwall residents, which echo my own priorities, hopes & wishes for our future. For too long I have felt negative changes were out of our hands and no one was listening. Not only do I feel Cornwall's MPS do not represent the needs of Cornish communities, I simply feel they do not care. I believe our healthcare suffers immensely and any positive resources, including talent from younger generations, are lost because there is no incentive for them to stay. I feel housing and the environment become exploited at the hands of commercialism and pollution is ravaging the county. It is time to act.

I went to a talk at the Uni, by Rob Hopkins, a fantastic speaker who has a vast amount of experience regarding creativity and planning, things don't have to be complicated, to improve but they do need the commitment of local authority teams, like Cornwall Council as well as transition groups and Extinction rebellion, who have represented Cornish concerns in the major cities, as well as at home.

Why do some people wait for over 15years for an allotment, when our curb-sides are being sprayed with pesticides? A whole new attitude to green space needs to be addressed. Too often Cornwall chooses the 'easy', short-term options and it is harmful. Tourism is not sustainable and yet, we have a huge array of talent and community willingness to support what is already here. Make it easier for Cornish people to live here. Stop the traffic and harmful footfall by nourishing the communities that are here and struggling; housing needs to be sustainable and truly affordable, built by us, not commercial lego housing which frankly is ugly, unaffordable and defiantly not a 'secret', which is prop-ported to be on billboards advertising to buyers. Stop the swathe of Costa-del-awful sweeping across our seafronts. Make them walkable, gently lit and open opportunities for new business start-ups for younger people to gain experience. Make EVERY town plastic free, not just penzance. Ask all supermarkets to commit to selling local produce and ban plastic bags. Events must all adhere to no plastic and commitment to keep our beaches and seas clean.

I would also like to see boat and marine environments (eel and kelp beds) better protected with less human waste from bilges, less motorised vehicles approaching beach-side. Every motor and sail (including Falmouth docks) needs to be part of the commitment, not an exception. We have some incredible groups committed to water-environment, help them to spread their message and work.

Lockdown peace has been incredible. I had forgotten how lovely Cornwall can be when it is truly silent and the stars come out. For too long, the housing situation for renters has been unstable, buying houses impossible and locals have been left washed-out due to everyday, un-necessary pertinent (for eg: the constant roadworks during summer season last year) stress, awaiting the horror that will be Brexit. I was in Truro college, working as a health practitioner on the day of the Brexit vote and every college attendee was broken hearted not to have a say; they knew the college had been given huge funding from the EU and they also discussed what it would mean for them in terms of future struggle. Commission discussion with younger generations, engage with them as well as this welcome platform. They need a say too.

Tourism leaches our resources, it doesn't embed industry/local resources and allow youth (or anyone without above-average income levels) to stay here. It is time to change and protect our communities for the long-term. Cornwall could be a champion leading the way but it requires the backbone of our local authority and commitment from transparent, committed MPs to stand up to Westminster and demand change. Environment minister Eustice supports the destruction of woodland and HS2 development. This is exactly the kind of priority that needs to be replaced for the good of our county and everyone in it.