'We will decide when the lakes are open' AIBU to be irritated?

[Aberforthsgoat]

Just been on the phone to my cousin who lives in the Lakes. We were discussing how Cumbria has been really badly hit; I was saying how gutted we are to miss our Lakes holidays this year but how I hope it gets under control for the residents, and we are so looking forward to being able to go when we can.
My cousin said 'IF you can come'
And I acknowledged that of course, we would absolutely not come until it's safe for everyone to do so and government says we can; even then we would make our own risk judgement
My cousin responded by saying, quite smugly 'it doesn't matter what the government says,the people who live here will decide when its open, we are keeping people out at the moment'
She proceeded to tell me how much they all hate tourists and how they would blockade to keep people out if the government lets people visit too soon

I understand it must be scary and I would be worried if I live there too but AIBU for thinking this is quite a nasty reaction?! It's made me feel like actually maybe I won't go back, which I know is petulant and cutting off my nose to spite my face, but it's left a bad taste.

I had no intention of finding a loophole so I could go, I was talking about next year or the year after hopefully!

I live in Brighton and thought about going to the beach today in the late afternoon but we think it will be too busy maybe with additional people from outside of Brighton but this is not something we can bristle about as we don't own the beach and it is now allowed.

Who would want to go there anyway? Does nothing but rain and its so gloomy.

We were planning to go to the lakes this year, but fortunately hadn't booked pre-lockdown.

If people from the LD and Cornwall want me to stay away I will. I don't need to sit in several hours of miserable motorway traffic to be thought of badly.

I'll enjoy my garden and local attractions instead and get fat on food from the local farm shop. I can Royston Vasey too.

How interesting to learn that the tourists caused the covid spike in Bowness though
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I'm just making a mental note of the areas where people are behaving like knobs (even semi-locally the usual "nice day out" fodder in our area) and the ones where people are - I'll stay away... permanently. They don't want me = fine - they don't get me, or my money and custom later. They can sit under their placards and watch their economy go to shit.

It’s a bit like the bloody farmers with their “paths closed” signs. It does so much damage.

I am hugely supportive of most farmers but this “get off my land” attitude just irritates the hell out of me. If you are lucky enough to own a farm, accept people who don’t will want some fresh air

I don't know that residents in tourist areas abroad are really any different to those in this country. Animosity might be less obvious in places where you don't speak the language but I am sure its there. My DH's family are from a country that is popular with British tourists and we have overheard some pretty toxic stuff, both when locals haven't realised that I am English as we've been out with family, or when we've been speaking English and waiters etc have been unaware that we can understand the local language.
I would think that in countries where there is a huge gulf between the local standard of living and the wealth of foreign tourists there will be far greater animosity than in Britain regarding British visitors. It may be better hidden - at least in part because the consequences of losing your shitty job in the tourist sector are so much worse in some countries than here - but I'm sure its still there.
Yes, the current situation has led to some people being more obvious about how they feel, but I'm surprised that anyone is surprised.

Unfortunately the reason Cumbria has a high percentage is because lots of people went to their second homes and instead of staying there they used Windermere and south Lakes like a holiday. People drove 600 miles for a weekend as the Police had turned them around and lots of others too. There is a lot of people not respecting that local communities have limited NHS services and the Mountain Rescue are almost all volunteers. It puts a strain on the services, spreads the Covid19 to small farming communities trying to lamb etc instead of staying home or at least staying in their second home. Several medical staff have lost their lives and some teaching staff including a Headteacher from the south. Walking on farm land also puts the farming communities at risk and dogs have been chasing livestock and owners are not putting them on leads even when shouted at.
When it is more controlled people will be ok but unfortunately a few inconsiderate and down right dangerous people have not complies. I also love to go to the Lakes but if i need to stay away then I will. They are not going to disappear.

After Brexit, how can anyone be surprised that the venom is still around? Let's hate everyone who's not like us, even people from 50 miles away, or just over the border. Please note, Cornwall, Wales, the North. You all have barely existing local economies that have been propped up by Euro grants for years. You've voted all that away. Now you don't want tourists either. You'd better start appreciating your scenery because you'll be looking at it a lot in the lovely isolation you've chosen.

@ longwayoff
'After Brexit, how can anyone be surprised that the venom is still around? Let's hate everyone who's not like us, even people from 50 miles away, or just over the border. Please note, Cornwall, Wales, the North. You all have barely existing local economies that have been propped up by Euro grants for years. You've voted all that away. Now you don't want tourists either. You'd better start appreciating your scenery because you'll be looking at it a lot in the lovely isolation you've chosen.'

Spot-on. These are areas that have been beneficiaries of EU largess and yet voted Brexit!?!

She wanted to be superior to you, like you want to come there but she will decide if and when you can.

Let’s face it, the lakes pretty much have fuck all going for it other than tourism, it’s hardly a hive of Industry, so unless you’re independently wealthy and don’t care about the locals, then you’d want tourism, because if locals aren’t making money, then local shops etc close.

It’s a form of bullying and bigging herself up. Had you done something to annoy her? Maybe she can’t afford a holiday so decided giving you a swift kick would put you back in your box.

I don't believe them. Well, I believe the hate, but I don't believe they will blockade to keep people out. And if they do, they're going to learn a sharp lesson.

I grew up in the Lakes, up a valley with a single access road. I've been stuck on either sides of blockades due to neighbourhood disputes, let alone pandemics.

Don't get me started on foot and mouth! Seeing those footpath closed signs properly triggered me

Unfortunately the reason Cumbria has a high percentage is because lots of people went to their second homes

Are there a lot of second home owners in Bowness then? I wonder if it's the shipyard or the nuclear power plant that's the attraction.

Several medical staff have lost their lives and some teaching staff including a Headteacher from the south.

The death rate for healthcare workers is below the average for the population. And yes, I am a nurse.

Walking on farm land also puts the farming communities at risk

No it doesn't.

Look, I understand people are frightened and that ignorance about CV is usually due to a genuine lack of understanding and not rude ignorance, but I wish people would at least attempt to look at the facts and not Facebook.

Are there a lot of second home owners in Bowness then? I wonder if it's the shipyard or the nuclear power plant that's the attraction.

I think you're confusing Bowness with Barrow? Although Sellafield is much further up the coast than either Bowness or Barrow-in-Furness!

Bowness has neither a shipyard nor a nuclear plant. It does, however, have a huge reliance on tourism and a LOT of second homes.

OMG, it’s takes me 239 posts to realise what NIMBY means.

So... we've booked a week in lakes in July. Booked last year. Is it not going to happen do ya think? When will it be thought ok to freely move around the UK again?

This must be the only time in history that Barrow has been confused with Bowness.

@nocoolnamesleft read my post. I have no intention of visiting any time soon. I am hugely sympathetic to the situation and was musing about going in a year or two. I'm staying at home and abiding by the guidance. And my country has had hospital staff die too, many places have.

And to answer a few posters no she wasn't born there she comes from the south east like me.
Her job doesn't rely directly on tourism

I'm in London and before Dec 2019 I was all for a fairer division of wealth in this country. I do think funding is quite London-Centric and that seemed unfair an wrong.

After the rest of the country voted the current clowns in and are making it very clear what they think of us now, they can fuck off.

Ha ha my bad

Also in answer to a previous poster , I'm not mad that NZ isn't allowing tourists because that's a government decision it's not made by a few of the residents who decided to shut certain parts until they decided it was ok to let people in again.

Her attitude is bang out of order. Owning a property in/near to a National Park does not mean you own the National Park. It means you own your property.
Just like the rest of us.

I think it’s a difficult one to call.

I live in a National Park, and my market town is (relatively) swamped with tourists. The local council’s stance is that the county is “not open” to tourists and as such, the public toilets remain closed. With the pubs and cafes also being closed, tourists are taking to urinating in the streets.

I do wish that people would pay heed to the official stance of the local councils. Our town and the surrounding towns, villages and beautiful countryside are all usually fantastic for a day trip - but at the moment, they are not tourist friendly.

The only way to enjoy the Peak District at the moment is if you live close enough to allow you to can here, enjoy a walk/mooch about and get home again without you, or any member of your family, needing to use the toilet. Absolutely none of the businesses - chippies, cafe’s etc - that are currently open have customer toilets.

For me it's not the fact that they're worried about the virus; it's the fact that they assume the 'hoardes' will 'flock' to keswick and bowness while simultaneously walking directly through farmers yards! We are aware your shops and cafes are closed because ours are too! We all know what social distancing is as we've been doing it for two months at home! Most walkers, including myself, just want to park in a carpark away from peoples houses, do a walk that avoids farmyards and use hand sanitizer before and after every gate! Most people have significantly changed their behaviour since lockdown...

Is this your cousin?