'Three winters' tourism worries

Devon gets less subsidy than Cornwall

The government is putting more money into supporting tourism businesses in Cornwall than it is in Devon.

Kents Cavern, for example, in Torquay is busy right now, but business is 30 per cent down. Its director, Nic Pave, says it's uncertain whether the attraction will make it through the winter. He thinks something must be wrong in the government's calculations in working out how much to support Devon compared with Cornwall. "It's extraordinary to think that's how much value is attached to the Devon tourism industry, which is massive. It drives everything in Devon, and it's very disappointing to see the allocation so skewed."

A very poor summer season sandwiched between two winters is being nicknamed the 'three winters' scenario. Now a scheme called the Kick-starting Tourism Fund is to provide up to £5,000 to businesses to spend on IT, specialist advice and equipment to adapt them to the covid environment.

Torbay Council leader Steve Darling says he's "absolutely furious" about the lack of support, given that the Bay is likely to be one of the hardest hit areas.

Cornwall is getting more funding than Devon and Somerset combined. Additionally, Cornwall has just received £1.5 million from the National Lottery to tackle climate change. All but £200,000 is going to Duchy College to run its Farm Net Zero project to help farms operate carbon-free. The rest is going to the Bude Climate Partnership.