'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've given up on the idea of going to the beach until September!

@Aberforthsgoat

The difficulty is that - at present - there is nothing to stop you going there to walk for example but
nowhere to stay
cannot stay at a family house or with friends
no restaurants [apart from take away]
no public toilets

.... and so on

Meh. They can keep it closed for me. Went once and that was enough for my lifetime. I found it (the parts I visited) very oppressive and soulless.

I tend to agree. We did a boat trip in a lake and a visit to Kendal and probably won’t be back.

There are lots of people scrambling to what they believe to be the moral high ground right now and most of it is illogical and best ignored. We live in a holiday area and of course there are pros and cons to that. Some visitors are selfish and disruptive but most are just people who want a break, just like we are when we go on holiday. And yes, we need the income.
However, I think some people who live in towns and cities do not understand how fragile the infrastructure can be in rural areas. Even at the best of times emergency services are often very stretched and have less capacity to expand than those in urban areas. People need just need to exhibit a bit of common sense, which is something that those holding extreme views seem to have abandoned. Come for a walk, but forget the paragliding for now...
Personally, i would prefer to see carparks and public toilets reopened as people are going to come regardless and it is safer to have at least basic facilities open. I'd rather cars were in carparks than parked along narrow lanes, and I don't care who walks through our village but I don't want them shitting in my garden.

Oh I think the Lakes are stunning.

I find this sulky attitude really silly.

The people in the lakes who don't want tourists - they don't know you, its not personal, when all this is over they won't give you a second thought.

When I go to London I don't get in a huff because waitresses might not like me.

I doubt the local business owners will support this attitude. The Lakes (and other places) will crumble and crumble very quickly without tourists, especially if other competing locations are open for business.

Quote from police in North Devon
"Traffic wardens are running out of tickets, emergency services are blocked and roads are gridlocked today as Devon began to sink under a massive invasion of cars. The huge surge in the volume of traffic hit North Devon on the hottest day of the year so far as lockdown-flouters drove like lemmings to the coastline from all over the country. Drivers have been abandoning their cars and causing gridlock, blocking access for the overworked emergency services.
It is so bad in Barnstaple that police say traffic wardens have run out of tickets.
Angry Barnstaple Police warned on twitter: "Traffic wardens are running out of tickets. Do not abandon your cars. Emergency vehicles can’t get though! They will be towed away! " "

Perhaps if people leave their cars anywhere and block roads for emergency vehicles etc then instead of threatening to tow them away they should actually just tow them away!

Cumbria has been hammered. There isn't, a tertiary centre in Cumbria. Just little hospitals. Woefully underfunded little hospitals with few staff. Our infection and death rates, per population, have been appalling. We've had hospital staff die. We're on our knees. So sorry if your feelings are hurt, but this is life and death.

People have been putting up signs telling tourists to stay away. Fine during lockdown but if it continues post lockdown, it will feel personal to many and it’s not the same as a waitress not liking you.

I tend to agree. We did a boat trip in a lake and a visit to Kendal and probably won’t be back.

Kendal is barely in the Lake District and if you've only ever been there you won't have a good impression!

I agree Kendal is generally pretty grim looking but you can't really use that as basis to dislike the entire national park!

We're on our knees. So sorry if your feelings are hurt, but this is life and death.

Has anyone on this thread suggested people should go to Cumbria now?

I saw a report on the news about Cornwall and that if they miss this summer season as well as the Easter gone they face 80% of the tourism related businesses going under.

I imagine the lakes and other beauty spots may be similar.

Of course if your cousin does not earn a living related to tourism she may not care about letting people back in. But those who rely on it for their employment and income certainly will.

@nocoolnamesleft Pretty much every place in the Country to be fair, just at different times.

It's not life or death if people obey the guidance and maintain social distancing outdoors while visiting beauty spots because transmission doesn't occur that way.

Antisocial behaviour - blocking people in, shitting everywhere because toilets are closed - yes I'd get annoyed at people doing that in the AONB we live in but the message is "please check facilities before you travel, be prepared to go elsewhere if it's too busy" not "you lepers are killing our grannies"

Fine during lockdown but if it continues post lockdown, it will feel personal to many and it’s not the same as a waitress not liking you

The signs can stay until the local council feel cv is under control there are far as I'm concerned. Once it's properly under control then of course take them down.

Funny how people are respectful of teachers not wanting to catch cv but don't feel the same about old people in tourist areas.

ferretface did you see the footage of people climbing up and down the narrow steps to Durdle Door! No social distancing there!

That would actually just make me want to go even more!

Perhaps if people leave their cars anywhere and block roads for emergency vehicles etc then instead of threatening to tow them away they should actually just tow them away!

Perhaps they should open the car parks then. Just a thought.

Yes funny how the teaching unions saying its not safe for kids to go back to school doesn't make me want to send my kids back just to spite them. But deny a Brit a chance to go to the besch for the day and its pistols at dawn!

The signs can stay until the local council feel cv is under control there are far as I'm concerned. Once it's properly under control then of course take them down.

Yes of course and no one has suggested otherwise but that decision should he made by the council, not by sulky locals!

Didn't intend to upset you but Cornwall has had this problem for years coupled with an extraordinarily damp climate and poverty you can almost taste. I suspect the general populations economic circumstances will result in fewer people taking holidays anyway so it doesn't really matter what the OP's relative thinks; people won't be flocking back anytime soon.

You didn't upset me @MouseMartin. I just find it worrying. Having wet and windy weather is just part of living on the Atlantic side of Britain. There is poverty I agree and a lot of people are not really aware of it, but I don't think it is any more in your face that in parts of say Kent or South Wales.

Thanks @ITonyah, I must have missed that.

We're on our knees. So sorry if your feelings are hurt, but this is life and death.

I haven't seen any pp saying they want to go to Cumbria now.

If tourist areas end up without tourists long term, because potential tourists don't feel that they want to spend their time and money in places that have made a big deal out of hating tourists and wanting to blockade roads and so on, you'll be on your knees then, too. Maybe mass unemployment and poverty don't have the same potential for dramatic statements about life and death, but they certainly bring a lot of pain and suffering.

It's interesting that all the bile is directed at people who want to visit and spend money in these areas rather than at successive governments who have not done anything about said areas being so poorly served in terms of health.

@Grumpos

Well said, and the direct result of a recession and poverty will increase crime rates in these areas too.

If sulky locals put up signs that the council don't agree with or think are detrimental they will remove them.

I don't see anyone angry that NZ have said no tourists. On Mumsnet JA is a heroine, funny how people aren't saying how rude and unwelcoming she is!

If sulky locals put up signs that the council don't agree with or think are detrimental they will remove them.

The council don't really give a toss, to be fair!