'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!

No op, didn't say You did. Others have. Also am a proud Westmerian.

Do you think that the longer lock down has gone on, it has led to a general fear of things changing? Whether that is back to how it used to be, or to a new 'normal'. We have all got so used to being isolated that now the thought of people from elsewhere coming into our space has led to an almost hysterical reaction from a lot of people? I live in South Cumbria and have been out once in the last three weeks. I'll be honest, I do feel slightly nervous when I go out, even though I take sensible precautions. But if I lived in Ambleside, Keswick or Bowness and had to shop locally, I think I would feel a lot more worried about it getting busy. I don't agree with the actions of some, but as is often the case, the ones who shout loudest, get heard the most. I suspect the majority of residents are very nervous of lot's of people coming into the area, but realise that life has to go on, but they are not the ones shouting about it to the press, etc. It's also true that whilst people have been isolating to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed, here in Cumbria we only have 3 main hospitals to cover 2,613 square miles and it takes at least two hours to travel between them. We are all aware of how busy they can become during normal times, never mind during a pandemic. There will always be people like your cousin, the same as the ones who move to a village and then campaign for the town clock to be silenced or the church bells to stop ringing, but that doesn't mean everyone in Cumbria feels like that.

An outbreak now in Appleby. Gp infected. It's peoples lives!

South Lakeland so Burneside/Kendal?K fairly dead atm. 👋 X

Has anyone died there? The GP?

@Musicforsmorks 👍. Good to hear, I'll be back next year.

I’m worried a lot of businesses in south lakes will be decimated by this.
Bowness especially reliant on Chinese, Japanese visitors........I’ve missed seeing their always friendly faces here.

There will be some shops that probably never reopen in their previous state.

Many will be fine, though, especially the very commercial ones - those in every damn beauty spot (herdy, etc haha) and those ubiquitous lakes art galleries.

Herdy did grow on me though, I have a sheep toy in my bathroom 😁

People of Cumbria, how are you feeling about caring father Dominic Cummings?

I think you're geography is off longwayoff. He went to Durham. Durham's north east. Nearer Newcastle. Plus there are a lot of other threads about it.

She sounds like a twunt OP.
These people CHOOSE to live in tourist areas and tourism is the way their local economy survives.
However, if I lived in such an area right now I'd be nervous and pissed off to see more and more covidiots flaunting social distancing rules and affecting the infection rate of where I live.

Although I've just actually realised, I live in a very popular northern city. Its particularly popular for drinking and hen/stag parties.

I'm definitely not missing those people. Although I know they pump a lot of money into our local businesses 🙄

Does that make me a hypocrite? I want to say no because all of those people spend their time in my home city staggering around drunk rather than nice Lakes tourists! 😆

Wind her up! Tell her your friend has lent you their Motorhome for 2 weeks and you're on your way! She'll be livid!! 🤣🤣🤣

I would genuinely love to know how they're "keeping people out at the moment?!"

"Well it's not my "second home" technically....it's the only home I own and we rent at the moment nearer to Dh's job. "

That's still a second home if it's not your primary residence. I never knew renters were exempt from the second home rule.

A Lake District hotel I'm on the marketing mailing list for has just sent out an e-mail saying they plan to reopen on 4 July with some social distancing and extra cleaning measures. They're clearly desperate for the business.

@HavenDilemma

Don't underestimate the power of dumping farm equipment on access roads.

But to be honest, my friend drove up to the lakes on Saturday from Manchester for a socially distanced visit to her parents. She said it was deserted in Bowness, she didn't get stopped, or see any signs of anyone else being stopped.