Having lived in St Ives since 1994, I can say – with some disappointment – that Tanya Gold paints a reasonably recognisable image of the way in which this stunning city is buckling beneath the pressures of high-value overtourism and the relentless squeeze on what’s obtainable for locals – the foundations, in different phrases, of sustainable neighborhood life (‘It’s only a wealthy man’s playground now’: how St Ives grew to become affected person zero of British overtourism, 10 August). For those who’re struggling to discover a long-term residential let, not to mention pay the lease, you’re not going to have the ability to cheer your self up with a £29 seafood linguine from what was as soon as an reasonably priced native cafe.
What Gold doesn’t say is that native authorities has a vital function to play in enabling the complete‑time residents of St Ives to hold on our every day lives – to convey up households, work and contribute to the neighborhood. Or so that you’d assume. However the terror of deterring vacationers by making it, say, even barely tougher or costly to drive into St Ives is resulting in choices that, as soon as once more, put locals beneath the cosh.
Underneath a transport venture for which Cornwall council has gained £5.5m of City Deal (ie, levelling up) funding, native residents face being kicked out of their council‑owned parking areas to make method for guests, whereas site visitors is funnelled away from the vacationer honeypot harbour into extra densely populated residential streets on St Ives’ increased slopes, the place tight-packed Victorian terraces typically haven’t any outside area that may very well be used for parking.
Consequence: residents pressured to maneuver out of St Ives, extra homes offered as second houses, extra air pollution, and extra issues residing and dealing full-time in a city that desperately must develop its non-tourist economic system. Except Cornwall council swings squarely behind its personal individuals right here, Gold’s “affected person zero” will find yourself on life help.Michael BirdSt Ives, Cornwall
As residents of St Ives for 20 years, I and my accomplice want to inform Tanya Gold that St Ives is unquestionably not “desolate”. We’ve a really energetic neighborhood, with many arts occasions, organisations and venues, together with a wonderful three-screen cinema, the Hepworth museum and sculpture backyard, and the famend Leach Pottery (free entry for locals).
Gold’s article states that St Ives is empty in winter. Completely not so. One in all her interlocutors claims that the majority outlets are boarded up besides in the summertime and many of the cafes are closed within the winter. This is just not the case. Will SleathSt Ives, Cornwall
Do you have got {a photograph} you’d prefer to share with Guardian readers? In that case, please click on right here to add it. A variety can be revealed in our Readers’ greatest images galleries and within the print version on Saturdays.
