I know the announcement last week of the increase in the energy price will be a cause of great concern for many households and businesses across mid-Cornwall. The ongoing impact of the pandemic and invasion of Ukraine continues to have a devastating effect on our economy.
The government has already announced a substantial package of support but it is clear that these latest prices mean that more needs to be done. I think most people appreciate that new policies, especially those that involve spending large amounts of public money are not allowed to be announced before a new Prime Minister and government are in place.
However, whoever wins the election to be the new Prime Minister, I will be making the case as soon as they are in office for further support to be announced and put in place as a matter of urgency.
We have now come to the end of another peak tourism season here in Cornwall. Schools are getting ready to go back and next week Parliament will return from summer recess. There is plenty to get to work on in the coming weeks ahead and I am looking forward to getting back to Westminster and representing our constituency in Parliament as your MP after spending the summer at home here in Mid-Cornwall.
The Duchy remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK and across Europe. I have particularly noticed many more European visitors this summer. Whilst this summer has clearly not been quite as noticeably busy as the last couple of years, we have still seen large numbers of tourists coming to enjoy all Cornwall has to offer, many who do return year after year, and I can understand why people love coming to visit our beautiful county.
Yes, we can all agree that there are some negative impacts for residents created by the number of tourists who visit the county. The roads get busy, shops can be crowded and maybe the places we locals like to visit can become overcrowded. This is nothing new, we have always been faced with these challenges as part and parcel of people wanting to visit Cornwall.
However, I know people are also concerned about the impact the number of second homes, holiday lets and Air bnbs popping up in communities across Cornwall has, along with the pressure tourists can place on our local NHS and other services. This is an issue that the Government is addressing and is currently reviewing the effect of short-term holiday lets in popular tourism destinations, like Cornwall. The evidence will be used to look at the ways it can protect those communities and the tourism industry to ensure they can both work together.
Another area that we are addressing is the impact of second homes. To tackle this, the Government is giving new powers to local authorities, like Cornwall Council, to be able to double council tax on unused second homes to boost funding for local services. This is something I have long campaigned for, both during my time as MP for St Austell and Newquay and also when I was a Cornwall Councillor.
I was also pleased to receive a letter last week from the Health Minister that recognised the challenges Cornwall is facing with our health services including waiting times for ambulances, delays in discharging people from hospital and the difficulty in recruiting staff. Whilst there are no quick and easy solutions, it was reassuring to know that the minister understands the unique combination of issues we face and the steps that are being put in place to help.
However, I think it is important, despite all the challenges tourism can bring, that we recognise just how important it is to jobs and the economy in Cornwall. I have always been a strong supporter of the tourism industry, serving as Chair of the influential Hospitality and Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group for six years, and have seen its importance to the Cornish economy. In fact, our constituency of St Austell and Newquay depends on the tourism and hospitality sector more than any other single constituency in the country.
The sector plays a huge part in the lives of so many people in Mid-Cornwall. One in three households in Cornwall relies on tourism for at least part of their income as well as supporting hundreds of businesses in the wider supply chain from food and drink producers and tradesmen to retailers and service businesses like cleaners. We need to remember the value of tourism, and that overall, the positives do outweigh the negatives for Cornwall and its residents.
It’s also important that we continue to support our local hospitality and tourism businesses in Mid-Cornwall throughout the year to ensure they can continue to thrive outside of the summer months.
During summer recess, I have visited and met with businesses in the constituency, and listened to some of the challenges the business is facing as we recover from the impact of the pandemic as well as the rising cost of energy and other business costs, recruiting and retaining staff and the availability of affordable premises.
These conversations with local businesses and residents will help me in my discussions with the new Prime Minister and Ministers when they are in place next month to ensure we do all we can to support local businesses throughout the year.
I am proud to represent and serve a constituency that so many people want to come and visit for their holidays and will always be a vocal champion for our tourism sector and the businesses it supports.
As ever, of I can be of any further assistance, my office is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel. 01726 829379, email – office@stevedouble.org.uk
