Union calls for funds for UK’s overcrowded tourist hot spots
Unite, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the government to reform its local funding formula to make sure that Cornwall and other tourist hotspots are better able to cope with peak holiday periods.
The union is also asking for what it describes as ‘long-overdue’ infrastructure improvements in the county,
The intervention came after Visit Cornwall warned at the weekend that the recent heatwave had led to overcrowding.
Unite believes that the government must examine the local government and health funding formulas, which are based on how many people permanently live in an area.
It pointed out that the formula fails to take into account the demands on local services from tourism. In areas such as Cornwall and the Lake District, the size of the population doubles during peak holiday times.
Particular infrastructure projects that Unite believes are needed to overcome the problems currently faced by Cornwall during the holiday season include: fast tracking expanding the A30 into a dual carriageway and the St Austell link road, a new electrified inland rail line, an increase of beds, staff and capacity in local hospitals and a major social house building programme so that local workers aren’t priced out of living in the county.
Unite regional officer Deborah Hopkins said: "Tourism is a key part of the Cornish economy and there is no suggestion that tourists are unwelcome or a nuisance.
"However the government needs to radically overhaul local government funding so that councils are given specific funding to ensure that local services are able to cope when the population doubles during the holiday season.
"Cornwall must no longer be treated as the poor forgotten relative when it comes to infrastructure investment. Our crumbling roads and creaking railways simply cannot cope with the demand.
"Cornwall is crying out for a social housing building programme providing homes that local workers can afford to live in.
"For a balanced all year round economy with well-paid and highly skilled staff working in successful companies, we need an infrastructure that works for everyone.
"Cornwall has several world class leading light engineering factories whose businesses are damaged if deliveries and supplies cannot get through.
"It is essential to remember that while traffic congestion is annoying for tourists it is also damaging the health of the rest of the Cornish economy and adversely affects the lives of local residents."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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