Latest news with #Cornwall
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New £9m hospital outpatient unit opens
A new hospital facility has opened in Cornwall. The outpatient department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance cost £9m and was completed in early June. The unit was designed to provide modern, accessible and technically advanced facilities. Kate Shields, chief executive officer at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said the department would help deliver treatment "as close to where people live as possible". More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall The new building has technology which enables staff to offer virtual care as well as face-to-face. Steve Williamson, chief executive officer at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said the organisation had "worked tirelessly" with NHS partners and the local community to secure the investment for the unit. Final year illustration students from Falmouth University were invited to submit works of art for one of their end-of-year modules, all of which are exhibited in the new building. Work on the build began in February 2024. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ West Cornwall Hospital build hits milestone Building work on new Cornish hospital unit starts Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
South West police adopt early warning kit for dangerous drugs
Police across the South West have started to use technology that acts as an early warning system for dangerous and Cornwall Police worked with a team of chemists to develop the handheld devices which detect dangerous synthetic drugs in real time and can save help save force's drug expert Nick Burnett and his team worked with Team Harm Reduction, a group of scientists from across the UK and beyond, on the team was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Science Horizon Prize for its work. The scientists said the portable devices identify lethal synthetic substances within seconds, enabling police and prison officers to warn vulnerable drug users immediately about potentially fatal team said the technology had also proven critical in detecting synthetic drugs hidden in e-cigarettes and vapes which are putting young people in particular at Harm Reduction is a multi-institutional team spanning Bath, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester Metropolitan universities, Devon and Cornwall Police and international Supt Sheon Sturland of Devon and Cornwall Police said he was "extremely proud" of the force's drug team regarding its work on the said: "Devon and Cornwall Police is at the forefront of using this technology to give timely warnings of dangerous synthetic drug contaminates in circulation, and alongside our work to stop the flow of drugs into our region."It is invaluable in safeguarding vulnerable people." 'Building bridges' The force has also started using the devices to test for cannabinoids in vapes, commonly known as Spice, he Burnett said: "From a law enforcement side, having this technology has allowed us to work collaboratively with our drug treatment service and drug users to test drugs. "It has allowed us to build bridges so that we are not thinking just about prosecution, but also keeping the user demographic safe and preventing avoidable drug-related deaths."This year more than 60 individuals and teams from across the chemical sciences were awarded Horizon Prizes for a variety of scientific discoveries and innovations over the past 12 months.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
New £9m outpatient unit opens at West Cornwall Hospital
A new hospital facility has opened in outpatient department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance cost £9m and was completed in early unit was designed to provide modern, accessible and technically advanced Shields, chief executive officer at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said the department would help deliver treatment "as close to where people live as possible". The new building has technology which enables staff to offer virtual care as well as Williamson, chief executive officer at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said the organisation had "worked tirelessly" with NHS partners and the local community to secure the investment for the year illustration students from Falmouth University were invited to submit works of art for one of their end-of-year modules, all of which are exhibited in the new on the build began in February 2024.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
We live in ‘UK's Costa Del Sol' but are being kicked out of homes & forced to live in tents by greedy second home owners
IT'S an idyllic seaside village famed for its miles of golden sand that has earned it the nickname 'Costa Del Perran' by locals. But residents say sky high house prices and terrible transport links is making their lives increasingly difficult - with some forced out and resorting to living in tents. 13 13 13 Perranporth in Cornwall has been a popular holiday destination for generations, boasting one of the UK's best beaches which is popular with surfers and families, and provides endless holiday accommodation and activities. So much so that during the summer the village's population swells from 3,000 people to 12,000. And while locals embrace tourists, with most local businesses catering to seasonal trade, locals have been left sleeping in tents or caravans and enduring 10 mile drives to the local school that take up to an hour. Second homeowners are often blamed for Cornwall's housing crisis - there are currently 14,000 empty homes as residents struggle to afford their first home. At Higgins Gift Shop, supervisor Sidnie Ray-Neeld, 22, said second homes have had a massive impact on the village. She said: 'It's strange because there seems to be a lot of people in the town but nobody is spending any money. 'Normally by this time of year we would be open until 7pm, but it's dead by 5pm and normally we would have about seven staff but we're at three currently. 'Second homes must be a factor when over half the area is second homes and the rest is overpriced Airbnbs. 'I just moved away from Newquay because I can't afford to live here any more. 'I know a lot of people who rent out their houses for the summer and go abroad or move in with family. Some even live in a caravan in their garden.' Inside UK's holiday home capital where pushed-out locals live in caravans & SHEDS at bottom of garden thanks to sneering millionaires 13 13 13 In April, Cornwall Council doubled council tax rates on all second homes to try to tackle the problem. And figures released last month revealed house prices in Perranporth, located on the north coast, have dropped an average of £13,000. Despite the hefty reduction, average property prices in the region still remain north of £400,000 - almost double the national average. With many locals priced out of the village, some are forced to use unreliable bus services to get to and from work and school. While Perranporth has a primary school, the nearest secondary is 10 miles away in Truro, which often takes an hour or more by bus. Villager Katie Mellor hires out surf boards on the beach in summer and does factory and bar work in winter. She said: 'It's been quiet this summer and people that are around are not spending money. 'I have friends who own holiday accommodation and they still have lots of vacancies this summer. 'Second homes has had a massive impact on every village in Cornwall. All the time people are getting kicked out because their landlords are selling up and there is nowhere for them to go. 'Buying here is completely out of the question for most villagers because wages are so low compared to house prices. 'The biggest problem I can see is lack of public transport. Bus services are so bad there are people in the village who work at the hospital in Truro and cannot even get to their shifts. 'My two children go to college in Truro but the bus is always half an hour to an hour late. "Their teachers have been very good and understanding but it's a real worry they could miss exams.' Despite this, business owners say they are proud of Perranporth's friendly reputation - some even argue second homes and Airbnbs have a positive impact on businesses. David Morrell, 60, owner of The Filling Station, a family-run sandwich shop in the village, said: 'We have very loyal customers, both holidaymakers and locals, so we must be doing something right. 'The cost of housing in the village is definitely a concern for staff. "I've noticed a lot of people selling their second homes recently, but it's still not at a price where it's accessible for the locals. 'There are a lot of local families who want to live in Perranporth but are just priced out at the moment.' 'Costa Del Perran' 13 13 13 Matt Burrell, 43, runs Pavillion Ice and neighbouring Haddock's End fish and chip shop. He said: 'Families love coming here because of the 3.5 miles of golden sand, but locals love it too. We call it 'Costa Del Perran'. 'House prices are a bit of a problem, you have to be able to save up £40,000 for a deposit and not many people here can do that. 'I know of people who move into a tent on a campsite for the summer and rent their house out because of the money they can make. 'I don't think Airbnbs are a bad thing for the village, they have opened up one and two night stays, whereas before people would have to come for a week or not at all, so it's bringing more people here for more of the year.' Bus services are so bad there are people in the village who work at the hospital in Truro and cannot even get to their shifts Katie Mellor Sammie Marshall of Marshall's Clothing added: 'There is a huge pressure to make money in the peak weeks because the winters are fairly quiet. 'We are open most of the year but it's just my dad working. 'There was a lot of concern about people not coming to Cornwall but business has been ok this year. Tunes in the Dunes helped us out a lot as we were really busy that weekend.' One of Perranporth's most popular attractions is the The Watering Hole, which claims to be one of the oldest beach bars in the UK. The bar, which opened in 1978, has tables right on the sand and has played host to some amazing live music including big names like Sam Ryder, Busted, Jess Glynne and Kaiser Chiefs. The bar also hosts music festival Tunes in the Dunes every year, claiming to be the only live music bar on the beach. Historical roots 13 13 Along with great bars and activities, Perranporth also hosts some fascinating history. There is a legend that says the patron saint of Cornwall, St Piran, was cast into the sea from Ireland by being tied to a millstone and washed up in the town. St Piran built a Christian oratory in the dunes whose ruins from the 6th century are still preserved there to this day. Families love coming here because of the 3.5 miles of golden sand, but locals love it too. We call it Costa Del Perran Matt Burrell He is credited with discovering tin, which would become the backbone of Cornwall's industry, and people make a pilgrimage to the town on March 5 to commemorate the saint. Surfers from all over the world also make the pilgrimage to Perranporth, which is known for its famous waves and is where the first UK surfboards were created. After World War I, soldiers returned home with stories of surfers they'd met on their travels. These yarns then inspired Perranporth's local undertaker and builder, Tom Tremewan, who designed and made the first bellyboards and surfboards, which he made out of coffin lids.
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Britain's charming, old-fashioned theme parks are at risk of extinction
If success was measured by the volume of screaming children, then business was positively booming on my recent visit to Wicksteed Park. I was at Kettering's beloved amusement park, watching a few dozen children and their parents yelping in terrified glee on a chair swing ride. Their adrenaline rush was transient, but they were taking part in a ritual that has lasted for more than 100 years. Since the 1920s, people have travelled across the country to swing, slide, drop and splash on the park's revolutionary amusements. And revolutionary they truly are: the founder, Charles Wicksteed, designed many of the rides himself. To this day, you'll find his name embossed on playground swings and slides across the land. But now, more than ever before, Wicksteed and other traditional theme parks face altitudinous struggles. And in recent months, some have gone from wobbling on the tracks to being fully derailed. Why so? The theme parks shutting their doors In November last year, West Cornwall's beloved theme park, Flambards, closed its doors after 48 years. Bosses pointed to 'rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers' as the main causes of the park's sudden closure. Five months later, Wales's largest theme park announced it was shutting its doors. At its prime, 400,000 people per year would pass through the gates at Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire. However, 'unrelenting economic challenges' ultimately killed the country's flagship theme park after 38 years in operation. The Blackpool Pier Company, which owns the city's south, central and north piers, posted a 2023 pre-tax loss of £335,652 compared to a pre-tax profit of £354.231 in 2022. Challenges include the ongoing improvement and maintenance of old structures, while overhead costs and minimum wage rises have also put pressure on profitability. Similar seaside attractions, such as Dreamland in Margate, have pivoted to live concerts to stay afloat. Just this week, Fantasy Island in Skegness announced it would be reducing to a five-day week in the off-season and is closing its doors earlier each day to save costs. Bosses have also had to cut their seasonal workforce by 15 per cent, in part due to the rising cost of National Insurance contributions. So far, so gloomy. But like a rollercoaster track, the success of Britain's theme parks has been up and down over the years. In 2010, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park recorded their highest ever attendances. During the pandemic, rides gathered dust. So is the current lull at Britain's smaller theme parks entirely down to economic factors, or are there other forces at play? A perfect storm of challenges 'We've struggled with hitting anything like the same number of paying visitors as pre-pandemic,' says Kelly Richardson, managing director at Wicksteed Park, as a flurry of dangling legs zoom above our heads. She points to the cost of living crisis as a primary cause. 'If people are making a difficult choice between food and heat, what drops off first is your spending money for days out.' With no multimillion pound holding company behind it, Wicksteed Park feels the economic bumps more acutely than behemoths like Legoland or the Merlin parks of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park. The charitable trust has recently used a £250,000 grant to recruit a fundraising team in a bid to balance the books. 'We're a high energy user,' Richardson says. 'There was an intensive energy relief scheme that the government released. It supported lots of industries that were recognised to be high users of energy. But theme parks weren't included.' During the pandemic, Wicksteed narrowly avoided collapse after falling into administration with the loss of 115 jobs. What makes Wicksteed unique is that you don't need to pay to enter. With 25 rides set across 281 acres of Grade II-listed parkland, a grandparent can enter for free and just pay £3-a-pop for their grandchildren to go on some rides. So while Wicksteed's annual tally of 800,000 visitors sounds like a healthy number, only approximately 200,000 of those are paying customers. Unless more cash is found, the business may have no option but to start charging for entry to the park to meet the £1.4 million annual upkeep costs. There are other challenges. Two consecutive poor summers for weather in 2023 and 2024 have hit business, while expensive flood damage and tree falls caused by storms have become more regular occurrences. Richardson says she has also observed broader behavioural changes since the pandemic. 'People don't seem to be planning family days out as much as they used to. Locally we've got Rushden Lakes which is a big shopping centre. It's always busy. People are going out to do something, but not necessarily the same types of day out that they were doing before.' As we wander Wicksteed's well-kept gardens we pass the Wicky Bear Show, which is temporarily closed due to the cost of entertainment staff. Otherwise, its old-fashioned stalwarts are running as usual. There is a water chute, a miniature steam railway, plus the obligatory carousel, cup and saucers and dodgems. I could see why comedian James Acaster (a Kettering local) made a Wicksteed-inspired showstopper cake when he appeared on Celebrity Bake Off in 2019. There's a simple charm to the place, and I made a mental note to bring my son here when he's a little bit older. But then I had another thought. By the time he's of rollercoaster age, he may well be urging me to pull off the M1 a junction or two early so we can visit another theme park, just 22 miles south of Kettering. Universal domination? It really could happen As some of Britain's smaller theme parks struggle for survival, one of the biggest entertainment firms on the planet is preparing to open a theme park on British soil. Universal Studios has purchased a 500-acre plot of land south of Bedford, where it plans to build a theme park at a cost of £50 billion with a scheduled opening date of 2031. While details are thin on the ground, it is expected that the theme park will feature state-of-the-art technology incorporating some of its biggest franchises: the characters from Nintendo, Harry Potter and Minions are a few on its books. Universal has the benefit of optimising its attractions to the current generation. The company also has plenty of experience in producing weather-proof indoor rides (drizzly Osaka, scorching Orlando), giving it the upper hand on Wicksteed, which sees daily visitor numbers plummet if weather apps are showing even a low-chance of rain. I worry for Wicksteed, and all of Britain's traditional theme parks, as attention spans change, technologies accelerate, teen habits alter, and fanbases grow for recognised global brands (with all due respect to Wicky Bear, of course). But hey. For now, on my visit, everyone at Wicksteed was having a lovely time and with the sun shining, attendance wasn't too bad. And Wicksteed has one thing that Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland and Universal – and further afield, Disney – will never be able to say.
