The Cornwall We Want

What are your hopes and fears for the future?

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  Protect our county, beaches & water.

  by J_J_G, over 6 years ago

  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... Continue reading

  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. The M5 this morning is already gridlocked with people travelling SW bound. It is time to act. Cornwall is fast becoming a pastiche, commercialised and exploited.

  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 which are 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 excessive 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 pro-ported to be on boards advertising to out-of-county or above average, local wage buyers.

  Stop the swathe of building sweeping across our seafronts; make them walkable, Mediterranean 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 better protected and less human and commercial waste in our sea; less motorised vehicles approaching beach-side, eel and kelp beds protected. Every motor and sail (including docklands) need to be part of the commitment, not an exception to clean seas.

  Lockdown peace has been incredible. I had forgotten how lovely Cornwall can be when it is silent and the stars come out. For too long, the housing situation for renters has beeunstable, buying houses impossible and we have been left washed out and awaiting the horror that will be Brexit. I was in Truro college, working as a practitioner on the day of the vote and every college attendee was broken hearted about not having 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. Tourism leaches our resources, it doesn't embed industry and allow youth to stay here. It is time to change and protect our communities for the long-term. Cornwall could be a National champion area 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 on behalf of us, not inspite of us. Environment minister and local MP from Helston voted for the continued 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.

  
  
• Share Let’s be more welcoming on Facebook Share Let’s be more welcoming on X (formerly Twitter) Share Let’s be more welcoming on Linkedin Email Let’s be more welcoming link

  Let’s be more welcoming

  over 6 years ago

  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... Continue reading

  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

  
  
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  Protection; environment, residents & waters.

  by J_J_G, over 6 years ago

  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... Continue reading

  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.
• Share Returning emmigrant or emmet? on Facebook Share Returning emmigrant or emmet? on X (formerly Twitter) Share Returning emmigrant or emmet? on Linkedin Email Returning emmigrant or emmet? link

  Returning emmigrant or emmet?

  by Christopher Peachey, over 6 years ago

  My family left Cornwall in 1891 but all generations have continued to return for regular visits/holidays; two of us currently own additional houses in the county ( paying full Council Tax). For ten years I had a part time job in Cornwall and pre-Covid spent 25% of my time in Cornwall, having many friends locally.

  I can get fed up with swamping tourists in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire! But, now retired, would like to continue to live part time in Cornwall whilst still working in the Cotswolds.

  My family left Cornwall in 1891 but all generations have continued to return for regular visits/holidays; two of us currently own additional houses in the county ( paying full Council Tax). For ten years I had a part time job in Cornwall and pre-Covid spent 25% of my time in Cornwall, having many friends locally.

  I can get fed up with swamping tourists in both Cornwall and Gloucestershire! But, now retired, would like to continue to live part time in Cornwall whilst still working in the Cotswolds.
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  A new economy?

  by Maria, over 6 years ago

  I would like Cornwall to be less reliant on tourism. Each year our population triples from half a million to one and a half million! and this puts pressure on our roads, health services, water supply, environment, police forces and supermarkets. I feel that the tourist industry has grown out of control. We need a new economy which is more self sufficient and sustainable. I think that tourism has a place and people have the right to visit other places in the world. But too much tourism can be damaging to the environment and it's local resources. It can also... Continue reading

  I would like Cornwall to be less reliant on tourism. Each year our population triples from half a million to one and a half million! and this puts pressure on our roads, health services, water supply, environment, police forces and supermarkets. I feel that the tourist industry has grown out of control. We need a new economy which is more self sufficient and sustainable. I think that tourism has a place and people have the right to visit other places in the world. But too much tourism can be damaging to the environment and it's local resources. It can also increase the spread of infectious diseases by encouraging travelling at a time which not only endangers lives, but also harms the travel & hospitality industries and other businesses due to the risk of lock downs. We need to be more self sufficient and environmentally friendly. We have Cornish lithium which would provide electric storage batteries for national grid and also lithium ion batteries for electric cars in a new green economy. There is also a lot of potential for wave and geothermal energy for renewable heat and power generation. Not only would this offer employment opportunities, it would also provide a source of income -https://www.cornishlithium.com/. I would like to see an increase in food production, remote working and more creative industries in every town, which would increase revenue in more sustainable ways. Some ideas for sustainable creative businesses would be to provide workshops experiences, skills and education in the following areas - the environment, growing your own food, upcycling, baking, workshops on how to make wildlife housing and wildlife friendly gardens, teaching people how to sew and make their own clothing, furnishings, teaching water sports, art, writing, singing, pottery, dance, cookery classes, etc. The list goes on. These business would increase revenue in a more sustainable way by providing experiences which increase more satisfaction than the purchase of homogenised bric-a-brac. These sustainable business would increase customer satisfaction whilst also increasing the cohesiveness of a community and improving it's mental health.
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  Lockdown has given a time to pause and consider what is important

  by eag, over 6 years ago

  Time to reflect and really consider the Cornwall I would like to see. Does anyone else feel uncomfortable regarding 2nd home owners who have pushed the housing prices up leaving local young people unable to afford housing in their birth county? The question of council and business tax avoidance is outrageous when locals are subsiding the use of facilities by paying a very high council tax, mine is a third of the state pension I receive. Second home owners have made ghost towns of some of our local areas and this is not a situation to be proud of. We... Continue reading

  Time to reflect and really consider the Cornwall I would like to see. Does anyone else feel uncomfortable regarding 2nd home owners who have pushed the housing prices up leaving local young people unable to afford housing in their birth county? The question of council and business tax avoidance is outrageous when locals are subsiding the use of facilities by paying a very high council tax, mine is a third of the state pension I receive. Second home owners have made ghost towns of some of our local areas and this is not a situation to be proud of. We need more businesses to lessen reliance on jobs in tourism and seasonal work and affordable housing for our young people. The principality of Monaco guarantees their residents success in interviews over non-residents (as long as they are suitably qualified) and many tourist venues in Europe apply a local tourism charge why can Cornwall not adopt something similar to ease the situation for locals? We are becoming a County of great divide again not something to be proud of. St Ives took a very strong stance regarding ensuring new homes did not go to 2nd home owners. Cornish people have a unique heritage and this is something, I am sure, we all do not begrudge sharing with visitors but not at a cost to local people. Support our heritage and young people.
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  Lockdown has been a kind of strange paradise

  over 6 years ago
  

  We have had an opportunity in Covid lockdown to enjoy our beautiful surroundings in peace and solitude in a way that has never been possible during the years we have been here. It has made us feel enormously grateful for our privilege in living here, and more acutely aware of the importance of holding on to the positive aspects of these past few months.

  We must try and keep a balance so that visitor numbers are kept to a level which allows us all to walk on the coastal path and find space and enjoy the majesty of the scenery... Continue reading

  We have had an opportunity in Covid lockdown to enjoy our beautiful surroundings in peace and solitude in a way that has never been possible during the years we have been here. It has made us feel enormously grateful for our privilege in living here, and more acutely aware of the importance of holding on to the positive aspects of these past few months.

  We must try and keep a balance so that visitor numbers are kept to a level which allows us all to walk on the coastal path and find space and enjoy the majesty of the scenery, walk through our pretty coastal villages without crowds, and wander across our fabulous Cornish beaches without having to step over the litter and debris of picnics and BBQs, whilst allowing enough visitors to keep our hospitality businesses going.

  These are some of the things that i have experienced during lockdown and that I would like to continue

  Quieter streets and no visitors parking in front of my house

  Regular long walks on sections of the coastal path

  Lack of seagulls sitting in wait for chips and ice cream

  Getting to know all my neighbours better

  Having the time to do regular volunteering work

  Using the car very little and really exploring everywhere that we can walk to

  Coming across wildlife that I have not noticed before-birds, flowers, marine life.

  Not being tempted to shop unnecessarily

  Appreciating my home and garden.

  The divine weather has made everything more beautiful, and my rosy view of the past few months must be largely due to that. I am worried about the crowds returning and interrupting the peace and spiritually uplifting experience of our natural surroundings.
• Share A Cornish Haiku on Facebook Share A Cornish Haiku on X (formerly Twitter) Share A Cornish Haiku on Linkedin Email A Cornish Haiku link

  A Cornish Haiku

  over 6 years ago

  Oh Kernow my home.

  Wild sea and fallow field bee.

  A commons future?

  Oh Kernow my home.

  Wild sea and fallow field bee.

  A commons future?
• Share Stop letting home grown talent disappear "up country"! on Facebook Share Stop letting home grown talent disappear "up country"! on X (formerly Twitter) Share Stop letting home grown talent disappear "up country"! on Linkedin Email Stop letting home grown talent disappear "up country"! link

  Stop letting home grown talent disappear "up country"!

  over 6 years ago

  Being a Cornish school leaver some twenty years ago there was little opportunity for good local (not tourism based) jobs, now there are even fewer. The district council hubs have disappeared as well as smaller NHS hubs, they have all moved to the bigger towns in Cornwall. Living in North Cornwall there is virtually nothing here for youngsters to aspire to, to hope that they can remain in their local communities. They are effectively forced to leave the county, all of their friends and other social relationships just so that they can get jobs. Those that stay in the local... Continue reading

  Being a Cornish school leaver some twenty years ago there was little opportunity for good local (not tourism based) jobs, now there are even fewer. The district council hubs have disappeared as well as smaller NHS hubs, they have all moved to the bigger towns in Cornwall. Living in North Cornwall there is virtually nothing here for youngsters to aspire to, to hope that they can remain in their local communities. They are effectively forced to leave the county, all of their friends and other social relationships just so that they can get jobs. Those that stay in the local community can look forward to tourism related work, that, according to aggrieved second home owners comments on social media during the lockdown, they should be grateful for. Should they be grateful for low paid, low skilled, seasonal jobs that hold no security for them? Please, please, please can we create a county with good jobs for local people in their own locality and stop letting our own home grown talent leave needlessly.
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  Race to zero carbon now and it will be less damaging than the lockdown has been

  by TruthBard, over 6 years ago

  I live on the edge of the County and often feel, being so far from Truro, that my town is overlooked for a lot of things. I am less bothered by tourists but more bothered by my community being cut in half by one of the most dangerous and busy roads in the UK, the noise and air pollution, and the endless policies that take us further away from our need to address the climate and ecological emergency. For example, why do we need to have a 'gateway development' incorporating a burger chain drive-through and also a coffee chain drive... Continue reading

  I live on the edge of the County and often feel, being so far from Truro, that my town is overlooked for a lot of things. I am less bothered by tourists but more bothered by my community being cut in half by one of the most dangerous and busy roads in the UK, the noise and air pollution, and the endless policies that take us further away from our need to address the climate and ecological emergency. For example, why do we need to have a 'gateway development' incorporating a burger chain drive-through and also a coffee chain drive through? They don't add anything to our town other than a lot of litter. I know they create jobs but these are not skilled jobs and because these places are open 24/7, employees on shift work, will ultimately struggle with their health. And the local people who are encouraged to buy the food will suffer all the health problems associated with poor diets. Meanwhile, everyone living nearby will have to put up with the air pollution, noise, litter, and night time light pollution which is incredible. None of these things are compatible with overall environmental goals. Beef burgers are not sustainable, even if the beef is locally sourced. Coffee is not sustainable, the packaging is just an outrageous waste of resources and a hazard. Our town has lost all its distinctiveness and much of its community spirit. Our public services are being run down, our Library opening times reduced, our leisure centre struggling. In Cornwall, too much emphasis is placed on things that will not be of any use to us in a 4 degree world and tourism is one of those things. I think there should be a ban on second homes to allow young families to live comfortably and affordably to live in their own communities. I haven't been able to live in the seaside village I grew up in for years, because it has been taken over by incomers who have bought up older properties and redeveloped the plots with enormous five bedroom luxury pads they hardly ever spend any time in. Many people living comfortably where I am from, are retired baby boomers with large pensions. I will never enjoy the luxury lifestyles they have and I don't want to if it means ultimately the destruction of the Earth. All of the luxury houses, luxury holiday homes, luxury lifestyles are based on levels of consumption that result in our environmental footprint far greater than one planet. This is simply not sustainable and is doing a lot of damage. They say an ecosystem needs 30% tree cover to stabilise. We have hardly any trees. Insects are in steep decline yet we do not have an outright ban on pesticides. Town centres and busy roads are cutting up green routes and preventing wildlife from moving around freely. Our rivers and countryside and ocean are used like waste dumps. The lockdown allowed me to enjoy cycling again but it has been short-lived. Now the cars are back, all breaking the speed limit. Tonight is my last night of peace. Once the pubs and restaurants start to open, I will not enjoy an undisturbed night's sleep as cars zoom down the road at 40mph in the 20mph zone that no one ever respects. Our town centre needs help. It needs pedestrianizing. We need regular markets for shopping. Lower commercial rents, lower rents for accommodation. We need to stop allowing developers to build tiny, c-rated homes on ugly estates without character. Instead Cornwall Council should build the homes that are needed, that are fit for a new future where we can work from home and enjoy free energy and heating from the sun. We should now be working to insulate all existing homes so that gas and oil-fired heating can be eliminated. We need to stop dreaming about giant wind turbines and massive solar farms and make all property as energy efficient as it can be, first. Then we need to make people energy efficient. There is too much waste, this is not just about turning the lights out anymore. We need to become proficient in growing all our own food. We need to do a lot of re-wilding. We need dark skies at night, we need trams in town centres. We need transport to be free it is just far too expensive at the moment and it does not serve the people well. If it were free and frequent, everyone would use it. We also need a lot of cycle routes and pavements. In fact. I'd say we need to close whole lanes of traffic and open them up for walkers, riders and cyclists. I don't care if the traffic jams grow longer and longer. This should put people off wanting to drive. We need to show that we want to change. It won't suit everyone to begin with but if we don't change, I doubt we have more than 20 years left. And I say this as environmental scientist, who is fully aware of the climate tipping points we have already crossed. We have to ask young people what they want. We need to leave the Earth in a better state for them to survive. We need to stop favouring unsustainable business and unsustainable land management practices. We have probably already locked in more than 1.5 degrees of warming and thereby a few metres of sea level rise, lots of stormy weather and heatwaves. Our future must be local, sustainable, and adapted to a new climate. We need to protect air, soils, and water. We need to be able to work where we live. We need to grow much more of the food we eat and much less of the food that goes to animals to eat. If we throw everything we can at zero carbon by 2030 we will all live better lives. If we don't prioritise that, everything will fail. Forget tourism, we should be in survival mode now. You may think that will wreck the economy but it is already wrecked and so now we need to act fast, to change. Start up-skilling local people to do the jobs that need to be done like home insulation, water efficiency, waste efficiency. Employ people to clean up the county. It is smothered in litter of all kinds and will take an army of people to sort out. Invest in that and not in tourism or road building. People need access to land, hedgerows need to be reinstated, there should be a moratorium on cutting down any mature tree, anywhere, unless it is dangerously diseased. Cutting grass other than for access paths should be banned between April and August. As George Monbiot recently suggested, we need to live more modest lives but we should have access to public luxury, good libraries, good education facilities, more vocational training, and no tuition fees for practical subjects like woodworking, horticulture and agriculture.