Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Coronavirus / Corona Virus

Unfortunately - a lot of people were out and about yesterday, in the Parks etc. As reported by the BBC and other News outlets.

This really is unacceptable, what do people need to hear to stop them?

I went out in rural Shropshire, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, yesterday (for my one shot of daily exercise) and it was very evident that people had driven from - who knows where - and were mooching about/having picnic's etc.

The "Teflon" attitude many in this society seem to adopt is quite staggering. Stay In and Stay Safe

It's the classic "thirds" at work: a third of the population will get it and comply pretty much fully; a third won't think it applies to them and just don't "get it" so will comply begrudgingly if at all; and a third think everyone else should comply.

It must make it very difficult for the emergency services knowing how stupid 2/3 of the population is

Rich-still don’t understand some of the views on second home ownership in the West Country ? Those dwellings don’t just appear- they are there all year round, paying local taxes all year round to the full ( often using little) so if the local councils are saying that the resources provided by the local taxes are not for second home owners- surely there is a bigger question? Maybe we should only pay for when we are there☺️☺️? Or what we use☺️☺️?In which case I’m guessing that the local infrastructures would be massively hit? Local business would suffer too?

I understand the don’t travel, isolation, etc etc- just don’t get why I’m more dangerous on my secluded plot in East Devon than I am in a packed park in Reading- I pay for both static local infrastructures

I hope that the attitudes to people who have lived happily in communities from afar for decades aren’t permanently damaged when all this is over. Neither “ side” will win from that.

By the way- I’m in Reading!!!

Can’t wait for my pint of Otter with my farming buddies in our local when it’s all over👍👍👍

I'd say it is more how second homes push prices and leave villages empty in the off season. My relatives for example in Sidmouth now can't afford to buy locally.

Surely this is not about money or taxes, but numbers of people. The hospitals in rural areas have limited icu beds. If all the holiday home owners turn up more may get ill overwhelming the local healthcare provision.

The emptying of the villages in the countryside has far more to do with technology being applied by farmers. When I arrived over twenty years ago in the village the local farmer needed 5/7 people to run the farm based on seasonality- the houses were owned by him and let cheaply to the workers. Now there are 3 workers- houses sold off - or rented, as his agricultural machines need less labour. I’m less sure of the dynamics of seaside towns other than they have no other income than that spent by visitors?

JB, in normal times all visitors are welcome as you know and indeed are a valuable asset to all down here and are the only way we can afford to run the infrastructure that we currently do down here. They also bring a splash of colour.
The big perceived problem at the present time is that the NHS down here is a little behind the times and if I recall correctly we have 14 ICU positions in Devon and Cornwall and the fear is that someone will bring the virus down with them and totally overwhelm the system, this is far more likely as a high percentage of visitors and second home owners are from cities.

The main thing I suppose is that nobody should be travelling unless it's an essential journey, I have to add that if I lived in a city I would view a stay in the Westcountry as an essential journey

No I'm sure this is knee jerk survival instinct thing going on at the moment and it will pass like a good curry.

Looking forward to welcoming you back for your pint of Otter, meantime take care

Yes Devon certainly has always been a low wage & seasonal economy and that plays a role which is why I left. We are lucky in Felixstowe have the port that brings lots of cash in all year round.

Is the local health care provision only set up to cater for “ when the second home owners aren’t here”-? Seems a bit unfair because the properties are there all year-! As are the taxes!!