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've got to say that while I get the issue of not very good healthcare in Cornwall, what makes you think that people from other parts of the country are any more infected than you are? We've all been in lockdown. I am no more likely to have the virus than someone living in Truro.

Ironically we have ultra low figures here as they have in the south west

When I saw the stats for "excess deaths" they weren't that low in Cornwall. Devon was lower. Where I live was higher but not that much higher.

I have thought for a long time, many years now, that there should be a tourist levy of about £1 per night per bed, to be paid to the local council to fund all the extra capacity and services needed by the influx of visitors each summer. France and Germany have tourist taxes, collected by the landlords, and paid onwards to local services. Brittany certainly does it, and it's spelled out explicitly in the contract as an extra charge. For a family of four: two adults, two (exempt) children, it adds £2 per night to the cost, so £28 for a fortnight's holiday. There are very few people who could argue that that small amount would make a holiday unaffordable. But scaled up across all the holidays taken in the area, it would put a lot back into the local economy's services.

I have thought for a long time, many years now, that there should be a tourist levy of about £1 per night per bed,

I wouldn't have a problem, although do you mean per person rather than per bed? DH and I have stayed in cottages that sleep 4 or 6 although there's only 2 of us.

Locals pretty much all know each other, so any newcomers or holidaymakers stick out like sore thumbs, even if they don't think they do!

Totally get the strength of feeling about the Chelsea tractor brigade radish. It's the same in our village. I can think of three families of second homers who arrived in our village on the night of lockdown and have stayed ever since.

I get why they wanted to be here and not in London, but they haven't ingratiated themselves. They have done nothing to support the community since they arrived, but then they haven't bothered to get to know anyone ever when they've been here on holiday in the past so they aren't networked into the community support groups, the volunteer groups, those making meals for the hospital staff or checking on our elderly. They just swan about going on long jogs and somehow getting Waitrose deliveries.

In Greece years ago there was a two tier pricing system in restaurants one for locals one for tourists

this already exists in our village, it's not visible but it's very much there. Not sure whether I agree it's a good thing, but it does mean that the less well off in our village can afford a pint in the pub.

I’d accept a 33% rise, yes, if it supported them to stay open this year.

Nobody forces anyone to go into a restaurant, it’s not compulsory.

If there are so many Chelsea tractors around, sounds like it would work

What a load of bollocks OrangeSamphire
Where you to in Kernow then where everyone knows everyone else and newcomers and visitors stick out like a sore thumb? Somewhere up on deepest darkest Bodmin?
Cos the Kernow you describe is generally nothing like that. Maybe 30 years ago.
And no, as shocking as it may be to you, not all us locals are networked into the community support groups, the volunteer groups, those making meals for the hospital staff or checking on our elderly. Nor do we constantly curtain twitch judging joggers on their home address (is that by their running style or garb?).
Well there's only one Waitrose here so guessing you are somewhere near where I live.
Don't recognise your description of life and attitudes here at all.

gnome I have lived in this village for 10 years and I have described it exactly as it is.

Also, there's more than one Waitrose in Cornwall. HTH.

I am saddened by the attitudes of parts of the UK. First we want to seal ourselves off against Europeans, and now it seems some parts of the UK want to seal themselves off against the rest of the UK.

Awful. There's a nasty streak running through this country.

I think it must be a small minority, Gregoria

Also, can people please stop being so bloody offended by the "go home" and "stay away" signs. Locals are worried for their elderly relatives and lack of ICU beds, not concerned about whether or not you take offence and dont feel welcome. This isn't about you right now.

So are people supposed not to take any notice? "go home" and "stay away" are indeed offensive. A "please" might have helped. If you write the same sentiment on both sides of the signs, this would be fairer wouldn't it?

You're right @gregoria67 that the tone hasn't always been that collegiate but when people are frightened and they see unnecessary risk or stupid, selfish behaviour occurring, it's what happens.

The #comebacklater message of many posts that have sprung up seem far more appropriate.

So are people supposed not to take any notice? "go home" and "stay away" are indeed offensive

Considering the v high mortality rate of CV on the elderly, its quite restrained.
Everyone has been told to stay in and make essential journeys only, that doesn't include coming down to Cornwall (or any where else for that matter) and behaving as if they own the place, to do so betrays a sense of self importance that is quite staggering.

Re: tourism tax isn’t that normally paid by people from other countries I have paid it in Greece and Spain but I wouldn’t expect to pay it in the UK as I already pay taxes etc which aren’t just spent on my county , therefore we contribute to the whole of the uk
I love Cornwall and have family there but I think some forget they don’t own it and without the whole of the UK one area couldn’t exists Without the others
I get yoh don’t want infection rates going up but I’m guessing we won’t get to move around the whole of UK until infection rates are down across the uk overall.

behaving as if they own the place

The ironic thing is, some of them do.

(Disclaimer - I am as poor as a church mouse and certainly could never afford a second home anywhere at all - I am just dismayed by the unpleasantness we're seeing. I thought part of being British was that we pulled together, not turned on each other).

Following this thread with interest as we have had an email today from the holiday cottage we've booked in Cornwall for August reminding us that the second installment of payment is due. Booked direct with them, no mention in email or on website on what their policy is if Covid restrictions are still in place then. Can't decide whether to pay, or just write off the relatively cheap deposit we've already paid.

So difficult for Cornish businesses right now. 80% are hugely impacted apparently. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Some are doing really well by diversifying but it's not possible or practical for many.

Desperate and I hope we're through this as soon as possible, just the worst timing imaginable for seasonal traders.

gnomeisland I know villages like the one OrangeSamphire lives in. I can see one across the water from where I live.

Gregoria67 I'm sorry you've been offended, but we're talking about people's lives here. People have been scared, and have seen others flout the rules because they think they don't apply to them. I think the suggestion that a "please" be added is a bit laughable. I like visiting many places all over the UK, and couldn't give a shiny shit if those places put up signs asking others to go home. I would absolutely agree.

For what it's worth, the residents of my little town have been amazing at pulling together to help the vulnerable. Various Facebook pages have been set up to arrange food parcels, and make sure that no one goes without. People have been wonderful.

Re the go home signs I had a friend whose son became a journalist/photographer he would do something like this, then take photos for £££ he and others like him make a lot of money doing this. Do not believe everything you see.

What are you going to do, Fratercula?

Story in the local news today of a couple who drove 265 miles from Surrey to St Ives for an hour by the sea as they had "exam stress". Fined and sent home. As the saying goes " you can't argue with stupid".

The village I live in has been nothing but fabulously supportive with loads of practical help and emotional support. The second home near me has remained empty ( thank you) and the holiday lets have closed for the time being ( more thank you). No pitchforks in sight.

I have two “Chelsea” tractors. I notice the Cornish residents have them too. Jealousy isn’t a great trait.

FraterculaArctica: do you think you would be welcome in August? Personally I wouldn’t go after reading all of the anti tourist posts on here. It makes me want to sell up and go for holidays elsewhere.

@FraterculaArctica it should, hopefully, be quite straightforward. If the lockdown rules are lifted to allow it, you can travel to Bude in August.

From what government has hinted at though there will still be social distancing in place for a long time so you may find restaurants, cafes and shops not as available to you as they otherwise would have been. If you’re content with beach walks and fresh air, great.

If the lockdown rules haven’t been lifted, your holiday cottage booking should be moveable to another date.

If you don’t think you’d want to come to Cornwall at another time in the future, then forfeit the deposit and cancel now. If you would be happy to flex on dates, pay up and hang on in there!