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?

I think it’s possible that we’ll be allowed to travel by then, but I feel certain that there will be restrictions to enforce social distancing - I’d think limited numbers in pubs, restaurants, tourist sites etc. So if you can go, you might have limited options for entertainment, eating out and so on.

Essentially I think there’s no way things will go back to ‘normal’ but there will need to be a balance struck between preventing spread of the virus and preventing further damage to the economy - so I could see businesses open but with restrictions that reduce the risk of transmission.

Sadly, my reading of the various threads on this make me feel we’d be unwelcome in the south-west this summer. I’d like to think the response is completely Covid-related but I suspect it’s a dislike of tourists masked as concern for the hospital.

No, I don't think it will be ok to move around for holidays within the UK by then and I think areas like Cornwall which have very limited NHS facilities aren't able to prepare or cope with a possible influx of tourists if Covid cases increased.

We had a holiday booked in Cornwall over Easter and have rearranged for next April. We've another one booked for the last two weeks in August and I doubt that will happen, either. I'm not sure I'd be happy going even if it was permitted.

How will the tourist businesses in these places survive? The furlough is until may. Are they all happy to sign on until next summer?'

A lot of them are being well supported by locals. Cafes and pubs may be shut to sit-in customers but many are doing a roaring trade in takeaways and home deliveries.

The problem is that rural areas often have very poor access to health services and those that do exist are easily overwhelmed - they just wouldn't cope if a load of tourists arrived and needed medical care.

I’d like to think the response is completely Covid-related but I suspect it’s a dislike of tourists masked as concern for the hospital.

It's more of a case of stay home and leave the few hospital beds available for any locals that might need them. You don't need to go on your summer holidays.

The reality for rural areas is they don't have the health infrastructure to deal with a massive influx of tourists needing to use their limited hospital beds.

We have planned a weekend in Devon for late July. Even if everything isn’t open we will still go

I imagine not. At the moment Cornwall is quite low on COVID so presumably most of the residents have no immunity and don't want it brought it. They also don't have a huge amount of hospital capacity to deal with tourists who might come in then become ill.

No. Even if lockdown is much more relaxed they won’t want holiday places open such as campsites, cottages as they won’t want to encourage mass movement of people. If there’s a little pocket of infection which springs up better to maximise the chances of it staying in one area.

Before lockdown started we came to Cornwall to stay with parents and are obviously now still here because we can't drive back to London!

It's nice being here but you can't drive to the beach or woodlands etc. They are being stricter than some places and enforcing the government advice on this. Local shops are still open, we are mainly using local farm shops for deliveries and they seem pleased to have the business, pubs are doing takeaway's etc. I don't think things will be back to normal by July but I hope they at least open the beaches and natural spaces.

cookiemon666
I agree - nddh does not have the capacity.

Why do Cornwall and Devon only have one main hospital each? For about 70 years + tourists have about doubled the population there in summers. Why are these increased numbers taken into account regarding medical services? I think people are actually unwelcome. If not why not fund raise for new hospitals? The Nightingale hospitals only took a few days to construct, I understand.

No you won’t be welcomed. All the pubs, restaurants etc will be closed anyway.

July 2021. When we can visit grandma and grandad in Cornwall again. Until then....nope.

Why do Cornwall and Devon only have one main hospital each?

Now there's a question Cornwall has pretty much the same info infrastructure as it had 30 years. The population is growing all the time but no new roads or schools.

30 years ago.

I think the nhs care is based on residents not visitors. Plus it's an aged population down here too.

No and you won’t be welcome anyway.

Abuse aka Bude

I think it’s 50/50.
We have a shot break booked but not in Cornwall (we usually do go to Cornwall) late July on a very small camp site, I am hoping we can go even if it means just relaxing at the camp site and not visiting local town but I’m not getting my hopes up. We also had a few days booked at a campsite for May/June but that won’t be happening, also had to cancel a city break this month. We are not getting hopes up about going anywhere , luckily I live in a popular holiday spot and am surrounded by lovely places and coastline so we don’t have to travel far to feel like we are on holiday. At the moment I just hope we are able to travel the 45 minutes to the coast sometime this year.

No, I don't think it's likely at all.

The key to lifting restrictions is supposed to be increased testing and contact tracing.

There is no way that will be possible if large groups of people are visiting tourist hotspots.

Why do Cornwall and Devon only have one main hospital each? For about 70 years + tourists have about doubled the population there in summers. Why are these increased numbers taken into account regarding medical services?

Maybe because there isn't unlimited money to build hospitals to support people who are only there for a quarter of the year?

Hospitals are built based on the number of permanent residents. They're the ones who need access to an ICU bed at the moment. Why can't people just stay home for one summer and not put a strain on local services?

The reality for rural areas is they don't have the health infrastructure to deal with a massive influx of tourists needing to use their limited hospital beds

The good people of Cornwall do not own their hospital. It is an NHS hospital paid for through the taxes of everyone in the country.

I live in London. Do the Cornish lose sleep over the thousands of people from other countries who have been allowed to arrive daily in our city and go where they like? We have more hospitals, that’s true. To serve MILLIONS.

Covid has not hit Cornwall badly - or at all, you might argue. So why the rush to put up signs telling us your county is closed. Keep out! Don’t tell me there’s not some other agenda.

How will the tourist businesses in these places survive? The furlough is until may. Are they all happy to sign on until next summer?'

Only 20% of residents where I am work in the tourist industry. There are jobs available in supermarkets where there are employers who can't work due to shielding etc. Some restaurants have farm shops which are still open or still offering takeaways.

A few of the actual tourists attractions may go under. I'm thinking Flambards.

Covid has not hit Cornwall badly - or at all, you might argue. So why the rush to put up signs telling us your county is closed.

Because they don't want to be hit? It's obvious, isn't it? They're relatively protected and want to stay that way.

A huge influx of millions of people is going to place a huge strain on the area. Not just on hospitals, but on holiday accommodation, supermarkets, cafes, pubs, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions.

I'm in the Lakes and all those places are closed and will be for the foreseeable future. So why the need to come on holiday when you won't be able to see the attractions and use the local services?

Covid has not hit Cornwall badly - or at all, you might argue. So why the rush to put up signs telling us your county is closed

Presumably because they want to keep it that way.