Do you think Cornwall will be 'open' in July?

[NoSoapAndGory]

Hi all.

A purely speculative post to gauge opinions, as I know we don't know, don't have a crystal ball, etc etc.

We have booked a self catering holiday cottage near Bude for the first 10 days of July. We live in the South East, so it's about 5 hours drive to get there on a good day. We have a dog so would need to stop at a service station at least once.

As part of general future-focused conversation, DH and I are ruminating about

1: will we be 'allowed' to go
2: if we are, would we want to anyway?
3: if it's 'allowed', will the Bude community welcome us or hate us?
4: will the tourist industry want revenue or not?

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Anyone else having similar discussions, and if so, what are you thinking?

No, we have a holiday booked in Norfolk for end of August in a Holiday Resort Hotel and we've resigned ourselves to the fact that it's extremely unlikely we'll be going. Hotels,especially ones popular with families are the worst possible places for social distancing. Having said that, I only said to dh yesterday that I thought self catering cottages would reopen earlier than hotel complexes - because it's just your group, you eat in the cottage, can avoid the busy areas etc - so hopefully you'll be lucky.

Of course locals aren’t enjoying “their paradise” - they’re observing lockdown from their own homes, just as those in cities are!

If people own a home, once lockdown is lifted by the govt they should be able to visit it. Maintenance is needed, insurance requires it etc.

@FuzzyPuffling
Get real. Iv paid hundreds to stay for a long weekend in July and I will be going.

This is the biggest "I'm all right Jack" attitude I've read on this thread. And you wonder why some local people might not welcome tourists?

Indeed, breathtakingly selfish. With selfish attitudes like this it isn’t hard to see exactly what will happen if lockdown ends too early.

For what it’s worth, I’d be surprised if the poster of the “I’m all right jack” comment will be going in July as the peak of the covid curve isn’t predicted to hit the south west until June as they’re behind other parts of the country with regards to infection.

Why is it unlikely merry mouse?

What are you basing that on? It sounds like you have used information to inform your judgement.

Or is it just ‘what you think?’

Of course it would be impossible to rent a cottage if there’s a lockdown. We all know that and we’d all agree, too.

What are you basing that on? It sounds like you have used information to inform your judgement.

The exit from lock down will be gradual and it will take more than a month to establish whether the reinfection rate is sufficiently under control to enable the opening of high risk industries like tourism, particularly when those high risk industries are in places that have little ability to cope with a surge in cases.

EarlGrey T surely the all right jack person is the one holding the posters hard earned cash and refusing a refund if they can't provide the service.

@countrygirl99. It’s both of them really. Although the way the poster has phrased it, it implies they’re expecting to go and to get the weekend they’ve spent 100s on, lockdown or no lockdown. Not sure how that works if the service/weekend they’ve already paid for isn’t up and running.

So - question - if track/trace and all associates social distancing is in place, Will Cornwall be open in July/August?

You don't seem to understand why we would have a testing and tracking system. It wouldn't in itself control the virus. It would enable loosening and tightening of restrictions to keep the virus at manageable levels. It's possible that the data produced could lead to tighter restrictions in some places and industries.

Whether or not Cornwall as a county will be 'open' would depend on how well their hospital systems are coping - if they aren't there might well need to be road blocks.

However, whether or not Cornwall is 'open', tourism is likely to be one of the last sectors that is fully open, and social distancing restrictions will mean that some businesses can't operate on a financially viable basis before the end of the summer.

EarlGreyT I got the impression it was if they wouldn't refund. People can't really say, I won't refund you but don't come if it is open which is an attitude in a few posts. Perhaps those who are saying keep away should be directing their ire at those still taking bookings. Though tbh it would be foolish to book anything.

We have 3 UK trips booked last year and have long realised they won't be happening but I would be really annoyed at having paid £100s of money that I've worked for and saved for nothing if I don't get refunds and can't go. Two of them, naturally the more expensive ones, were for specific family events and so any offer to reschedule would be worthless to me. The other is a friends property we use regularly so no problem.

@justasking111

cornish beaches, car parks are shut down. so even if no visitors come the locals will not be able to enjoy their paradise this summer.

Beaches are open...actually had a few glorious empty walks along the coastline and the best surf of the year as part of my daily exercise. All a short walk from my doorstep.

I don't like the tone of your point here. Very much "we can't enjoy Cornwall so neither can you HA HA HA HA HA HA."

LocalYokel so the fact that the coastguard & RNLI are asking us not to surf doesn't make any difference to you?

My local beach is open, most of the car parks for other beaches aren't.

The last time I surfed was 21st March - was that before lockdown? honestly cant remember! Either way - I maintain it was the best surf I've ever had, and while I haven't been since, I quietly hope we'll get to enjoy more sessions like that over the summer, while tourists are away. I'm lucky to be able to walk to my local beach.

@cjpark keep pushing to get a refund. We're planning on cancelling our holiday and I'm currently trying to get my money back. If I don't I won't be cancelling as I'm sure the holiday agency will let it out again if they can and I don't want them getting double the money.

Im from Cornwall and of course dont expect to holiday this year - we are in the start of a national emergency - and remember our peak here will be later than London. Our family has cancelled our holiday to Ireland at the loss of hundreds of pounds. I would be expecting (hoping) to rebook for next year. No way would I want to risk bringing anything anywhere. My in laws were planning to come here for a holiday in July to St Ives and that was cancelled by the hotel as clearly there will be no appropriate/safe holidaying by summer. We are staying home like everyone else. We are more fortunate that our home is in Cornwall but we are not out on the beaches we are staying home and trying not to spread anything around. Because we dont want to kill people. Staycations are where is at this year surely. Its not about disliking tourists, they are fine when not risking covid spread. Its not about coming here and leaving if you get a cough as by then its too late, clearly. Its not a question of economy v health as if we get to the point where people come and accidentally transmit covid to others via shopping etc (or take up the desperatly needed deliveries!) then our hospital will be overwelmed and we will just be filling up our temporary morgue and we will have to go in to further lockdown to try to help further spread. Our care homes have already been devastated. Our GPs are working from tents and huts. It isnt going to get better here any time soon its just the beginning here.

@LocalYokel84 you might not like the tone of my post but I was reiterating what someone in your neck of the woods has stated.

Just back from Conwy, N Wales, so sad to drive through the town all the shops shut bar butcher and spar. A glorious day which should be enjoyed by visitors and locals on a day like this. This virus really has knocked the guts out of the UK.

I am really sorry we cannot travel at the moment and are missing some glorious parts of the UK.

The peak is artificial. It is probable that London peaked earlier simply because people in London started taking action before official lockdown, but essentially the timing of the peak would be the same across the country because we all locked down at the same time

Lockdown affects the timing and height of the peak

Why don’t they just put police checkpoints on the A30 as it leaves and enters Cornwall this year

Don't give them ideas. I have already been imagining roadblocks on the A303 and think my mum may have to visit me rather than the other way round as if she gets stopped by police, she will be going home, whereas I'd be turned round (assuming the roadblock only operates for those going towards the south-west and not those coming towards the south and south-east).

Though she actually lives close to one of the early hotspots.

Our RNLI, coastguard are telling us to not swim in the sea, surf, kite board, paddle board, sail, jet ski or motor. Our marinas are locked up tight. You are not allowed to row out to your own boat and sit on board in the river. Not allowed to fish either unless you have a commercial licence and make your living from it.

Relatives in Falmouth have been told they can't use their boat.

I was joking about the roadblocks...

I’m astonished at the number of people on this thread who don’t know the difference between ‘now’ and ‘July.’

The OP asked for thoughts on July, which is in the future. Lots of posters telling us what’s happening now.

There’s 12 weeks ish between ‘now’ and ‘July.’ If nothing changes, we will be the only country in Europe not to have lifted some of the lockdown.

Notwithstanding a second lockdown, why would that be?

Well said @Daffodil101 ! Why is what's happening now at all relevant?

No
My parents live there please don’t put them at risk

I think it is relevant because holidays will still be off the table, hotels, airbnb type lets are in lockdown for much longer than a shop because being in close proximity to lots of people for a considerable time is much riskier in the scientists opinion than popping into a shop.