The Cornwall We Want

What are your hopes and fears for the future?

• Share Less cars and planes, more peace and wildlife. on Facebook Share Less cars and planes, more peace and wildlife. on Twitter Share Less cars and planes, more peace and wildlife. on Linkedin Email Less cars and planes, more peace and wildlife. link

  Less cars and planes, more peace and wildlife.

  by Easypacecleanair, almost 6 years ago

  The peace, quiet, boon for wildlife and the community actions and bonding were more than just great consolation for the complications of lockdown, they showed us what we can do, don't need, really need, really miss and a little of what we probably have to do to survive and thrive as a species. Lockdown and concerns about the virus reinforced our sense of gratitude about where we live, have strengthened our resolve not to use a car for short journeys and to accept the restrictions , while enjoying the cultural immersions and chance to watch the places go by, that... Continue reading

  The peace, quiet, boon for wildlife and the community actions and bonding were more than just great consolation for the complications of lockdown, they showed us what we can do, don't need, really need, really miss and a little of what we probably have to do to survive and thrive as a species. Lockdown and concerns about the virus reinforced our sense of gratitude about where we live, have strengthened our resolve not to use a car for short journeys and to accept the restrictions , while enjoying the cultural immersions and chance to watch the places go by, that accompany only using surface public transport for occasional holidays.
  
  While we worked our veg patch in the first months of the lockdown people we barely knew from the far side of our parish stopped for a word over the hedge, some even said "Ah, so this is where you live" as they walked and cycled to the beach. Surfers carried their boards under their arms or on a bike rack and it was lovely to see families taking their time to enjoy the countryside on a lane normally too narrow for the volume of traffic that terminates at the often oversubscribed carpark. The peace was heavenly, within a month flocks of tree sparrows, dunnocks and gold finches had re-colonised the road sides of the hedges, reclaiming the lane as habitat until, just after the PM hinted at the first easing of lockdown restrictions, on a beautiful day with goodish surf, when the birds were again displaced by traffic and our walk to the village started to be interrupted by the need to press ourselves into the brambles and blackthorn for the ever present minority of impatient drivers. For a brief while we enjoyed what countless generations of our ancestors experienced everyday, a normality that existed for millenia.
  
  At the beach surfers expressed their enjoyment of cycling and walking for their exercise. One lad, who walked 1.5 miles each way, said that he liked the fact that the walk kind of committed him to going in even if, on arrival at the beach, he found conditions a bit disappointing. However many of those who cycled, e-bikes and otherwise, said that because the posts of the dog poo bin could only fit a few bikes locked on to it, they would be unlikely to continue cycling to the beach, once the concrete boulders blocking the carpark entrance were removed, for fear of theft by someone putting their bike(s) in the back of a van and driving off while they were surfing. Can the Council, National Trust etc. install bike stands, with a lock attachment/design, at beach (and other) carparks please?
  
  Everyone I know has loved the grounded aircraft. Devoid of rumbling jets the clear skies, unscarred by multitudes of mechanical linear vapour trails, have been so bright and here we have not missed the whining light aircraft that buzz like large lawn mowers, for probably three of every fifteen minutes all day long, over this AONB on good weather weekends.
  
  Now that local traffic is all but back to normal the intense difference of the first two thirds of lockdown have become marked although Cornwall is yet to be open for tourism when the difference will be much greater! Reading the other contributions on here it is clear that cars and tourism are a significant issue for many folk. Therefore these are issues that have to be managed differently in the future. Somehow we need to encourage tourists to leave their cars at home or at least at the place where they sleep once here. (Some folk from upcountry no longer holiday in Cornwall, preferring the peace, space and quiet carparks of West Wales and Scotland). Could the council sponsor or at least initiate the means for widespread, substantive e-bike and bike hire, accompanied by the possibilty of hiring surfboard racks and trailers for small children, beach equipment etc. ? Perhaps Cornwall could become famous for e-bike holidays....
  
  Can our public transport be re-imagined a little ? If we think of the A30 (and the A39 and A38) as main lines and the roads to the beaches towns and main "attractions" as branch lines could we introduce frequent buses up and down the mainlines that link with buses that branch off ? This system could be used a family staying in St Agnes to visit say the Eden project or by locals to get to town or one of the many college campuses.
  
  I have taken pleasure in the knowledge that a few youngsters, having found themselves with more time in lockdown, have got into vegetable gardening. In comparison with most of northern Europe and much of the UK we are blessed with an unusually long growing season / mild climate and thus well suited to small scale intensive market gardening for high quality produce. Such food production when done organically (or pretty much organically) is seen by many environmentally conscientious organisations, scientists and individuals as a necessary means of food production to reduce carbon emissions, restore depleted top soils, reduce pollutions, reverse declines in bio-diversity and increase resistance to crises (the resurgence in veg gardening across the UK this year has demonstrated that many ordinary folk are thinking about our ability to feed ourselves). Can the council link link with schools, colleges and land-owners to build on this? As the economic impact of the virus hits food costs and jobs while we still have to tackle global warming?
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  Leadership with courage and vision

  by CM, almost 6 years ago

  Cornwall has the opportunity to be a pilot of sustainability - 8.5% of people in employment are part of circular economy industries, it is small enough to be studied and for things to be tested.

  But it needs leaders who have ideals, vision, intelligence and courage, who are willing to take hard decisions that thou not always popular may be necessary to lead us to the place where we need to be.

  No schizophrenic approaches such as some that have been seen - declaring a climate emergency while promoting airport development.

  So what I would like to see is courage... Continue reading

  Cornwall has the opportunity to be a pilot of sustainability - 8.5% of people in employment are part of circular economy industries, it is small enough to be studied and for things to be tested.

  But it needs leaders who have ideals, vision, intelligence and courage, who are willing to take hard decisions that thou not always popular may be necessary to lead us to the place where we need to be.

  No schizophrenic approaches such as some that have been seen - declaring a climate emergency while promoting airport development.

  So what I would like to see is courage in the leadership to lead us into a better future. No going back to normal please, let us move forward.

  How? Moving to sustainable industries (and away from the others) - invest in renewables, support community energy and co-housing projects - limit new homes by favouring renovations, limit second homes, subsidising energy efficiency improvements, requesting new builds to respect EE and natural habitats - protect the few old forests on top of planting new trees - implement recycling schemes that work - create cycling routes - invest in bus and trains including high speed train to Exeter Bristol and London and subsidise the costs so it is affordable to all - no funds/subsidies to air travel - education education education.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
• Share What lies behind the "Green Mask" on Facebook Share What lies behind the "Green Mask" on Twitter Share What lies behind the "Green Mask" on Linkedin Email What lies behind the "Green Mask" link

  What lies behind the "Green Mask"

  by JaneW, almost 6 years ago

  As a Cornish woman unable to work during the lock up, I have been able to view the construction going on in the county and spend time thinking about what we are walking into with our eyes wide shut and indeed about the "new norms" - a phrase I hate with passion.

  I would like to know how local government are listening intently to "Climate" change groups while ignoring or denouncing those who are concerned about the destruction of the environment through the more silent forms of pollution. Why on earth do we need a space port in these environmentally... Continue reading

  As a Cornish woman unable to work during the lock up, I have been able to view the construction going on in the county and spend time thinking about what we are walking into with our eyes wide shut and indeed about the "new norms" - a phrase I hate with passion.

  I would like to know how local government are listening intently to "Climate" change groups while ignoring or denouncing those who are concerned about the destruction of the environment through the more silent forms of pollution. Why on earth do we need a space port in these environmentally sensitive times? Likewise, the harm from environmental pollutants such as EMFs from 2, 3, 4g etc masts, wi-fi and smart energy. We are expected to be fine and dandy with the frequencies used by telecoms which saturate nature and the environment with cell damaging, health-harming emissions. In fact there are over 24 thousand scientific studies showing harm to health, yet none from the council will glance at these studies - why not?

  Now that there has been far more usage of internet and wireless tech in our own homes, we find that we cannot do without the internet and in doing so we are feeding an addiction which studies say impacts on our mental and biological health. In doing so, we also fuel the massive carbon footprint of the so called "smart and green" digital industry. Are the council or climate change groups looking into those issues and the silent, pollutants used in green energy manufacturing such as Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), the most potent of the seven greenhouse gasses ? No? Well, why not?

  What can we do? Well encourage children, young people and adults to engage with nature and the environment, would vastly help. It's been proven that hyper and deregulated children benefit from the calming and well being effects of nature. We should be encouraging outdoor play for children (away from sources of emfs and masts) and encouraging young people to put down their gadgets, and connect with each other and with the land. It's all very well suggesting we need to cut down on pollution, but that includes the invisible EMF pollution in our homes and surrounding areas too. It means that we should not be putting up more phone masts and that we should slow down creating wi-fi hotspots else we risk having an unhealthy population that cannot connect with nature and care very little for it.
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  Looking after our county and its residents

  by Melanie, almost 6 years ago

  Our beautiful county attracts huge numbers to its resorts and attractions; and normally that would be a boon for all of those involved in the tourist industry, I understand that our local economy is driven by visitors, but... we have so many elderly vulnerable residents in Cornwall, who are parents, grandparents and relatives to the wider community, many are scared to leave their homes and dreading the next few months. Already people are not giving space to others in shops, resulting in local residents feeling increasingly vulnerable. The co-morbidity of many of our residents puts them at a greater risk... Continue reading

  Our beautiful county attracts huge numbers to its resorts and attractions; and normally that would be a boon for all of those involved in the tourist industry, I understand that our local economy is driven by visitors, but... we have so many elderly vulnerable residents in Cornwall, who are parents, grandparents and relatives to the wider community, many are scared to leave their homes and dreading the next few months. Already people are not giving space to others in shops, resulting in local residents feeling increasingly vulnerable. The co-morbidity of many of our residents puts them at a greater risk of catching any infectious disease, let alone the Corona virus, we also suffer from a massive strain on GP's surgeries in the summer from temporary residents.

  So... whilst there is no perfect answer could we please try to encourage visitors to treat Cornwall, its environment and its residents with the respect they would accord to their own family and home.

  Please could all accommodation providers and agents give kind and gentle advice to those coming to stay with them.

  'Be Kind to our County and take your litter home' could be a short message?

  Or ' Welcome to our beautiful county, we hope you enjoy all it has to offer, please respect our residents whilst visiting the area and leave nothing but footprints on our wonderful beaches.'

  If there were laminated signs in all accommodation and guidance on every website then at least we would 'reach' some people and perhaps make them think about the effect their holiday has
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  Support services

  by Brianne, almost 6 years ago

  As someone who has been categorised as highly vulnerable during the virus outbreak, I truely valued the efforts made by my carers to continue helping me. Public services like this should be valued and given the support that they need.

  There has been too much building work carried out encouraging more and more people from elsewhere choosing to make Cornwall their home. The first day the housing market reopened I saw a local estate agent report that he had sold 5 houses unseen. Four of which were to be second homes.

  
  

  Meanwhile our environment is getting destroyed beyond recognition and... Continue reading

  As someone who has been categorised as highly vulnerable during the virus outbreak, I truely valued the efforts made by my carers to continue helping me. Public services like this should be valued and given the support that they need.

  There has been too much building work carried out encouraging more and more people from elsewhere choosing to make Cornwall their home. The first day the housing market reopened I saw a local estate agent report that he had sold 5 houses unseen. Four of which were to be second homes.

  
  

  Meanwhile our environment is getting destroyed beyond recognition and the infrastructure just isn’t there. Locals can no longer afford local housing and are forced into paying high rents. Cornwall cannot continue like this.

  
  

  Second home and holiday firms buying up our properties needs to be looked into.. Think more about local needs, schools, GP’s, hospital etc. Cornwall is only a small place so don’t ruin it for future generations.
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  Economy & development

  almost 6 years ago

  I’m not close to or very aware of actual measures taken already/routinely by Cornwall Council and other bodies to encourage investment & development of (sustainable) “industry” in Cornwall. BUT, there are three common threads from previous posts that just seem so pertinent for a more positive Cornish future.

  Firstly, keeping tourism within sustainable bounds. Leaving aside Covid-19, Cornwall hardly needs to advertise it’s attractions: seems to me Cornwall already has a national and international reputation that attracts quite sufficient visitors.

  Secondly, sustainable and valuable employment prospects for all, but for younger generations in particular. We live in a very different... Continue reading

  I’m not close to or very aware of actual measures taken already/routinely by Cornwall Council and other bodies to encourage investment & development of (sustainable) “industry” in Cornwall. BUT, there are three common threads from previous posts that just seem so pertinent for a more positive Cornish future.

  Firstly, keeping tourism within sustainable bounds. Leaving aside Covid-19, Cornwall hardly needs to advertise it’s attractions: seems to me Cornwall already has a national and international reputation that attracts quite sufficient visitors.

  Secondly, sustainable and valuable employment prospects for all, but for younger generations in particular. We live in a very different world to the days when mining, farming and fishing were the major employers. I have to ask whether our economic development planners and industry leaders are doing enough to attract and broaden a modern and sustainable commercial/ industrial base here.

  Thirdly, housing! We all know, without me going on too much, there are cons and pros to second homers and holiday lettings. Needs some more very careful consideration to ensure those Cornish folk who aspire to own their 1^st Cornish home are not unduly prevented from achieving their aspiration.

  So, to round off:

  Tourism is great, but let’s have a very deep think about what “sustainable tourism” means. As someone mentioned, we Cornish folk live here 365/6 days of the year and there has to be a balance – Cornwall is not Disney Land. Do we, as many have mentioned, really need any more tourism developments?

  Valuable all-year-round employment: traditional Cornish industries/skills do still need to be promoted (where still relevant) and there remains a wealth of skills embedded in the Cornish community to be exploited for economic development in the modern world. Someone mentioned maritime engineering and other such: yes. But there are all the new-fangled ways of making a living via the web with on-line services etc: if only those Cornish folk who have the nonce to do that could afford to live here !

  And so to housing: well, I believe we all know that, as many have already said, local (young) folk need some sort of leg-up in competition with those who can afford a 2^nd home or a buy-to-rent property (not all of whom will be out-of-county owners). ALSO, we need to ensure that Cornish communities are not unduly affected by a propensity of seasonally-empty holiday-let/2nd-homer properties. There needs to be some more targeted by-laws (or whatever) that enable Cornwall to manage Cornwall for the primary benefit of those who chose/need to live here all year round, in other words, the proper Cornish community (whether born and bred or the less-blessed who have come to live amongst us and do actually contribute to the Cornish community/economy day-in day-out).
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  A Cornwall where local people count

  almost 6 years ago

  I feel that local people have been well and truly forgotten. All I read in the local media is about tourists and second homes. What about those of us who live and work here, from generations of others who have done the same? The council doesn't seem to want to listen to our concerns about what we actually see happening to the place where we live. It's being abused and that is plain for all to see. A reckless choice has been made to go down the path of massed tourism which is damaging in the extreme. I have no... Continue reading

  I feel that local people have been well and truly forgotten. All I read in the local media is about tourists and second homes. What about those of us who live and work here, from generations of others who have done the same? The council doesn't seem to want to listen to our concerns about what we actually see happening to the place where we live. It's being abused and that is plain for all to see. A reckless choice has been made to go down the path of massed tourism which is damaging in the extreme. I have no connections with tourism nor does anyone I know but we come second to its demands. All we are seen as is a source of regular income in the form of rising council taxes, fees for this, fees for that, business rates and so on. I and many others are also weary of reading about what the 'chief' of Cornwall tourism wants, a Malcolm Bell. Every other article in the press is about him and his clientele and yet who of us voted for him? Do our views count for anything any more? I live in an area which has been devastated by over tourism and second homes and am not alone in feeling a sense of anger at the disenfranchisement more and more feel. Our elected representatives never reply to what I and others have sent them and just ignore us.
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  Cycling in North Cornwall during lockdown

  by AlanB, almost 6 years ago

  I'm an enthusiastic cyclist. Cycling during lockdown was great. The reduced traffic levels meant that I could take my exercise on virtually traffic free roads. It was a really good experience and one that I think would encourage more people to get out on their bikes. Traffic levels have now (27 June 2020) returned to almost pre-lockdown levels.

  I have spoken to people who own bikes but who don't ride them on the road because they are fearful of sharing the space with motor vehicles, especially on the narrow lanes that characterise the Cornish countryside. My experience is that most... Continue reading

  I'm an enthusiastic cyclist. Cycling during lockdown was great. The reduced traffic levels meant that I could take my exercise on virtually traffic free roads. It was a really good experience and one that I think would encourage more people to get out on their bikes. Traffic levels have now (27 June 2020) returned to almost pre-lockdown levels.

  I have spoken to people who own bikes but who don't ride them on the road because they are fearful of sharing the space with motor vehicles, especially on the narrow lanes that characterise the Cornish countryside. My experience is that most drivers are respectful of cyclists and only a small minority are careless in their attitude to vulnerable road users. Less traffic and a bit of organisation and publicity would, I think, go a long was to increasing the number of cyclists on our roads.

  The standard of repair of our roads, though, is something that I'd like to mention. I live in Launceston and here even the main roads have areas of heavy wear, potholes and poor surfaces. Resurfacing of the A388 in the Newport area has improved one of the worst stretches, but other areas of poor surface exist in the town. Some of the lanes in the area of North Cornwall that I cycle in are in very poor condition with potholes, loose gravel, eroded verges, vegetation growing in the centre strip, and excessive wear. All this means that riding a road bike (fast, dropped bars, thin high pressure tyres) is virtually impossible on all but major roads.

  Finally, thanks for the opportunity to comment. I'm a recent incomer to Cornwall and I love it here.
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  It has been much better in Cornwall.

  by Ariette, almost 6 years ago

  How lovely it has been taking walks in the countryside and on the coast while the lockdown has been in place. Until recently it has been noticeably cleaner where litter is concerned and the air much better for me being asthmatic. It reminded me of how things were in my childhood when people were more respectful of our environment (leaving litter anywhere would not have entered anyones' mind!) and visitors were far fewer, coming only in the school summer holidays.

  The notion that we must have the thousands of visitors for our economy is just not true, a vast amount... Continue reading

  How lovely it has been taking walks in the countryside and on the coast while the lockdown has been in place. Until recently it has been noticeably cleaner where litter is concerned and the air much better for me being asthmatic. It reminded me of how things were in my childhood when people were more respectful of our environment (leaving litter anywhere would not have entered anyones' mind!) and visitors were far fewer, coming only in the school summer holidays.

  The notion that we must have the thousands of visitors for our economy is just not true, a vast amount of holiday business is owned by large companies not by locals. There has been less and less respect for our beautiful coastline in recent years and people (locals and visitors alike I think) have no regard for the fact that rescues from sea and cliffs etc costs thousands of pounds. Funded by charity.

  I think there should be money spent on street and beach wardens to fine people for littering, it has been a real blight on our landscape and fines should be in the thousands of pounds. It is time to take control of society's irresponsibility , it is obvious that there are a great number of people who seem to think that everything is someone else's problem, whenever did that become the case!!

  I also think that we cannot go back to the 'binge drinking' culture in our small towns, where people expect our paramedics, police and hospitals to take responsibility for them, whenever did that behaviour become considered socially acceptable! Bars, nightclubs and pubs need to take more responsibility for their actions, I have been a publican and believe it is still illegal to serve someone who is drunk? (Correct me if this is not so anymore, ).

  Our Council also needs to look at car park charges, which have become ridiculous. We no longer stop in some of the coastal towns for lunch/coffee when visiting for another reason because of the charges. How many others also do that? It seems to have been forgotten that the vast majority of locals are on very low wages. If we want our towns to thrive people should be encouraged to stop in the towns to spend money in the small shops.

  Perhaps, as in some other countries, part of our council taxes could be kept from each community to be spent on whatever the people of that area deem important? It seems to work in other countries and as long as a small minority of the council were not allowed to override the majority decision it could be positive.

  This is surely a time to change the downward spiral of our lovely county and make sure it stays as beautiful and precious as it is.

  
  
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  A bit off piste, but ...

  almost 6 years ago

  ... I wish to congratulate the graphics artist who conjured up the pictorial header/banner for The Cornwall We Want. It's so good!

  Of course, (sort of on topic) I'm hoping the commissioned artist is Cornish and studied here and is now able to live and work in Cornwall !!

  ... I wish to congratulate the graphics artist who conjured up the pictorial header/banner for The Cornwall We Want. It's so good!

  Of course, (sort of on topic) I'm hoping the commissioned artist is Cornish and studied here and is now able to live and work in Cornwall !!