The Cornwall We Want

What are your hopes and fears for the future?

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  I didn't like it but

  by Liskeardelder, over 6 years ago

  After recovering from being labelled "vulnerable" just because of my age, and not being able to do all the things that keep me healthy - dancing, walking etc - set about doing all the garden chores which had been on the "to do" list for years. Really enjoyed the peace and quiet without all the traffic, daily walk became a pleasure again and the wildlife loved it, got some great pics and my new Android phone kept me in touch with friends but miss the hugs so things could have been lot worse. Watching the news each day, hearing the... Continue reading

  After recovering from being labelled "vulnerable" just because of my age, and not being able to do all the things that keep me healthy - dancing, walking etc - set about doing all the garden chores which had been on the "to do" list for years. Really enjoyed the peace and quiet without all the traffic, daily walk became a pleasure again and the wildlife loved it, got some great pics and my new Android phone kept me in touch with friends but miss the hugs so things could have been lot worse. Watching the news each day, hearing the terrible mounting toll of deaths has to be done if only to remind me to be careful and respectful of other peoples space now that rules are being relaxed. The one thing which initially wound me up was the ever increasing mess which used to be green spaces on our small estate as the grass cutting never started this year - 3 months on and have been fascinated by the wildflowers, grasses and insect life which has flourished in these conditions and, apart from a fervent hope that "they" will take away the cut grass when it finally gets done instead of leaving it to rot down, am now convinced that this is the way forward in future - council gets to save money with only one autumn cut, even if more expensive equipment is needed to remove the cuttings - these could be taken away, composted and sold to recoup costs, as is done in many other parts of the country already. Conclusion - hopefully we have all learned some valuable lessons from this terrible event, Covid-19 isn't going away anytime soon and we are all going to have to learn to live with it - our NHS, Care sector an all the other wonderful folk we don't see working behind the scenes are now appreciated at their true value; it is proven that a great many people can work efficiently from home and there is no reason to make them start travelling to an office again with the added benefit of a reduction in air pollution and traffic. We have also learned to be more thoughtful of others; fund raising efforts by so many young people have been heart warming and I can't see them giving this up, another ray of light. I could go on for pages but …….. just thankful to still be alive, fit, healthy and living in Cornwall.
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  more sustainable, less pollution!

  by o.c, over 6 years ago

  At the beginning of lockdown the lanes around our house became footpaths for local residents and the lack of cars seemed to really lift everyone's spirits as children and pets could enjoy a sense of security. As lockdown progressed and people started to go back to work, the traffic problem began to get worse than it was pre-lockdown- there needs to be some type of speed limit on the lanes and some way of holding drivers accountable for their actions. There are too many times when we have heard revving throughout the night and people all through the day are... Continue reading

  At the beginning of lockdown the lanes around our house became footpaths for local residents and the lack of cars seemed to really lift everyone's spirits as children and pets could enjoy a sense of security. As lockdown progressed and people started to go back to work, the traffic problem began to get worse than it was pre-lockdown- there needs to be some type of speed limit on the lanes and some way of holding drivers accountable for their actions. There are too many times when we have heard revving throughout the night and people all through the day are speeding down lanes. It is making us as walkers feel so unsafe and the drivers seem to think that they are entitled to acting badly on the roads. There has also been an increase in the amount of litter thrown out of cars and left on lanes. People need to be accountable for this; it is disgusting and I have seen so much wildlife - my own chickens included - suffering from living amongst this litter.

  Truro's new normal should aim towards being as sustainable as possible, in my opinion. There is a horrible amount of plastic - packaging and items - in the shops, and even more on all the roads. Given the recent progress in creating sustainable packaging and biodegradable ware e.g. coffee cups, it is astounding that businesses large and small are still not using these. It would be amazing if there was a rule binding Truro's citizens to be as sustainable as possible.

  During lockdown the positive impact of seeing few cars on the lanes was amazing. It would be great to see more cycling lanes which are actually safe, and to see drivers learn that they share the roads with cyclist, walkers, horses and all other non-car related things and people should be held accountable for their actions when they do not drive safely! Cyclists should feel safe enough to cycle side by side. They are not the problem here, cars are. Often cyclists cycle side by side to ensure their safety as it means that cars are less likely to push past because there is less room. As a cyclist who often cycles with very young children, I need to feel safe cycling on my own road. People also need to learn not to overtake on blind corners!
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  Somewhere to go

  over 6 years ago

  During lockdown, with fewer cars on the road, as an asthma sufferer, I did not have to take my inhaler once to to an attack. The air quality must have been better.

  I also noticed that it was a pleasure to walk and for people to ride their horses in safety. I am a rider but did not ride in case of accidents. Now there are more cars on the road and restrictions are being lifted there is nowhere safe to ride. The rights of way system is in need of a complete overhaul with unused footpaths that could be... Continue reading

  During lockdown, with fewer cars on the road, as an asthma sufferer, I did not have to take my inhaler once to to an attack. The air quality must have been better.

  I also noticed that it was a pleasure to walk and for people to ride their horses in safety. I am a rider but did not ride in case of accidents. Now there are more cars on the road and restrictions are being lifted there is nowhere safe to ride. The rights of way system is in need of a complete overhaul with unused footpaths that could be used to keep cyclists and riders off the busy roads and get more people out safely enjoying the countryside.
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  a safer way

  by susie, over 6 years ago

  The reduced traffic and quieter lanes were wonderful. Older residents, small chilldren, pets and horse riders were all able to use the lanes safely. Suddenly we have a race track again with cars flying along with no regard for other users .

  Can the Council either take note of complaints or carry out a review of speed limits on the many small lanes and reduce speeds from 30 to 20 mph at least with more visible signage.

  Making roads safer should be a priority. Where i live i wait with baited breath for a serious accident to occur soon.

  The reduced traffic and quieter lanes were wonderful. Older residents, small chilldren, pets and horse riders were all able to use the lanes safely. Suddenly we have a race track again with cars flying along with no regard for other users .

  Can the Council either take note of complaints or carry out a review of speed limits on the many small lanes and reduce speeds from 30 to 20 mph at least with more visible signage.

  Making roads safer should be a priority. Where i live i wait with baited breath for a serious accident to occur soon.
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  A lockdown for climate change

  by NickH, over 6 years ago

  I applaud your efforts to consult the public. My contribution is an open letter I sent to Derek Thomas last week and posted online. Please forgive me posting it in full. I hope it is of some interest:

  We need a lockdown for climate change. The only thing that prevented thousands of extra deaths from the Covid 19 virus was lockdown: A temporary but clearly defined (and quite extreme) restriction on what we could do and where we could go, enforced by the rule of law and such social cohesion as we could muster. Perhaps we could consider the lockdown... Continue reading

  I applaud your efforts to consult the public. My contribution is an open letter I sent to Derek Thomas last week and posted online. Please forgive me posting it in full. I hope it is of some interest:

  We need a lockdown for climate change. The only thing that prevented thousands of extra deaths from the Covid 19 virus was lockdown: A temporary but clearly defined (and quite extreme) restriction on what we could do and where we could go, enforced by the rule of law and such social cohesion as we could muster. Perhaps we could consider the lockdown for Covid as a practice - in some ways it showed us what was possible, if we were sufficiently motivated, and pulled together (most of us, anyway). A lockdown for climate change might include some of the things we have got used to under Covid; restrictions on flying, more working from home and less travelling generally, staying local, discovering our neighbourhood (and our neighbours?), being more community-minded, buying food from local suppliers, maybe even growing our own, valuing nature, valuing ‘front line’ workers. Of course, a lockdown for climate change would put no restrictions on who we could see, and schools and shops, public transport, libraries, swimming pools etc wouldn’t need to shut their doors as they have had to for Covid.

  It would save the planet, for our children and our children’s children, but there would be a catch: In order for us to transition to a green economy, replace all our fossil fuels with renewables, insulate our housing stock, develop new energy sources, new technologies (clean fusion, carbon capture?) we would need 15 years. 15 years of making do with a quieter, simpler life. Less commuter travel, no flying off to foreign parts, less choice at the supermarket, less slavery to fashion (and less slaves making it), less new technology every 5 minutes. We could eat well, sleep well, breathe well, prioritise health and community, creativity and education, environmental recovery, social justice. Just for 15 years, sit back and watch nature heal. We could do it. We’d have to change a few things: create green jobs, work less hours, maybe put everyone on a liveable minimum wage. We’d need to discuss it. But the virus didn’t wait and nor will climate change. We can work out the details as we go along. We need to do it now.

  
  
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  A truly sustainable economy

  by Lesley, over 6 years ago

  Cornwall's reliance on tourism benefits very few who live here. Most people who work in it are paid low, seasonal wages and are forced to live in poor housing (ironically owing to the use of other housing by tourists.) This is neither desirable nor sustainable as people, especially our young people, move away for other work. This has become a community of people who "pass through", easily witnessed by the changes in shop ownership and the faces serving us in our beach-side cafés. We still 'cobble together' our livings with several jobs, in a way not so much different from... Continue reading

  Cornwall's reliance on tourism benefits very few who live here. Most people who work in it are paid low, seasonal wages and are forced to live in poor housing (ironically owing to the use of other housing by tourists.) This is neither desirable nor sustainable as people, especially our young people, move away for other work. This has become a community of people who "pass through", easily witnessed by the changes in shop ownership and the faces serving us in our beach-side cafés. We still 'cobble together' our livings with several jobs, in a way not so much different from the miner/farmer/fisher communities who preceded us. We are still almost the poorest region of Europe.

  We need to provide the means for people and industries to grow, to take advantage of the creativity that abounds locally and in the worlds we are connected to through our internet communications. Geography should not be our excuse: we have at least one port (Falmouth) which might be developed for exports. We should be using the airport/spaceport to pioneer more sustainable air transport (the need for it will not go away). We should take control of the railway infrastructure problems though Devon and Cornwall because the government is clearly not going to do it for us.

  We should be feeding ourselves and not relying on imports. We have the climate for growers/farmers to plant new crops. We should be encouraging more young people into sustainable agriculture and providing modern methods of farming which will encourage others to work on our fields.

  Instead of continually expanding our struggling coastal towns, we should be building entirely new villages with schools, surgeries, leisure and community facilities and good public transport links to provide sustainable places for people to live and bring up their families. To do this we have to seriously tackle our transport infrastructure. All this, in itself, could provide local work for many decades to come.

  Whatever my personal view of 'second and other home ownership' it is legal and can't be prevented. To be honest, some of the cottages in our old fishing ports are not easily suited to modern family life (I've cleaned a few and do know this). All home owners, whether resident or absent, should be subject to the same local and national taxation rules and they should be vigorously enforced. Tourism levies could help in the short-term.

  In summary, Cornwall needs to stop thinking of itself as a pretty museum here to serve others but to create its own identity which others might want to enjoy and support. Many of our local voluntary organisations such as St Ives Community Orchard, Community Land Trust, St Ives BID and the plethora of local responses to the current Covid-19 crisis show us the way. We must not lose what we have spontaneously created.

  
  
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  Pre-coffee moment of reflection

  by Graham, over 6 years ago

  I grew up in Penzance with a passion for Cornwall. I loved it and I still live here. And there is a lot still to like. But the gradual change year on year chipping away at the character of the place (bigger roads, more supermarkets, standardisation of towns) means that it is a very different Cornwall now. Many of those changes have come about for economic reasons, in particular tourism, and I'm sure they have benefited some of the people here. Yet we still have large unemployment, associated social problems, a hefty crime rate and even with those changes that... Continue reading

  I grew up in Penzance with a passion for Cornwall. I loved it and I still live here. And there is a lot still to like. But the gradual change year on year chipping away at the character of the place (bigger roads, more supermarkets, standardisation of towns) means that it is a very different Cornwall now. Many of those changes have come about for economic reasons, in particular tourism, and I'm sure they have benefited some of the people here. Yet we still have large unemployment, associated social problems, a hefty crime rate and even with those changes that have altered the character of the place I suspect much of the population don't see the financial benefit.

  The changes come about incrementally. Just one new road, one more shop closing in town, one more car park - on their own the differences may be marginal. And when they happen so slowly we get used to them, we adapt and they become the new normal. For the younger population of course, it's their baseline, they grow up in it and why would it be any different. Just as it was for me in the 70s and 80s. But when they get to my age they may have similar feelings to me - 'do you remember that glorious summer back in 2020, when we could cycle on the roads without fearing for our lives? When we could hear birds and smell flowers, without the fencing, the drone army, Pollution Cloud B34, the super-cameras and gated beach system, and when they had that funny system of 'voting' for things.'

  We're always on the look-out for that definitive point of change. When will the world end? When is the moment of reckoning? Yet with incremental change it happens by stealth, it's always happening and we let it happen.

  Change on the other hand can be good. I don't want to go back to the past, I like moving forward. And this seems like a real opportunity for Cornwall. An opportunity to be proactive, build a bold long-term future, not simply for short-term economic gain, but with relevance to the huge current and future issues. Normally such a crisis as this is capitalised upon by those in power for the benefit of those in power. Please let's try not to let that happen again.
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  A new normal

  by sandraS, over 6 years ago

  I feel that fewer cars and vehicles on the roads, people working from home, more quality of life patterns for families should be all be maintained post covid. Roads need to be made safer for cyclists, one way systems explored, and the pedestrianisation of town centres realised, to enable people to walk safely. The quality of life, the clean air, and the quiet environment need to be maintained.

  I would like to see a 4 day week and a Universal basic Income for all.

  The developments in Communities to deal with the crisis should be supported with funding - eg... Continue reading

  I feel that fewer cars and vehicles on the roads, people working from home, more quality of life patterns for families should be all be maintained post covid. Roads need to be made safer for cyclists, one way systems explored, and the pedestrianisation of town centres realised, to enable people to walk safely. The quality of life, the clean air, and the quiet environment need to be maintained.

  I would like to see a 4 day week and a Universal basic Income for all.

  The developments in Communities to deal with the crisis should be supported with funding - eg my village set up a food bank, volunteers fetched shopping, prescriptions etc., the local shop sourced difficult to obtain foods. Groups are researching community growing. Most of these either by retirees or because people were working from home, so not sustainable, albeit necessary, post covid.

  Food security is an issue now and in the future - there needs to be support for community growing schemes, in terms of grants and sustainable rural groups like co operatives and co housing groups, need to be supported by changes in planning regulations. We need to be more self sufficient in food and we also therefore reduce pollution by cutting down transport for food deliveries.

  Covid 19 was a consequence of actions like deforestation that are accelerating climate breakdown, and has deflected attention from the need to work towards carbon neutrality asap.We need, as a county, to look at housing ( new builds must be passive, existing buildings retrofitted), supporting a green economy - developing renewable industries, rewilding the land, regenerating the soil, which is depleted, planting trees, flood protections (including beavers), and transport see above. We need to seriously consider the future of Newquay airport in terms of its contribution to CO2 and to cancel the spaceport project, which will take up most of the county's reserves. Money allocated to this should be spent on the NHS, education and the other projects listed above.
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  Overpopulation

  by Sheridan, over 6 years ago

  The biggest problem we all face is overpopulation,the current UK population is over 65 million and rising ( the maximum sustainable UK population is 17 million). Until this is addressed everything will get worse. People need to be dissuaded from having children to help get the population down,for example,being taxed heavily for every child they have. All house building in the UK should be halted as there are already 1.5 million empty homes in the UK. Without actions such as these the planet will be totally uninhabitable in about 100-150 years.Unfortunately we seem to be "breeding to extinction ".

  The biggest problem we all face is overpopulation,the current UK population is over 65 million and rising ( the maximum sustainable UK population is 17 million). Until this is addressed everything will get worse. People need to be dissuaded from having children to help get the population down,for example,being taxed heavily for every child they have. All house building in the UK should be halted as there are already 1.5 million empty homes in the UK. Without actions such as these the planet will be totally uninhabitable in about 100-150 years.Unfortunately we seem to be "breeding to extinction ".
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  safe cycling

  by ms, over 6 years ago

  Over the Lockdown myself and my family have been able to use the roads more as they were so quiet, we started to enjoy cycling together, we didn't have to worry about vehicles and felt a lot safer. As result I have been able to teach my son how to ride on the roads safely using hand signals, being more aware of his position on the road and looking out for approaching traffic, he feels much more confident and happy to ride on the roads around Helston. The Lockdown has made me realise how much we fall into lazy habits... Continue reading

  Over the Lockdown myself and my family have been able to use the roads more as they were so quiet, we started to enjoy cycling together, we didn't have to worry about vehicles and felt a lot safer. As result I have been able to teach my son how to ride on the roads safely using hand signals, being more aware of his position on the road and looking out for approaching traffic, he feels much more confident and happy to ride on the roads around Helston. The Lockdown has made me realise how much we fall into lazy habits and I myself no longer use the car for short local trips, in fact I refuse to get in the car if I can cycle instead. I understand we cant all make these changes but if more of the local community used their car less we would all be contributing to less pollution and a safer environment for everyone. So with this in mind I would love to see a better cycling network around Helston and Cornwall so we can all (cars, buses, vans and bikes) use and enjoy the roads safely together.