The Cornwall We Want

What are your hopes and fears for the future?

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  Our youngsters - the future

  by thegardener, almost 6 years ago

  Some radical thinking is needed around provision for students who are at risk of permanent exclusion from school.

  Boldess around education and training to focus on the student on what they need for a sustainable future in Cornwall - not what the government says they have to do.

  Focus of support on agriculture and horticulture so that new businesses can be formed attracting youngsters.

  Strengthen planning laws to stop building on our green fields - it has been heart breaking to see the destruction of agricultural land on the out skirts of Pelynt; we need the green fields for agriculture/horticulture.

  ... Continue reading

  Some radical thinking is needed around provision for students who are at risk of permanent exclusion from school.

  Boldess around education and training to focus on the student on what they need for a sustainable future in Cornwall - not what the government says they have to do.

  Focus of support on agriculture and horticulture so that new businesses can be formed attracting youngsters.

  Strengthen planning laws to stop building on our green fields - it has been heart breaking to see the destruction of agricultural land on the out skirts of Pelynt; we need the green fields for agriculture/horticulture.

  Restrictions on second home ownership - then perhaps we won't need to build so many house!
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  Listen to the Locals!

  by pjcarmelin'gmail.com, almost 6 years ago

  It is encouraging to read about so many people who want to protect our county from the unwelcome excesses of the last few decades. I can hardly do better than agree with all that “Greenways” writes, but here are a few more words.

  Tourism

  It is sad to see tourists being made to feel unwelcome, sometimes before they even get here. It must be possible to reduce or amend the scale so that we see tourism not just as an economic necessity (if it is), but as a chance to welcome visitors to our wonderful county and enjoy sharing it... Continue reading

  It is encouraging to read about so many people who want to protect our county from the unwelcome excesses of the last few decades. I can hardly do better than agree with all that “Greenways” writes, but here are a few more words.

  Tourism

  It is sad to see tourists being made to feel unwelcome, sometimes before they even get here. It must be possible to reduce or amend the scale so that we see tourism not just as an economic necessity (if it is), but as a chance to welcome visitors to our wonderful county and enjoy sharing it with them. We cannot do this with the crowds that we have seen latterly, especially with the knowledge that this pandemic, or a future one, is perhaps never going to go away entirely. Cornwall is for the residents too, but many are now too overwhelmed by masses of holidaymakers (the traffic jams at Kynance Cove a year or two back had to be seen to be believed), and too frightened of the dangers of covid to venture outside their own front gardens. Let’s encourage people who love our countryside and coast for its peace and for the beauty of its wildlife.

  Wildlife

  The National Trust, English Nature, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and others all try their hardest to conserve and protect our countryside with its flora and fauna. Sometimes, though, they must feel as though they are spitting into the wind: funding constantly being cut, other areas given greater priority, and latterly loss of volunteers because of lockdown. They should be given proper funding and support so that they can carry out their essential work as they need to.

  Further, to protect sea-life, water skiing and power boats should be discouraged from our coast. As for fishing, that is one for the politicians but at the very least our territorial rights should be protected.

  The Land

  Pesticides and herbicides should be banned; Cornwall Council have already made a start by prohibiting neonicotinoids on any land belonging to them. The ban should be made county-wide. The depressing sight of a once green field, turned brown overnight by gallons of herbicide, is not one that should ever be experienced. What’s wrong with the old fashioned method of ploughing?

  Greenfield sites should never be built on; nor AONB’s without reference to local opinion. Which is not to say that brownfield sites should be viewed as a convenient alternative; they, too, are home to a host of different wildlife, many of them endangered species.

  New building should be limited to local needs, not second homes, with no large developments and nothing to which locals object.

  Cornwall could be a shining example of sustainability, and this seems to be what its people want. With the right management, consultation and will, this can be achieved.

  Finally, I, for one, would be willing to pay just a few pounds more in Council Tax so that Cornwall Council can afford to do their job properly and achieve what local people have suggested in this survey.
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  Vision for Cornwall

  by Sean, almost 6 years ago

  While it is understood that much of this is outside the councils authority, here’s a vision for Cornwall’s future.

  
  

  Local bobbies

  More Dog pooh bins, especially near beaches

  Footpath maintenance

  Cycling network

  Abolition of loopholes for second home owners to avoid council tax

  Second home council tax must be, at least, at full rate.

  Tourist tolls, on entry to the county, to help fund services

  Sufficient social housing

  Help for people to apply for social housing

  Pz hospital expanded to have an A&E and dedicated ambulance service

  Prisoners to fulfil community role, clearing beaches etc

  Anti social behaviour to be... Continue reading

  While it is understood that much of this is outside the councils authority, here’s a vision for Cornwall’s future.

  
  

  Local bobbies

  More Dog pooh bins, especially near beaches

  Footpath maintenance

  Cycling network

  Abolition of loopholes for second home owners to avoid council tax

  Second home council tax must be, at least, at full rate.

  Tourist tolls, on entry to the county, to help fund services

  Sufficient social housing

  Help for people to apply for social housing

  Pz hospital expanded to have an A&E and dedicated ambulance service

  Prisoners to fulfil community role, clearing beaches etc

  Anti social behaviour to be addressed in town centres

  Service to help the homeless with accommodation, employment, mental health, addictions etc

  More GPs. Easier access to appointments.

  More teachers. Smaller classes. Adequate resources.

  Better stabilisers on the Scillonian.
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  Support for the vulnerable

  by Sean, almost 6 years ago

  I would like to see council caseworkers assigned to support vulnerable people in the county. Such people emerge periodically needing help but their problems generally span multiple council or government departments.

  A caseworker could help vulnerable, often elderly, people to address issues across pensions, scams, homelessness, housing benefit, safe accommodation etc. The caseworker would ideally take all necessary action for the individual or ensure that council/government departments or voluntary agencies do it for them.

  Currently we have a shocking number of vulnerable adults struggling to cope around the county.

  I would like to see council caseworkers assigned to support vulnerable people in the county. Such people emerge periodically needing help but their problems generally span multiple council or government departments.

  A caseworker could help vulnerable, often elderly, people to address issues across pensions, scams, homelessness, housing benefit, safe accommodation etc. The caseworker would ideally take all necessary action for the individual or ensure that council/government departments or voluntary agencies do it for them.

  Currently we have a shocking number of vulnerable adults struggling to cope around the county.
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  Proactive Cornwall

  by GemmaB, almost 6 years ago

  I would like to see all council spending, plans, policies and procedures to be only focused on achieving net zero emissions, it shouldn't be part of the plan but be the backbone of the plan for Cornwall. All of the money spent should be to put us on a better path. We need radical changes in infrastructure and systems to improve peoples lives and the future of the planet. Having just watched the 2040 film, there are solutions out there that can do this, they are available now. Cornwall should utilise these and invest in climate innovation, be proactive rather... Continue reading

  I would like to see all council spending, plans, policies and procedures to be only focused on achieving net zero emissions, it shouldn't be part of the plan but be the backbone of the plan for Cornwall. All of the money spent should be to put us on a better path. We need radical changes in infrastructure and systems to improve peoples lives and the future of the planet. Having just watched the 2040 film, there are solutions out there that can do this, they are available now. Cornwall should utilise these and invest in climate innovation, be proactive rather than reactive in creating a new vision and invite the local population to help - there are some fantastic businesses and charities already working towards this.

  Some ideas from the film, but if the council hasn't yet watched this film then I would suggest this as your first action!

  https://whatsyour2040.com/

  Community led renewable energy systems

  No more fossil fuel subsidies

  Regenerative farming practices

  Marine permaculture

  Investment in education (there was a great project mentioned where a town made all of their energy usage visible and discussed this in schools etc)

  Better uses for food waste

  Investment in transport links to reduce the need for individual car ownership (tougher in the countryside vs cities but there must be some options that would work for Cornwall)
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  The Future for Young People

  by Dougal, almost 6 years ago

  
  

  I would like to endorse the views from cleggycornwall, regarding young people. I used to work in a Further Education college down here, and I was dismayed by the number of students who told me that they felt that they would have to leave Cornwall, to find a full time job that would pay them a fair salary. One of them said " selling ice cream to tourists is not my idea of a career, I'll have better opportunities up country." So providing people with the necessary skills to make a decent living, is surely the only way to prevent... Continue reading

  
  

  I would like to endorse the views from cleggycornwall, regarding young people. I used to work in a Further Education college down here, and I was dismayed by the number of students who told me that they felt that they would have to leave Cornwall, to find a full time job that would pay them a fair salary. One of them said " selling ice cream to tourists is not my idea of a career, I'll have better opportunities up country." So providing people with the necessary skills to make a decent living, is surely the only way to prevent them from leaving the county.

  Without a large investment in training, involving the education sector, employers, and government, this simply can not happen. In fact we seem to be going backwards at the moment, since one of the largest training providers - Cornwall College, has been on the verge of bankruptcy for the last few years and has resorted to selling off one of its sites to stay afloat.

  I welcome this forum as a means of exchanging ideas, but we need to go further and lobby our local MP's and councillors; otherwise this will just become a talking shop without any influence. Will anybody in power actually read these posts? If so, perhaps they will do something about those tax dodging second-home owners.
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  A greener Cornwall

  almost 6 years ago

  Every cloud has a silver lining. I don't think we have seen the last of Covid 19 but we can plan towards a better future. We seriously need to think about the best resources we have. Our land and our sea and our people. We need to look after the environment in a better way. We need to have less people visiting who cause immense damage to our environment. We need better building controls and less building. We only need bigger roads because vested interests encourage more visitors who create more pollution. We need a better future for our youngsters... Continue reading

  Every cloud has a silver lining. I don't think we have seen the last of Covid 19 but we can plan towards a better future. We seriously need to think about the best resources we have. Our land and our sea and our people. We need to look after the environment in a better way. We need to have less people visiting who cause immense damage to our environment. We need better building controls and less building. We only need bigger roads because vested interests encourage more visitors who create more pollution. We need a better future for our youngsters, more science, green technology and so on and that means better internet access. We need to embrace sustainable industries and harness the power of the sea. We need more of the money made here in Cornwall to stay here in Cornwall. We need a better, more responsive democracy which listens to us and not faraway business interests. A small start would be councillors who speak with the electorate and who answer their emails.
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  We need a Phoenix to arise from the Covid Disaster to give young folk a future in Cornwall

  by cleggycornwall, almost 6 years ago

  Cornwall need strong leadership in economics and foresight to deliver a county where young people will be able to train, get good jobs and want to stay. It is time to renew Cornwall and stop the brain drain but the only way we will be able to do that is if we have investment in meaningful jobs and training. This should be the priority otherwise we will have a continual problem of a too heavy elderly community dependent on social care employing poorly paid people. We need a balanced age to survive as a successful county, so we need young... Continue reading

  Cornwall need strong leadership in economics and foresight to deliver a county where young people will be able to train, get good jobs and want to stay. It is time to renew Cornwall and stop the brain drain but the only way we will be able to do that is if we have investment in meaningful jobs and training. This should be the priority otherwise we will have a continual problem of a too heavy elderly community dependent on social care employing poorly paid people. We need a balanced age to survive as a successful county, so we need young people living and working here contributing to the local economy. We need a better paid workforce in social care- perhaps private social care is not the answer now ?

  There is much said about green policy but why are houses still being built without solar panels? Why are cycle lanes being constructed at huge expense and yet cyclists still cycle on the roads along side them? (Ref. Hayle Causeway Road) These are planning issues - where is the vision in the planning dept. that allows things like this to continue. Why isn’t the County investing in electric charging points in all of its car parks? Could this not be done on a partnership with a commercial provider and make money for the county at the same time as encouraging greener transport?

  Cornwall, it is now clear, from both Brexit and Covid 19, cannot survive on the three occupations of tourism, fishing and agriculture, as all these industries have large seasonal element, low wages, weather related problems, and in the case of two sectors, dependency on out of county/ country labour. The time has come for meaningful investment in real training and new industries.
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  The Time is Now. No Going Back. Green Recovery Necessary.

  by Chrys, almost 6 years ago

  Thank you for listening to the well informed and affected by your choices populace.

  I lost the first rambling comment on here, so I will save my time and yours and add a part of a talk I do with references and hope that those in the eco/environmental departments as even XR are not focusing on this matter.

  I'm aware this is difficult reading but we have to have the courage to make the changes needed to avoid the 4 degrees C temperature increase that the Commitee on Climate Change suggest we parepare for and suggested to National Governance.

  14.5%... Continue reading

  Thank you for listening to the well informed and affected by your choices populace.

  I lost the first rambling comment on here, so I will save my time and yours and add a part of a talk I do with references and hope that those in the eco/environmental departments as even XR are not focusing on this matter.

  I'm aware this is difficult reading but we have to have the courage to make the changes needed to avoid the 4 degrees C temperature increase that the Commitee on Climate Change suggest we parepare for and suggested to National Governance.

  14.5% of anthropogenic GHGs are due to animal farming and fishing, but other estimates range up to 51%.
  These statistics change depending how you analyze the situation and what you include. For example the 51% figure is so much higher because:-it uses a more accurate number of animals currently in our food system
  -accounts for other processes such as refrigeration, transport, prolonged cooking of animal products, and the carbon intensive medical treatments, including antibiotic use, for the trillions of animals currently in our food system, and
  -incorporates greenhouse gases emitted through deforestation for farming.
  But let’s take the most conservative figure of 14.5%. That still means that animal farming and fishing account for more of the greenhouse gases than the whole of the transport sector, which contributes an estimated 13%.
  Also if we look at what specific gases are being released you can see that two of the more potent ones: methane (56 times more powerful than CO2) and nitrous oxide (280 times more powerful than CO2) are released considerably more from animal farming and fishing industries.

  References:

  (Goodland &Anhang, 2009) - http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf

  (FAO: Livestock’s Long Shadow, 2006) - http://www.fao.org/3/a0701e/a0701e.pdf

  Global Warming Potentials (GWP) - https://unfccc.int/process/transparency-and-reporting/greenhouse-gas-data/greenhouse-gas-data-unfccc/global-warming-potentials

  Transport Nitrous Oxide Emissions - Wallington &Wiesen, 2014 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1352231014003653

  Transport Methane Emissions - https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emissions

  Animal Ag Methane and Nitrous Oxide - http://www.fao.org/3/a0701e/a0701e.pdf

  Many thanks.

  I'd greatly appreciate a response and argument.

  
  

  
  

  
  
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  Local Life

  by A_Sm, almost 6 years ago

  I would like to be able to shop and work locally and not go in the car as much, and return to the plastic free aspirations that we were working towards.

  My greatest fear is increasing inequality, funding cuts to the arts, and increasingly unaffordable housing (as a result of reduced borrowing the increased flexibility in working arrangements meaning more people relocating).

  I would like to be able to shop and work locally and not go in the car as much, and return to the plastic free aspirations that we were working towards.

  My greatest fear is increasing inequality, funding cuts to the arts, and increasingly unaffordable housing (as a result of reduced borrowing the increased flexibility in working arrangements meaning more people relocating).

  1 comment