The Cornwall We Want

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In March 2020 people across the whole country experienced a massive change to their way of life. Our resident’s survey in June 2020 showed us that this had triggered an appetite for change. Although there were some very negative side effects of the pandemic, the more positive changes made people realise that life could be different and only 1 in ten people wanted every thing to go back to the way it was before the pandemic.

So we launched “The Cornwall We Want” campaign on 26 June 2020, to hear more from residents about the changes they want for future generations.

We heard from a wide range of people, all across Cornwall. Over 25,000 people visited this online platform to take part in the conversation about the Cornwall we want. Over 900 people have taken part in discussions, round tables and focus groups. Our 3 livestreamed discussions have been watched back over 16,000 times.

You can read more about the ways people could have their say and what we heard from them in this report.

The feedback we heard from residents has been used to shape the vision set out in ‘Gyllyn Warbarth, Together we can: The Cornwall Plan’.

In March 2020 people across the whole country experienced a massive change to their way of life. Our resident’s survey in June 2020 showed us that this had triggered an appetite for change. Although there were some very negative side effects of the pandemic, the more positive changes made people realise that life could be different and only 1 in ten people wanted every thing to go back to the way it was before the pandemic.

So we launched “The Cornwall We Want” campaign on 26 June 2020, to hear more from residents about the changes they want for future generations.

We heard from a wide range of people, all across Cornwall. Over 25,000 people visited this online platform to take part in the conversation about the Cornwall we want. Over 900 people have taken part in discussions, round tables and focus groups. Our 3 livestreamed discussions have been watched back over 16,000 times.

You can read more about the ways people could have their say and what we heard from them in this report.

The feedback we heard from residents has been used to shape the vision set out in ‘Gyllyn Warbarth, Together we can: The Cornwall Plan’.

What are your hopes and fears for the future?


What has your experience of the lockdown been? Has the lockdown made you think again about what matters in your life? What changes do you want to make? What do you want the ‘new normal’ to look like for you, your business or your community? What do you see as the challenges and opportunities to achieving those aims?

You can upload photos, videos and insert links to add to your story.


Thank you for sharing your story with us.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Future musing on a county with less tourism on Facebook Share Future musing on a county with less tourism on X (formerly Twitter) Share Future musing on a county with less tourism on Linkedin Email Future musing on a county with less tourism link

    Future musing on a county with less tourism

    by saltash_dude, over 6 years ago

    Like Porthtowan Residient says a reliance on tourism is something I'm thinking about. My thoughts are purely speculative and just based on my perception of things.

    I'm aware that ideas are much easier said than done but I wonder what our County could be like with a slow shift away from tourism and towards something else that still keeps people in work...mining gone, what if tourism faded a bit next. But then what and how would tourism based business adapt?

    Perhaps a future focus might be about a better and more enjoyable local environment for residents in Cornwall AND elsewhere... Continue reading

    Like Porthtowan Residient says a reliance on tourism is something I'm thinking about. My thoughts are purely speculative and just based on my perception of things.

    I'm aware that ideas are much easier said than done but I wonder what our County could be like with a slow shift away from tourism and towards something else that still keeps people in work...mining gone, what if tourism faded a bit next. But then what and how would tourism based business adapt?

    Perhaps a future focus might be about a better and more enjoyable local environment for residents in Cornwall AND elsewhere, perhaps if local life in all parts of the country was improved then the need to "escape" would be less. Maybe pressure in work and built up areas elsewhere is part of the issue here so new directions can't be done in a Cornwall bubble.

    As the world becomes more digital then the need too physically get customers to the SW to make money could be offset with other avenues.

    Don't get me wrong i do believe people should be able to travel and explore the world, but just ease off a bit perhaps and in turn benefit the environment.


  • Share Tourism an alternative view - A blight and a drain ? on Facebook Share Tourism an alternative view - A blight and a drain ? on X (formerly Twitter) Share Tourism an alternative view - A blight and a drain ? on Linkedin Email Tourism an alternative view - A blight and a drain ? link

    Tourism an alternative view - A blight and a drain ?

    by Austin , over 6 years ago


    I have lived a great deal of my life in Cornwall and grew up here and live here today. The BBC and local news constantly portray tourism as a “good thing” bringing money into our economy.

    I consider tourism to be a blight and a drain, giving nothing but low paid low skilled seasonal jobs. The majority of the money made leaves the county holiday parks owned by multinational companies to satisfy the greed of share holders. Cornwall council has an obsession with tourism promoting it to the detriment of everything else.

    Cornwall used to be a great beautiful place... Continue reading


    I have lived a great deal of my life in Cornwall and grew up here and live here today. The BBC and local news constantly portray tourism as a “good thing” bringing money into our economy.

    I consider tourism to be a blight and a drain, giving nothing but low paid low skilled seasonal jobs. The majority of the money made leaves the county holiday parks owned by multinational companies to satisfy the greed of share holders. Cornwall council has an obsession with tourism promoting it to the detriment of everything else.

    Cornwall used to be a great beautiful place to live now it is little more than a theme park rammed with tourists. I have seen none of this windfall, facilities in Cornwall are pitiful, nor have any of my friends of family the majority of people don’t benefit from tourism we have very little to show for all we have to put up with, crowded roads full carparks, noise, litter, crime etc.

    Thank you

    Austin Fuller


    Sent from my iPad

  • Share I’d forgotten the good things... now I have re-experienced and re-imagined them. on Facebook Share I’d forgotten the good things... now I have re-experienced and re-imagined them. on X (formerly Twitter) Share I’d forgotten the good things... now I have re-experienced and re-imagined them. on Linkedin Email I’d forgotten the good things... now I have re-experienced and re-imagined them. link

    I’d forgotten the good things... now I have re-experienced and re-imagined them.

    by Andrew, over 6 years ago

    There was less traffic, people had more time for each other, the Hill didn’t stink of diesel fumes and there were more insects and birds. That was then, and this is what it’s like under lockdown.

    True, my work has gone and the future looks precarious, but somehow it feels better, and I’m confident that there are opportunities for home working. Our outgoings have dropped since we stopped the ritual of shopping trips and eating out and we’ve discovered that we can actually get on with each other in the same house after all.

    We wouldn’t have made the effort... Continue reading

    There was less traffic, people had more time for each other, the Hill didn’t stink of diesel fumes and there were more insects and birds. That was then, and this is what it’s like under lockdown.

    True, my work has gone and the future looks precarious, but somehow it feels better, and I’m confident that there are opportunities for home working. Our outgoings have dropped since we stopped the ritual of shopping trips and eating out and we’ve discovered that we can actually get on with each other in the same house after all.

    We wouldn’t have made the effort if we hadn’t been forced.

    I don’t want things to go back to the way they before, I want to breathe clean air, I want the endless traffic to stop, I want to keep the closeness with neighbours and family we’ve rediscovered.

    Most likely I will need to rethink what work I do, like many small businesses, and I’d like to see the programme for fibre sped up (we need it now, not in 12 months), I’d like to see Cornwall Council able to set out regulations to keep Covid at bay independently of that mess that is Westminster, and most of all I’d like to see local businesses and shops incentivised to keep trade local, and promote business that doesn’t depend on car ownership, but supports public transport, walking and cycling.

  • Share Revolutionary ideas on Facebook Share Revolutionary ideas on X (formerly Twitter) Share Revolutionary ideas on Linkedin Email Revolutionary ideas link

    Revolutionary ideas

    by Pendeen Pete, over 6 years ago

    How about the council cease getting consultants to waste money, employ their own staff for council work, stop outsourcing. When the shock wears off, we could have civic amenity sites that took people’s waste without charging,or having rules designed to prevent use, and instead make it so easy that people would find fly tipping more trouble than using the local tip. The astounding realisation that cleaning up fly tipping costs money, could make a councillor famous. Town car parks should be free for the first two hours for local residents, our town centres might become more attractive to shop in... Continue reading

    How about the council cease getting consultants to waste money, employ their own staff for council work, stop outsourcing. When the shock wears off, we could have civic amenity sites that took people’s waste without charging,or having rules designed to prevent use, and instead make it so easy that people would find fly tipping more trouble than using the local tip. The astounding realisation that cleaning up fly tipping costs money, could make a councillor famous. Town car parks should be free for the first two hours for local residents, our town centres might become more attractive to shop in, local businesses would have a fighting chance against the out of town (with free parking), superstores.

    Of course, none of this will happen, instead we will have more bureaucratic nonsense, higher car park charges, no public toilets, and plenty of fly tipping.

    All of this will be forgotten as we twin with another foreign town, the benefits will be apparent only to those who organise it.

  • Share Cornwall is being damaged on Facebook Share Cornwall is being damaged on X (formerly Twitter) Share Cornwall is being damaged on Linkedin Email Cornwall is being damaged link

    Cornwall is being damaged

    by THG, over 6 years ago

    I sincerely believe that Cornwall is being irrevocably damaged by too much building and over tourism.

    So many of us are living in fear of the coming tourist season but no one seems to care.

    We are the ones who pay our bills, our taxes and claim nothing from the council for second homes.

    We are being treated as second class citizens and it is beginning to hurt. What about looking after our Cornwall, our language, our history, our culture. How about worrying a little less for the tourists?

    We pay so much but see so little.

    My council tax... Continue reading

    I sincerely believe that Cornwall is being irrevocably damaged by too much building and over tourism.

    So many of us are living in fear of the coming tourist season but no one seems to care.

    We are the ones who pay our bills, our taxes and claim nothing from the council for second homes.

    We are being treated as second class citizens and it is beginning to hurt. What about looking after our Cornwall, our language, our history, our culture. How about worrying a little less for the tourists?

    We pay so much but see so little.

    My council tax bill is larger than any mortgage I have ever paid.

  • Share Make Cornwall you first priority on Facebook Share Make Cornwall you first priority on X (formerly Twitter) Share Make Cornwall you first priority on Linkedin Email Make Cornwall you first priority link

    Make Cornwall you first priority

    over 6 years ago

    I believe that Cornwall Council should start by recognising the Cornish people and the people of Cornwall more.

    My emails to my Cornwall Councillor or to the Council are rarely answered.

    We are placed below the damaging demands of tourism even though the bulk of us derive no benefit from it. My own work is not related to tourism nor is that of anyone I know, yet we are often overlooked.

    We have witnessed immense destruction caused by over development and housing estates and second home for the wealthy have dramatically altered Cornwall.

    Cornwall, its history and heritage, environment and... Continue reading

    I believe that Cornwall Council should start by recognising the Cornish people and the people of Cornwall more.

    My emails to my Cornwall Councillor or to the Council are rarely answered.

    We are placed below the damaging demands of tourism even though the bulk of us derive no benefit from it. My own work is not related to tourism nor is that of anyone I know, yet we are often overlooked.

    We have witnessed immense destruction caused by over development and housing estates and second home for the wealthy have dramatically altered Cornwall.

    Cornwall, its history and heritage, environment and culture needs far greater attention.

    Cornwall need more power locally so creating a bottom up democracy rather than a top down. We are well overdue proper devolution.

    This needs to be done sooner rather than later. The Cornwall that so many love and feel an affinity with is being taken from us.



  • Share Cornwall as we would like it to be. on Facebook Share Cornwall as we would like it to be. on X (formerly Twitter) Share Cornwall as we would like it to be. on Linkedin Email Cornwall as we would like it to be. link

    Cornwall as we would like it to be.

    by Michael J, over 6 years ago

    It would be lovely to go back to the Cornwall we know and love after the 'virus' but I'm afraid it has meant that there will have to be changes made to our lifestyle.

    No things will ever be quite the same but I am optimistic and think that it will improve the way in which we live.

    We will hopefully share our lives more and be more aware of what we have in this lovely County.

    It would be lovely to go back to the Cornwall we know and love after the 'virus' but I'm afraid it has meant that there will have to be changes made to our lifestyle.

    No things will ever be quite the same but I am optimistic and think that it will improve the way in which we live.

    We will hopefully share our lives more and be more aware of what we have in this lovely County.

  • Share Environment should come first on Facebook Share Environment should come first on X (formerly Twitter) Share Environment should come first on Linkedin Email Environment should come first link

    Environment should come first

    by PorthtowanResident, over 6 years ago

    What I have noticed is how much nature and the local environment thrived when lockdown was at its tightest. I strongly feel that we should be encouraging cycling, constructing cycling infrastructure and moving away from a reliance on tourism. Cornwall should be focusing on food production - we don't need tourism and it is not wanted or appreciated by the majority of residents. It places significant stress on roads, water infrastructure and the housing market.

    With the housing market in mind, I feel we strongly need to rethink the construction of the Langarth development. Majority of Cornish residents are deeply... Continue reading

    What I have noticed is how much nature and the local environment thrived when lockdown was at its tightest. I strongly feel that we should be encouraging cycling, constructing cycling infrastructure and moving away from a reliance on tourism. Cornwall should be focusing on food production - we don't need tourism and it is not wanted or appreciated by the majority of residents. It places significant stress on roads, water infrastructure and the housing market.

    With the housing market in mind, I feel we strongly need to rethink the construction of the Langarth development. Majority of Cornish residents are deeply opposed to this development which will destroy farmland and greenfield land, and which will not provide affordable housing to the local Cornish residents who need it. We need to value the people who live here more than the people who come to holiday or move down from upcountry.

    We should also be considering installation of fibre broadband as a number one priority for residents and businesses - this is no longer a luxury it is an absolute necessity, and it is unacceptable that Openreach have control over where it is and isn't rolled out to.


Page last updated: 29 Sep 2026, 06:09 AM