Cornwall's isolation has taken on a new meaning as the aftermath of Storm Goretti left hundreds without power, water or broadband for days on end. For those living in remote communities like Cucurrian, where steep lanes wind through picturesque villages, the lack of reliable communication links has made everyday life a challenge.
Mark Pugh, an audiobook producer from Cucurrian, described the experience as "like we're forgotten". With no broadband and unreliable mobile signals, he's had to spend hours navigating treacherous roads to find a signal strong enough to work from. "This storm has shown that Cornwall isn't resilient enough," he said, echoing concerns that the region is not adequately prepared for extreme weather events.
For James Southey, 50, who was killed when a tree crushed his caravan during Storm Goretti, the lack of connectivity was a cruel irony. As news took days to reach him, it highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities in the digital age.
In Penzance, Karen Bennett, chair of the twinning association, had her broadband cut off after a pine tree brought down a pole. While a new pole has been installed, the broadband remains out – making it difficult for her to work with her team. "It's frustrating," she said, "We still don't know when the broadband will be back."
The loss of power and water, coupled with ongoing communication issues, have left many in Cornwall feeling disconnected from the wider world. This is a concern that goes beyond individual experiences – it speaks to broader questions about resilience, infrastructure, and community governance.
Loveday Jenkin, a leading member of Mebyon Kernow, a party pushing for greater self-government in Cornwall, believes that Storm Goretti has exposed weaknesses in the region's infrastructure. "We need more devolved resilience money," she said. The UK government's lack of investment in broadband and emergency preparedness is seen as a missed opportunity to recognize Cornwall's unique needs.
As the recovery effort gets underway, concerns remain about the long-term impact on remote communities like Cucurrian. Alasdair Moore, head of estate and gardens at Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly, acknowledged that the scale of the clear-up is massive but praised the community's resilience. "Dealing with gales is very much part of this place's history," he said.
The UK government has promised to explore a bespoke devolution deal for Cornwall, which could bring more control over transport, housing and economic development. However, until then, communities like Cucurrian will continue to struggle without reliable connectivity – a stark reminder that, even in the digital age, some areas remain far from connected.
Mark Pugh, an audiobook producer from Cucurrian, described the experience as "like we're forgotten". With no broadband and unreliable mobile signals, he's had to spend hours navigating treacherous roads to find a signal strong enough to work from. "This storm has shown that Cornwall isn't resilient enough," he said, echoing concerns that the region is not adequately prepared for extreme weather events.
For James Southey, 50, who was killed when a tree crushed his caravan during Storm Goretti, the lack of connectivity was a cruel irony. As news took days to reach him, it highlighted the vulnerability of rural communities in the digital age.
In Penzance, Karen Bennett, chair of the twinning association, had her broadband cut off after a pine tree brought down a pole. While a new pole has been installed, the broadband remains out – making it difficult for her to work with her team. "It's frustrating," she said, "We still don't know when the broadband will be back."
The loss of power and water, coupled with ongoing communication issues, have left many in Cornwall feeling disconnected from the wider world. This is a concern that goes beyond individual experiences – it speaks to broader questions about resilience, infrastructure, and community governance.
Loveday Jenkin, a leading member of Mebyon Kernow, a party pushing for greater self-government in Cornwall, believes that Storm Goretti has exposed weaknesses in the region's infrastructure. "We need more devolved resilience money," she said. The UK government's lack of investment in broadband and emergency preparedness is seen as a missed opportunity to recognize Cornwall's unique needs.
As the recovery effort gets underway, concerns remain about the long-term impact on remote communities like Cucurrian. Alasdair Moore, head of estate and gardens at Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly, acknowledged that the scale of the clear-up is massive but praised the community's resilience. "Dealing with gales is very much part of this place's history," he said.
The UK government has promised to explore a bespoke devolution deal for Cornwall, which could bring more control over transport, housing and economic development. However, until then, communities like Cucurrian will continue to struggle without reliable connectivity – a stark reminder that, even in the digital age, some areas remain far from connected.
I totally feel for those affected by Storm Goretti! It's crazy how it highlighted our reliance on broadband and internet connection 
. As someone who's grown up with these basic necessities, it's hard to imagine living without 'em 
. The lack of connectivity in remote communities like Cucurrian is a huge concern - it's not just about us being tech-savvy, but also about having access to vital services and information 
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It's like living in the dark ages, minus the cool 80s vibes 
. The UK government needs to step up their game and invest more in broadband and emergency preparedness - we can't keep relying on patchwork fixes and promises of devolution deals 
.
. We need more than just token gestures; we need concrete solutions that address our unique needs and challenges 
.
I'm just saying, the lack of broadband in places like Cucurrian is crazy, especially with the storms being more frequent now. It's not just about them being 'forgotten', it's about basic human rights like having access to essential services and connecting with the rest of the world. 
Those pine trees are a big deal, but so is our infrastructure. Loveday Jenkin makes some valid points about devolution money, we need more support for rural areas, not just empty promises 
It's crazy how Storm Goretti has exposed the dark side of Cornwall's isolation. I mean, we're living in the 21st century and people are still struggling with no power, water or broadband for days on end. 
It's like they're living in a different world. And it's not just about work or staying connected, it's also about safety - people were really affected by the storm because they couldn't get information or even contact loved ones easily.
. I mean, what's next? No mobile signal either? This whole storm thing just highlights how bad our infrastructure is 
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. It's like, basic stuff right? You'd think the UK would be on top of this by now 
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. They're not forgotten, they're just... stuck in a digital void 
. Get the broadband up and running ASAP, Cornwall! 
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Cornwall's isolation is already a thing, but now it feels like they're stuck in the Dark Ages when Storm Goretti hit 
. And now they're expecting these communities to be resilient just because they live off the grid? That's just not fair 
It's really scary for those living in remote communities like Cucurrian 
, their everyday life is literally turned upside down after the storm 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to work or even just stay in touch with loved ones when you don't have reliable broadband and mobile signals? 
It's like they're forgotten about 
, an audiobook producer from Cucurrian 
, having to spend hours driving around to find a signal strong enough to work from 
. And poor James Southey 
, who got killed in the storm... it's just not right 
. She can't even do her job properly because of it 
.
is right though 
. It's not just about individual experiences, it's about the bigger picture 
.
... I mean, it's just crazy to think that we're still living in an era where rural communities can be so disconnected from the rest of the world. Like, seriously, Storm Goretti was a harsh reminder that even with all our tech advancements, some places are still way behind when it comes to basic infrastructure 
.
. people are struggling to get around, work, and communicate with the outside world 
. the fact that the uk government is only now promising a devolution deal feels super late 
. but at least alasdair moore from tresco is right about the community's resilience