'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!

Well if you want to you can go today absolutely no one can stop you, so she can say what she likes. You can't holiday there at the moment but you can day trip

I'm a little bit irritated about the way "beauty spots" have done the same. North norfolk have kept all the beach car parks shut, it's basically "we only want you when we can take your money, you can't enjoy our beaches unless you're filling our pockets through tourism."

Your cousin is a dick.

The clue is in the title "NATIONAL" parks - they are for all.

Funny how you never see people in London etc saying - "wish all these idiots don't come here for their theatre/shopping trip from other UK places - London has lowest R etc"

London is a major tourist destination. I wonder how all these people in "beauty spots" would feel if Londoners started saying "Don't come here, it's local people only"?

@rosehip exactly
London is a huge tourist spot and you don't see that attitude well at least I haven't

So by her logic, can people who live next to shops now decide that they will dictate if and when shops will reopen - don't want random shoppers tramping all over the neighbourhood bringing their germs.

I think this is just bravado on her part. The reality is, very obviously, that there will not be enough people who feel as she does to operate effective blockades, and they will come into direct conflict with the commercial interests of people who are desperate for at least some tourism trade to revive.

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 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.

Fucking hate this attitude. I hope anyone who shares it contacts the people who live in every single place they ever visit and gets their approval before they do so.

I don't get this attitude.
I live in the Lakes, if people want to come for a day trip then come (but there's very few toilets open) there's plenty of space if, and if people are sensible we will be fine.
Don't climb helvellyn in flip flops, and have to phone mountain rescue.

Maybe its a power thing with your cousin, she wants to feel like she's bullying the tourists out and she wants the lakes all to herself- ive seen the same sort of attitudes on threads about Cornwall and seaside resorts.

Cumbria has 'high' infection rated because they started thorough testing before anywhere else did. Morecambe Bay NHS Trust have detailed their process. My dad is in a care home there, with zero infection rate.

This was an interesting read- metro.co.uk/2020/05/20/residents-tell-tourists-please-go-home-signs-put-beauty-spots-12730073/

I think a lot of people in these area's are showing a real vitriol and mean streak. They say they hate tourists so much but without them their areas would begin to demise and it's what half the local economy is based on.

I have also previously found a fair few people who live in beauty spots have a very 'us and them' mindset. They think because they were born and grew up there they have a right to the area and can even be cold towards people who move to the area full time.

I had a family member move to Cornwall a couple of years ago. Of course plenty of their new neighbours were lovely and welcoming but some took it upon themselves to remind them how this doesn't make them Cornish, they're still outsiders, and moan that them buying a house there takes away a house from a Cornish person - as if this isn't the case everywhere in the world! Or should we all just grow up and stay in our local areas forever? No one is allowed to move to a different place one because it doesn't make you 'from' there and you're taking a house away from someone local who could otherwise buy it?

She's being an idiot. But I do understand some of her concern. We have family in Cornwall, and their streets were heaving on the weekend even with just locals - they're a bit scared about what's going to happen in summer if half of London floods there, brings illness to the residents, many of whom are older and/or have vulnerabilities partly driven by fairly high deprivation levels, and then overwhelm the 15 current intensive care beds in the entire county.

There seems to be a lot of this at the moment. It’s not going to help the economy. Stupid people.

She's now sent me a link to a daily mail article which has pctures of existing signs and blockades 🤪

I hate this attitude. I tend to find it's not people who've lived in the areas their whole life that act this way, it's people who move to a pretty tourist spot and then act like it makes them better than those pesky day trippers.

It's no wonder people can't wait to get back to European holiday destinations where people are actually welcoming of tourists.

Unless your cousin is about 4th generation locally born the chances are she is a 'tourist' herself to the region.

I also think people who live in these tourists hotspots and then complain about tourists ruining the peace and quiet either need to suck it up or actually move somewhere remote for peace and quiet. You can't have it all and if you want to live in a beauty hotspot you have to accept lots of people want to experience that beauty. Similarly if you want isolation and total peace you have to accept that where you live may not be as pretty/desirable because if it was then people would go there regularly and you wouldn't get the peace you want. If someone came on here moaning about the business and noise in a big city they'd rightly be told to move if they didn't like it. I don't see why it should be any different for these areas.

I was under the impression that The Lake District is a National Park.

According to the most recent figures I could find it receives 42% of it's income from the Government.

Presumably the top rate taxes that we pay as a family goes in some way towards that

It doesn't just belong to Cumbrians.

I absolutely loathe this attitude of entitled people who think they 'own' tourist spots in the UK. Last time I checked I was a British citizen and, free to go where the fuck I like in England.

Couldnt agree more with the London comparisons. You NEVER hear Londoners complaining about 'outsiders' coming to our palaces, royal parks, local attractions etc.

I was in complete agreement with people not being allowed to second homes, and whilst the rules say you need to stay in your area, fair enough I will. But now we can travel and as soon as we can stay overnight I will go wherever the hell I like.

Your cousin sounds a right twat to be honest.

For every smug and financially secure pinhead erecting road blocks there will be several more people whose livelihood depends on tourism tearing them down.

I'd be delighted if they did barricade Cumbria, we'd never have to visit my partners family again they'd have to come to us! I used to live there, couldn't wait to get away from the place, its shit, there's nothing there but cold, rain and rude miserable people. Taking the children up for holidays is really fucking depressing.

Revelling in a pathetic little bit of perceived power. Puffing herself up and using this issue to do so. I can almost smell the smug from here.

You know if everyone isn't returning to Cumbria, or Wales, or Devon and Cornwall because of our terrible ungrateful attitudes you all will have to stay in the home counties. I wish we could hold you to it!

Well said Hairy Hands. I live on edge of Peak District and would not think in a million zillion years that it was mine and I had more right to be there than anyone else. I LIKE seeing people out and about enjoying our beautiful country. I wonder how many of these parochial individuals are so bothered about 'their' elderly outside this pandemic. It's all a front to deny other people the pleasures that they think should be exclusively theirs. Reminds me of The Grapes of Wrath and the hatred extended to the 'Oakies' - these people are no different. Just remember we are not all like that.