sonorous Cornish surnames like Trewick, Kneebone and Penaluna.
Are the Kneebones connected to the Shinbones?
William Cameron
8 months ago
I dont get the second home point. You go on holiday to have a change of scene, different food, different people.
So the wealthy buy the houses in places like Salcombe and go on holiday to eat the same food, meet people just like them – not locals, and basically move their normal places of life to a holiday place.
They may let out their second home – but not in autumn winter and early spring. So it sits empty – denying a local family a home because the outsiders money makes housing unaffordable on local wages. And because most of the houses are empty there are no shops out of season and schools etc struggle to stay viable.
Second homes in tourist places dont work for anyone really- and they make life much worse for several.
Since the heady days of the ‘Pax Romana’ people have sought to acquire a ‘Villa Rustica’ to act as a respite to urban life. Pliny the Younger was always banging on about his numerous Villas, particularly the one on Lake Como as I recall.
It is not ‘my’ problem/fault if a greedy, incompetent and possibly corrupt local authority has not built enough ‘affordable’ homes. Nor my fault that the local economy may have tanked because of government ineptitude, or ‘market forces’.
In fact I am always struck by the sheer ingratitude of people like the Cornish, although off course the Welsh are even worse. You spend a small fortune restoring some insanitary medieval hovel to something like a Roman Villa, employ perhaps five people to maintain it, and countless more to service and update it.
If you have a pastime such as chasing a species of ultra clever ‘red dogs’ across the countryside, so you employ yet more for livery etc.Yet despite all this the green eyed goddess Envy is never far away, and more so now than ever, thanks to social media (whatever that is.)
No doubt following your logic I will also soon have to make my 75’ yacht, which I hardly ever use, available to all and sundry? This whole argument smacks of Marxism, thinly disguised as ‘social Justice’. How have we become like this?
OMG Charles you really are an insufferable prig, and that’s being kind. As I read this essay I thought ” Charles is going to have a field day with this” and you don’t disappoint.
OMG Charles you really are an insufferable prig, and that’s being kind. As I read this essay I thought ” Charles is going to have a field day with this” and you don’t disappoint.
Since the heady days of the ‘Pax Romana’ people have sought to acquire a ‘Villa Rustica’ to act as a respite to urban life. Pliny the Younger was always banging on about his numerous Villas, particularly the one on Lake Como as I recall.
It is not ‘my’ problem/fault if a greedy, incompetent and possibly corrupt local authority has not built enough ‘affordable’ homes. Nor my fault that the local economy may have tanked because of government ineptitude, or ‘market forces’.
In fact I am always struck by the sheer ingratitude of people like the Cornish, although off course the Welsh are even worse. You spend a small fortune restoring some insanitary medieval hovel to something like a Roman Villa, employ perhaps five people to maintain it, and countless more to service and update it.
If you have a pastime such as chasing a species of ultra clever ‘red dogs’ across the countryside, so you employ yet more for livery etc.Yet despite all this the green eyed goddess Envy is never far away, and more so now than ever, thanks to social media (whatever that is.)
No doubt following your logic I will also soon have to make my 75’ yacht, which I hardly ever use, available to all and sundry? This whole argument smacks of Marxism, thinly disguised as ‘social Justice’. How have we become like this?
I dont get the second home point. You go on holiday to have a change of scene, different food, different people.
So the wealthy buy the houses in places like Salcombe and go on holiday to eat the same food, meet people just like them – not locals, and basically move their normal places of life to a holiday place.
They may let out their second home – but not in autumn winter and early spring. So it sits empty – denying a local family a home because the outsiders money makes housing unaffordable on local wages. And because most of the houses are empty there are no shops out of season and schools etc struggle to stay viable.
Second homes in tourist places dont work for anyone really- and they make life much worse for several.
Charles Stanhope
8 months ago
“North of this great wall, there was paucity and unspeakable barbarism, scarcely worth bothering about”.
Scotland I presume, and has anything really changed?
“North of this great wall, there was paucity and unspeakable barbarism, scarcely worth bothering about”.
Scotland I presume, and has anything really changed?
Alison Wren
8 months ago
My father was Cornish my mother from Devon. Both born pre-WW1. I lived in Cornwall for several years round 2000. Second “homes” are indeed an awful blight and I’m not surprised people are angry. We are an overcrowded island and the wealthy are too wealthy and the poor too poor. Cornwall has more people living in villages than in towns so cars are essential. I’d charge 10x council tax but the 6 figure salaries will cover even that easily. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m so sad at the way things have changed since I was a child!
Alison Wren
8 months ago
My father was Cornish my mother from Devon. Both born pre-WW1. I lived in Cornwall for several years round 2000. Second “homes” are indeed an awful blight and I’m not surprised people are angry. We are an overcrowded island and the wealthy are too wealthy and the poor too poor. Cornwall has more people living in villages than in towns so cars are essential. I’d charge 10x council tax but the 6 figure salaries will cover even that easily. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m so sad at the way things have changed since I was a child!
Frank McCusker
8 months ago
Where I live, there are no long-term rentals available any more. I’m not being hyperbolic – literally none. Anything that used to be available for rent at a fair price has now been spruced up and put on airbnb at c 6 times the return. Locals are being priced out in favour of big city weekend blow-ins. And, btw, they spend SFA locally either, other than to the Airbnb landlord.
Frank McCusker
8 months ago
Where I live, there are no long-term rentals available any more. I’m not being hyperbolic – literally none. Anything that used to be available for rent at a fair price has now been spruced up and put on airbnb at c 6 times the return. Locals are being priced out in favour of big city weekend blow-ins. And, btw, they spend SFA locally either, other than to the Airbnb landlord.
Milton Gibbon
8 months ago
For a sweeping historical article it would have been nice to get some links…
Like Roussinos’ article on Corfu a month or so ago i think these are some of the best articles Unherd does.
Milton Gibbon
8 months ago
For a sweeping historical article it would have been nice to get some links…
Like Roussinos’ article on Corfu a month or so ago i think these are some of the best articles Unherd does.
Nik Jewell
8 months ago
“Northern Fortress” 🙂 I’m a bit puzzled by this article. Other members of the Celtic fringe are still classed as emmets like everybody else visiting or moving in from over the Tamar 😉
“Northern Fortress” 🙂 I’m a bit puzzled by this article. Other members of the Celtic fringe are still classed as emmets like everybody else visiting or moving in from over the Tamar 😉
Charles Stanhope
8 months ago
Cornwall showed its true colours during the appalling COVID fiasco, when it virtually declared itself a ‘No Go Zone’.
The deep seated resentment against those fortunate enough to own second homes in the place could no longer be restrained.
All this against the fact that Cornwall is the most depressed region in England, thanks to the near destruction of the fishing industry, and the cessation of mining, and thus tourism is the mainstay of what’s left of the economy.
A classic case of “biting the hand that feeds you”, but very typical of the ‘chippy’ society we now live in.
Cornwall is fairly xenophobic, yes. But it is also very self-reliant. A few years ago a gas explosion destroyed a home in the town I lived in until a couple of months ago. The owners couldn’t afford house insurance. Local people clubbed together and rebuilt the house.
During Covid the community came together incredibly to help the elderly.
It is very materially poor (though North Devon is even poorer), but it is not poor in spirit or community.
You’ll see the same thing in North Norfolk – people don’t like being dispossessed and having to leave their home towns for the nearest low cost hub because others have surplus capital.
Yep. Empty second homes are a blight on Cornwall. It is great that they will be hit with double council tax soon. If you go to some places in winter you will barely see a light on at night anywhere.
Double Council Tax is a particularly spiteful piece of legislation and will not deter those seeking some sort of Shangri-La.
It will however massively enrich the greedy Cornish County Council and secure their far too generous pensions for example.
Who also builds, cleans, maintains those ‘second homes’? And what if anything would replace them?
The ‘magic money tree’ of eternal benefits no doubt?
Let us assume hypothetically that the Council tax was quadrupled, and the evil second home owners driven off, what then!
A cacophony of whinging about no jobs, no prospects etc! Plus hysterical screaming for yet more benefits as the place stagnates into a sort of ‘Straw Dogs” utopia.
A house that is empty for 10 or 11 months of the year is no boon to the Cornish economy.
You are mistaking busy holiday rentals for rich people’s second homes standing empty.
This is becoming like a ‘white saviour’ narrative. Keep digging.
Presumably somebody is ‘maintaining’ it, heating it, mowing the lawn etc? Or are they parachuted in from London?
Incidentally 11 months does sound excessive. Why don’t they rent it
out?
Yes, my friend mows lawns for a few. He’d rather local families were living in them.
Busy holiday rentals do not pay council tax by the way. They pay business rates of £0.
Don’t ask me why rich people don’t want to get their carpets dirty.
I see you edited your comment. I’m not Malcolm Bell’s keeper. Ask him yourself.
Responding to other slurs…
Your benefits comment is wide of the mark. People vote Tory down here, not Labour; they used to vote Liberal until the LibDems stopped being liberals.
As I said at the top, self-reliance is a virtue down here. Many people have two or more jobs. People have a very dim view of scroungers.
“Straw dogs” is unworthy of comment.
Bell stands condemned by his own foul-mouthed tirade, I have no need to slur him, he has done it himself, has he not?
Perhaps a solution to Cornwall’s problem would be to divert a substantial amount of the current £20Bn or so currently squandered on Northern Ireland and Scotland, via the Barnett formula, towards Truro.
I am glad to hear ‘you’ still vote Tory.
ps. Glad to see you picked up on “Straw Dogs”, I must say I thought you too young. It was 1971 after all.
IIRC at the time he made it the epidemiology of Covid was poorly understood, there were high infection rates in the cities, and very low infection rates in the SW. People didn’t want it being brought down here.
I’m sure Cornwall would be happy to receive the matched funding that was promised to replace the EU grants for it being so impoverished.
Personally, I’ve never voted Tory in my life 😉
Bell should have picked his words more carefully, COVID is NO excuse.
The Great Western Railway seems to have moved its HQ from Old Oak Common to Penzance which is something.
Perhaps Starmer will be even more generous.
Bell should have picked his words more carefully, COVID is NO excuse.
The Great Western Railway seems to have moved its HQ from Old Oak Common to Penzance which is something.
Perhaps Starmer will be even more generous.
IIRC at the time he made it the epidemiology of Covid was poorly understood, there were high infection rates in the cities, and very low infection rates in the SW. People didn’t want it being brought down here.
I’m sure Cornwall would be happy to receive the matched funding that was promised to replace the EU grants for it being so impoverished.
Personally, I’ve never voted Tory in my life 😉
Bell stands condemned by his own foul-mouthed tirade, I have no need to slur him, he has done it himself, has he not?
Perhaps a solution to Cornwall’s problem would be to divert a substantial amount of the current £20Bn or so currently squandered on Northern Ireland and Scotland, via the Barnett formula, towards Truro.
I am glad to hear ‘you’ still vote Tory.
ps. Glad to see you picked up on “Straw Dogs”, I must say I thought you too young. It was 1971 after all.
Yes, my friend mows lawns for a few. He’d rather local families were living in them.
Busy holiday rentals do not pay council tax by the way. They pay business rates of £0.
Don’t ask me why rich people don’t want to get their carpets dirty.
I see you edited your comment. I’m not Malcolm Bell’s keeper. Ask him yourself.
Responding to other slurs…
Your benefits comment is wide of the mark. People vote Tory down here, not Labour; they used to vote Liberal until the LibDems stopped being liberals.
As I said at the top, self-reliance is a virtue down here. Many people have two or more jobs. People have a very dim view of scroungers.
“Straw dogs” is unworthy of comment.
Presumably somebody is ‘maintaining’ it, heating it, mowing the lawn etc? Or are they parachuted in from London?
Incidentally 11 months does sound excessive. Why don’t they rent it
out?
A house that is empty for 10 or 11 months of the year is no boon to the Cornish economy.
You are mistaking busy holiday rentals for rich people’s second homes standing empty.
This is becoming like a ‘white saviour’ narrative. Keep digging.
Let us assume hypothetically that the Council tax was quadrupled, and the evil second home owners driven off, what then!
A cacophony of whinging about no jobs, no prospects etc! Plus hysterical screaming for yet more benefits as the place stagnates into a sort of ‘Straw Dogs” utopia.
Second homes are a blight, with occasional visits to an otherwise empty property bringing supplies with them – it’s holiday lets that bring a boost to the economy, with turnovers, maintenance and spending visitors.
This last June we spent a couple of nights in Cornwall in an Air B&B property. It was a disgusting place – dripping (literally!) with damp accompanied by a pervading stench that clung to our hair and clothes. The bedclothes were damp and stank too. I understand the concerns about second homes; but sub-standard Air B&B offers with high prices are not the way to economic prosperity as an alternative. No alternative accommodation was available, so we put up with the foul conditions as we had to be in the area. We left Cornwall with some pretty negative perceptions, though I accept it is not fair to make wider judgements based on a single experience. Having said that, the Eden Project was wonderful – but, equally, that doesn’t make Cornwall wonderful by association.
This last June we spent a couple of nights in Cornwall in an Air B&B property. It was a disgusting place – dripping (literally!) with damp accompanied by a pervading stench that clung to our hair and clothes. The bedclothes were damp and stank too. I understand the concerns about second homes; but sub-standard Air B&B offers with high prices are not the way to economic prosperity as an alternative. No alternative accommodation was available, so we put up with the foul conditions as we had to be in the area. We left Cornwall with some pretty negative perceptions, though I accept it is not fair to make wider judgements based on a single experience. Having said that, the Eden Project was wonderful – but, equally, that doesn’t make Cornwall wonderful by association.
Second homes are a blight, with occasional visits to an otherwise empty property bringing supplies with them – it’s holiday lets that bring a boost to the economy, with turnovers, maintenance and spending visitors.
Double Council Tax is a particularly spiteful piece of legislation and will not deter those seeking some sort of Shangri-La.
It will however massively enrich the greedy Cornish County Council and secure their far too generous pensions for example.
Who also builds, cleans, maintains those ‘second homes’? And what if anything would replace them?
The ‘magic money tree’ of eternal benefits no doubt?
Yep. Empty second homes are a blight on Cornwall. It is great that they will be hit with double council tax soon. If you go to some places in winter you will barely see a light on at night anywhere.
The ultimate ‘biting of the hands which feed’ was the Brexit vote. Cornwall voted to leave, but will suffer more than any other part of the UK. Agriculture and fisheries decimated, continental visitors put off by border red tape, and no more Brussels largesse for infrastructure.
I am fortunate enough to own my home but it must be upsetting to see people buying second homes and pricing one out of the market if you are having to rent in one’s home town.
Cornwall is fairly xenophobic, yes. But it is also very self-reliant. A few years ago a gas explosion destroyed a home in the town I lived in until a couple of months ago. The owners couldn’t afford house insurance. Local people clubbed together and rebuilt the house.
During Covid the community came together incredibly to help the elderly.
It is very materially poor (though North Devon is even poorer), but it is not poor in spirit or community.
You’ll see the same thing in North Norfolk – people don’t like being dispossessed and having to leave their home towns for the nearest low cost hub because others have surplus capital.
The ultimate ‘biting of the hands which feed’ was the Brexit vote. Cornwall voted to leave, but will suffer more than any other part of the UK. Agriculture and fisheries decimated, continental visitors put off by border red tape, and no more Brussels largesse for infrastructure.
I am fortunate enough to own my home but it must be upsetting to see people buying second homes and pricing one out of the market if you are having to rent in one’s home town.
Charles Stanhope
8 months ago
Cornwall showed its true colours during the appalling COVID fiasco, when it virtually declared itself a ‘No Go Zone’.
The deep seated resentment against those fortunate enough to own second homes in the place could no longer be restrained.
All this against the fact that Cornwall is the most depressed region in England, thanks to the near destruction of the fishing industry, and the cessation of mining, and thus tourism is the mainstay of what’s left of the economy.
A classic case of “biting the hand that feeds you”, but very typical of the ‘chippy’ society we now live in.
Are the Kneebones connected to the Shinbones?
………….”and hear the word of the lord!!”
………….”and hear the word of the lord!!”
Are the Kneebones connected to the Shinbones?
I dont get the second home point. You go on holiday to have a change of scene, different food, different people.
So the wealthy buy the houses in places like Salcombe and go on holiday to eat the same food, meet people just like them – not locals, and basically move their normal places of life to a holiday place.
They may let out their second home – but not in autumn winter and early spring. So it sits empty – denying a local family a home because the outsiders money makes housing unaffordable on local wages. And because most of the houses are empty there are no shops out of season and schools etc struggle to stay viable.
Second homes in tourist places dont work for anyone really- and they make life much worse for several.
Since the heady days of the ‘Pax Romana’ people have sought to acquire a ‘Villa Rustica’ to act as a respite to urban life. Pliny the Younger was always banging on about his numerous Villas, particularly the one on Lake Como as I recall.
It is not ‘my’ problem/fault if a greedy, incompetent and possibly corrupt local authority has not built enough ‘affordable’ homes. Nor my fault that the local economy may have tanked because of government ineptitude, or ‘market forces’.
In fact I am always struck by the sheer ingratitude of people like the Cornish, although off course the Welsh are even worse. You spend a small fortune restoring some insanitary medieval hovel to something like a Roman Villa, employ perhaps five people to maintain it, and countless more to service and update it.
If you have a pastime such as chasing a species of ultra clever ‘red dogs’ across the countryside, so you employ yet more for livery etc.Yet despite all this the green eyed goddess Envy is never far away, and more so now than ever, thanks to social media (whatever that is.)
No doubt following your logic I will also soon have to make my 75’ yacht, which I hardly ever use, available to all and sundry? This whole argument smacks of Marxism, thinly disguised as ‘social Justice’. How have we become like this?
OMG Charles you really are an insufferable prig, and that’s being kind. As I read this essay I thought ” Charles is going to have a field day with this” and you don’t disappoint.
Praise indeed from such an insufferable old scold, such as your good self.
However I am delighted I didn’t “disappoint”.
Praise indeed from such an insufferable old scold, such as your good self.
However I am delighted I didn’t “disappoint”.
OMG Charles you really are an insufferable prig, and that’s being kind. As I read this essay I thought ” Charles is going to have a field day with this” and you don’t disappoint.
Indeed the same in Wales.
Surely you remember “Come home to a real fire, buy a cottage in Wales”!
Needless to say not a single prosecution!
Surely you remember “Come home to a real fire, buy a cottage in Wales”!
Needless to say not a single prosecution!
Since the heady days of the ‘Pax Romana’ people have sought to acquire a ‘Villa Rustica’ to act as a respite to urban life. Pliny the Younger was always banging on about his numerous Villas, particularly the one on Lake Como as I recall.
It is not ‘my’ problem/fault if a greedy, incompetent and possibly corrupt local authority has not built enough ‘affordable’ homes. Nor my fault that the local economy may have tanked because of government ineptitude, or ‘market forces’.
In fact I am always struck by the sheer ingratitude of people like the Cornish, although off course the Welsh are even worse. You spend a small fortune restoring some insanitary medieval hovel to something like a Roman Villa, employ perhaps five people to maintain it, and countless more to service and update it.
If you have a pastime such as chasing a species of ultra clever ‘red dogs’ across the countryside, so you employ yet more for livery etc.Yet despite all this the green eyed goddess Envy is never far away, and more so now than ever, thanks to social media (whatever that is.)
No doubt following your logic I will also soon have to make my 75’ yacht, which I hardly ever use, available to all and sundry? This whole argument smacks of Marxism, thinly disguised as ‘social Justice’. How have we become like this?
Indeed the same in Wales.
I dont get the second home point. You go on holiday to have a change of scene, different food, different people.
So the wealthy buy the houses in places like Salcombe and go on holiday to eat the same food, meet people just like them – not locals, and basically move their normal places of life to a holiday place.
They may let out their second home – but not in autumn winter and early spring. So it sits empty – denying a local family a home because the outsiders money makes housing unaffordable on local wages. And because most of the houses are empty there are no shops out of season and schools etc struggle to stay viable.
Second homes in tourist places dont work for anyone really- and they make life much worse for several.
“North of this great wall, there was paucity and unspeakable barbarism, scarcely worth bothering about”.
Scotland I presume, and has anything really changed?
Edinburgh used to be an oasis of enlightenment and culture, but recent events (cancellations, in particular) indicate a reversion to tribalism.
Yes indeed, a real tragedy.
Yes indeed, a real tragedy.
So much for the “union” lol
Agreed, it’s dead and now putrefying, and must be buried asap.
Agreed, it’s dead and now putrefying, and must be buried asap.
Nasty.
Possibly, but accurate all the same.
Possibly, but accurate all the same.
Edinburgh used to be an oasis of enlightenment and culture, but recent events (cancellations, in particular) indicate a reversion to tribalism.
So much for the “union” lol
Nasty.
“North of this great wall, there was paucity and unspeakable barbarism, scarcely worth bothering about”.
Scotland I presume, and has anything really changed?
My father was Cornish my mother from Devon. Both born pre-WW1. I lived in Cornwall for several years round 2000. Second “homes” are indeed an awful blight and I’m not surprised people are angry. We are an overcrowded island and the wealthy are too wealthy and the poor too poor. Cornwall has more people living in villages than in towns so cars are essential. I’d charge 10x council tax but the 6 figure salaries will cover even that easily. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m so sad at the way things have changed since I was a child!
My father was Cornish my mother from Devon. Both born pre-WW1. I lived in Cornwall for several years round 2000. Second “homes” are indeed an awful blight and I’m not surprised people are angry. We are an overcrowded island and the wealthy are too wealthy and the poor too poor. Cornwall has more people living in villages than in towns so cars are essential. I’d charge 10x council tax but the 6 figure salaries will cover even that easily. I don’t know what the answer is but I’m so sad at the way things have changed since I was a child!
Where I live, there are no long-term rentals available any more. I’m not being hyperbolic – literally none. Anything that used to be available for rent at a fair price has now been spruced up and put on airbnb at c 6 times the return. Locals are being priced out in favour of big city weekend blow-ins. And, btw, they spend SFA locally either, other than to the Airbnb landlord.
Where I live, there are no long-term rentals available any more. I’m not being hyperbolic – literally none. Anything that used to be available for rent at a fair price has now been spruced up and put on airbnb at c 6 times the return. Locals are being priced out in favour of big city weekend blow-ins. And, btw, they spend SFA locally either, other than to the Airbnb landlord.
For a sweeping historical article it would have been nice to get some links…
Like Roussinos’ article on Corfu a month or so ago i think these are some of the best articles Unherd does.
For a sweeping historical article it would have been nice to get some links…
Like Roussinos’ article on Corfu a month or so ago i think these are some of the best articles Unherd does.
“Northern Fortress” 🙂 I’m a bit puzzled by this article. Other members of the Celtic fringe are still classed as emmets like everybody else visiting or moving in from over the Tamar 😉
Are emmets the same as grockles?
Yes. Devonian variant.
Ha! And you have the barefaced cheek to whinge about “Straw Dogs”!
You’re not Malcolm Bell in disguise I trust?
Ha! And you have the barefaced cheek to whinge about “Straw Dogs”!
You’re not Malcolm Bell in disguise I trust?
And what is the correct equivalent an ‘outsider’ would use describe the inhabitants of Devon & Cornwall? Peasants I presume.
Alright Plebs then?
Yes. Devonian variant.
And what is the correct equivalent an ‘outsider’ would use describe the inhabitants of Devon & Cornwall? Peasants I presume.
Alright Plebs then?
Are emmets the same as grockles?
“Northern Fortress” 🙂 I’m a bit puzzled by this article. Other members of the Celtic fringe are still classed as emmets like everybody else visiting or moving in from over the Tamar 😉
Cornwall showed its true colours during the appalling COVID fiasco, when it virtually declared itself a ‘No Go Zone’.
The deep seated resentment against those fortunate enough to own second homes in the place could no longer be restrained.
All this against the fact that Cornwall is the most depressed region in England, thanks to the near destruction of the fishing industry, and the cessation of mining, and thus tourism is the mainstay of what’s left of the economy.
A classic case of “biting the hand that feeds you”, but very typical of the ‘chippy’ society we now live in.
Cornwall is fairly xenophobic, yes. But it is also very self-reliant. A few years ago a gas explosion destroyed a home in the town I lived in until a couple of months ago. The owners couldn’t afford house insurance. Local people clubbed together and rebuilt the house.
During Covid the community came together incredibly to help the elderly.
It is very materially poor (though North Devon is even poorer), but it is not poor in spirit or community.
Foul-mouthed Malcolm Bell, former CEO of ‘Visit Cornwall’ didn’t do the place any favours.
He should perhaps consider moving to Scotland where the SNP welcome such xenophobic cretins.
Well said.
Surely you don’t believe his ‘chippy’ nonsense?
Surely you don’t believe his ‘chippy’ nonsense?
Foul-mouthed Malcolm Bell, former CEO of ‘Visit Cornwall’ didn’t do the place any favours.
He should perhaps consider moving to Scotland where the SNP welcome such xenophobic cretins.
Well said.
You’ll see the same thing in North Norfolk – people don’t like being dispossessed and having to leave their home towns for the nearest low cost hub because others have surplus capital.
Who’d a thunk it?
Yep. Empty second homes are a blight on Cornwall. It is great that they will be hit with double council tax soon. If you go to some places in winter you will barely see a light on at night anywhere.
Double Council Tax is a particularly spiteful piece of legislation and will not deter those seeking some sort of Shangri-La.
It will however massively enrich the greedy Cornish County Council and secure their far too generous pensions for example.
Who also builds, cleans, maintains those ‘second homes’? And what if anything would replace them?
The ‘magic money tree’ of eternal benefits no doubt?
The Cornish despise the council but they are generally behind the double council tax. Some would like it tripled.
Let us assume hypothetically that the Council tax was quadrupled, and the evil second home owners driven off, what then!
A cacophony of whinging about no jobs, no prospects etc! Plus hysterical screaming for yet more benefits as the place stagnates into a sort of ‘Straw Dogs” utopia.
A house that is empty for 10 or 11 months of the year is no boon to the Cornish economy.
You are mistaking busy holiday rentals for rich people’s second homes standing empty.
This is becoming like a ‘white saviour’ narrative. Keep digging.
Presumably somebody is ‘maintaining’ it, heating it, mowing the lawn etc? Or are they parachuted in from London?
Incidentally 11 months does sound excessive. Why don’t they rent it
out?
BTW you have yet to comment on Malcolm Bell?
Yes, my friend mows lawns for a few. He’d rather local families were living in them.
Busy holiday rentals do not pay council tax by the way. They pay business rates of £0.
Don’t ask me why rich people don’t want to get their carpets dirty.
I see you edited your comment. I’m not Malcolm Bell’s keeper. Ask him yourself.
Responding to other slurs…
Your benefits comment is wide of the mark. People vote Tory down here, not Labour; they used to vote Liberal until the LibDems stopped being liberals.
As I said at the top, self-reliance is a virtue down here. Many people have two or more jobs. People have a very dim view of scroungers.
“Straw dogs” is unworthy of comment.
Bell stands condemned by his own foul-mouthed tirade, I have no need to slur him, he has done it himself, has he not?
Perhaps a solution to Cornwall’s problem would be to divert a substantial amount of the current £20Bn or so currently squandered on Northern Ireland and Scotland, via the Barnett formula, towards Truro.
I am glad to hear ‘you’ still vote Tory.
ps. Glad to see you picked up on “Straw Dogs”, I must say I thought you too young. It was 1971 after all.
IIRC at the time he made it the epidemiology of Covid was poorly understood, there were high infection rates in the cities, and very low infection rates in the SW. People didn’t want it being brought down here.
I’m sure Cornwall would be happy to receive the matched funding that was promised to replace the EU grants for it being so impoverished.
Personally, I’ve never voted Tory in my life 😉
Bell should have picked his words more carefully, COVID is NO excuse.
The Great Western Railway seems to have moved its HQ from Old Oak Common to Penzance which is something.
Perhaps Starmer will be even more generous.
Well said.
Bell should have picked his words more carefully, COVID is NO excuse.
The Great Western Railway seems to have moved its HQ from Old Oak Common to Penzance which is something.
Perhaps Starmer will be even more generous.
Well said.
IIRC at the time he made it the epidemiology of Covid was poorly understood, there were high infection rates in the cities, and very low infection rates in the SW. People didn’t want it being brought down here.
I’m sure Cornwall would be happy to receive the matched funding that was promised to replace the EU grants for it being so impoverished.
Personally, I’ve never voted Tory in my life 😉
Bell stands condemned by his own foul-mouthed tirade, I have no need to slur him, he has done it himself, has he not?
Perhaps a solution to Cornwall’s problem would be to divert a substantial amount of the current £20Bn or so currently squandered on Northern Ireland and Scotland, via the Barnett formula, towards Truro.
I am glad to hear ‘you’ still vote Tory.
ps. Glad to see you picked up on “Straw Dogs”, I must say I thought you too young. It was 1971 after all.
Yes, my friend mows lawns for a few. He’d rather local families were living in them.
Busy holiday rentals do not pay council tax by the way. They pay business rates of £0.
Don’t ask me why rich people don’t want to get their carpets dirty.
I see you edited your comment. I’m not Malcolm Bell’s keeper. Ask him yourself.
Responding to other slurs…
Your benefits comment is wide of the mark. People vote Tory down here, not Labour; they used to vote Liberal until the LibDems stopped being liberals.
As I said at the top, self-reliance is a virtue down here. Many people have two or more jobs. People have a very dim view of scroungers.
“Straw dogs” is unworthy of comment.
Presumably somebody is ‘maintaining’ it, heating it, mowing the lawn etc? Or are they parachuted in from London?
Incidentally 11 months does sound excessive. Why don’t they rent it
out?
BTW you have yet to comment on Malcolm Bell?
One thing at a time; first shake off your parasites.
Don’t you mean prejudices?
Don’t you mean prejudices?
A house that is empty for 10 or 11 months of the year is no boon to the Cornish economy.
You are mistaking busy holiday rentals for rich people’s second homes standing empty.
This is becoming like a ‘white saviour’ narrative. Keep digging.
One thing at a time; first shake off your parasites.
Let us assume hypothetically that the Council tax was quadrupled, and the evil second home owners driven off, what then!
A cacophony of whinging about no jobs, no prospects etc! Plus hysterical screaming for yet more benefits as the place stagnates into a sort of ‘Straw Dogs” utopia.
Second homes are a blight, with occasional visits to an otherwise empty property bringing supplies with them – it’s holiday lets that bring a boost to the economy, with turnovers, maintenance and spending visitors.
Air B&B has been a great boost for those who don’t mind ‘sharing’.
It’s not sharing, you twit.
Nonsense! And remember “manners maketh woman” as well as man, to quote the venerable Bishop.
Nonsense! And remember “manners maketh woman” as well as man, to quote the venerable Bishop.
It’s not sharing, you twit.
This last June we spent a couple of nights in Cornwall in an Air B&B property. It was a disgusting place – dripping (literally!) with damp accompanied by a pervading stench that clung to our hair and clothes. The bedclothes were damp and stank too. I understand the concerns about second homes; but sub-standard Air B&B offers with high prices are not the way to economic prosperity as an alternative. No alternative accommodation was available, so we put up with the foul conditions as we had to be in the area. We left Cornwall with some pretty negative perceptions, though I accept it is not fair to make wider judgements based on a single experience. Having said that, the Eden Project was wonderful – but, equally, that doesn’t make Cornwall wonderful by association.
Your horrible experience isn’t the norm. I’ve used them in many different places and it’s been delightful.
Your horrible experience isn’t the norm. I’ve used them in many different places and it’s been delightful.
Air B&B has been a great boost for those who don’t mind ‘sharing’.
This last June we spent a couple of nights in Cornwall in an Air B&B property. It was a disgusting place – dripping (literally!) with damp accompanied by a pervading stench that clung to our hair and clothes. The bedclothes were damp and stank too. I understand the concerns about second homes; but sub-standard Air B&B offers with high prices are not the way to economic prosperity as an alternative. No alternative accommodation was available, so we put up with the foul conditions as we had to be in the area. We left Cornwall with some pretty negative perceptions, though I accept it is not fair to make wider judgements based on a single experience. Having said that, the Eden Project was wonderful – but, equally, that doesn’t make Cornwall wonderful by association.
The Magic Money Tree grows in the Enchanted Garden of Tax Avoidance.
The Cornish despise the council but they are generally behind the double council tax. Some would like it tripled.
Second homes are a blight, with occasional visits to an otherwise empty property bringing supplies with them – it’s holiday lets that bring a boost to the economy, with turnovers, maintenance and spending visitors.
The Magic Money Tree grows in the Enchanted Garden of Tax Avoidance.
Double Council Tax is a particularly spiteful piece of legislation and will not deter those seeking some sort of Shangri-La.
It will however massively enrich the greedy Cornish County Council and secure their far too generous pensions for example.
Who also builds, cleans, maintains those ‘second homes’? And what if anything would replace them?
The ‘magic money tree’ of eternal benefits no doubt?
It was forever thus.
Yep. Empty second homes are a blight on Cornwall. It is great that they will be hit with double council tax soon. If you go to some places in winter you will barely see a light on at night anywhere.
It was forever thus.
The ultimate ‘biting of the hands which feed’ was the Brexit vote. Cornwall voted to leave, but will suffer more than any other part of the UK. Agriculture and fisheries decimated, continental visitors put off by border red tape, and no more Brussels largesse for infrastructure.
The result of ‘State Education’ at its very best.
The result of ‘State Education’ at its very best.
Tbf if the M25 was big wall, we could call those within it “the South” and all those without “the North” lol
The ‘real’ north centred around Barnard Castle for arguments sake is idyllic.
No wonder the wretched Cummings creature wanted to test his eyes there!
The Global South, yes.
The ‘real’ north centred around Barnard Castle for arguments sake is idyllic.
No wonder the wretched Cummings creature wanted to test his eyes there!
The Global South, yes.
I am fortunate enough to own my home but it must be upsetting to see people buying second homes and pricing one out of the market if you are having to rent in one’s home town.
What is the alternative? 1984 perhaps?
What is the alternative? 1984 perhaps?
Cornwall is fairly xenophobic, yes. But it is also very self-reliant. A few years ago a gas explosion destroyed a home in the town I lived in until a couple of months ago. The owners couldn’t afford house insurance. Local people clubbed together and rebuilt the house.
During Covid the community came together incredibly to help the elderly.
It is very materially poor (though North Devon is even poorer), but it is not poor in spirit or community.
You’ll see the same thing in North Norfolk – people don’t like being dispossessed and having to leave their home towns for the nearest low cost hub because others have surplus capital.
Who’d a thunk it?
The ultimate ‘biting of the hands which feed’ was the Brexit vote. Cornwall voted to leave, but will suffer more than any other part of the UK. Agriculture and fisheries decimated, continental visitors put off by border red tape, and no more Brussels largesse for infrastructure.
Tbf if the M25 was big wall, we could call those within it “the South” and all those without “the North” lol
I am fortunate enough to own my home but it must be upsetting to see people buying second homes and pricing one out of the market if you are having to rent in one’s home town.
Cornwall showed its true colours during the appalling COVID fiasco, when it virtually declared itself a ‘No Go Zone’.
The deep seated resentment against those fortunate enough to own second homes in the place could no longer be restrained.
All this against the fact that Cornwall is the most depressed region in England, thanks to the near destruction of the fishing industry, and the cessation of mining, and thus tourism is the mainstay of what’s left of the economy.
A classic case of “biting the hand that feeds you”, but very typical of the ‘chippy’ society we now live in.