ONLY one person in ten in Cornwall wants things to ’go back to how they were’ before the pandemic, says Cornwall Council.

A survey of 500 residents of all ages and walks of life shows how communities pulled together duirng lockdown, and how people now want change.

People who took the survey were asked about the impact of the pandemic on their lives and livelihoods, and about their hopes and fears for the future of Cornwall.

Only one in ten who responded said they want things to go back to the way they were before the Coronavirus pandemic.

Over half of residents said that they had helped others, and 21 percent said they would like to continue to do so in the future.

Almost three quarters agreed that local communities had pulled together during the crisis.

When asked what one thing residents would like to see changed once the pandemic is over, the top four choices were: a cleaner environment, closer communities, reduced traffic / more use of walking and cycling and a greater appreciation of family.

The Council is sharing the finding as it launches a listening project - The Cornwall We Want – and it hopes that as many residents as possible will join in to shape the direction the county goes in.

Council leader Julian German said: ’The Coronavirus pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to Cornwall, the country and the entire world. It has affected virtually every aspect of how we live our lives, the health and wellbeing of our family and friends, our jobs, businesses and wider economy.

’From the start, Cornwall Council has been working to keep the public informed and safe, to protect and care for the most vulnerable in our society and to support livelihoods in every way possible. This remains our top priority, but we are also determined that Cornwall should bounce forward - not just back - as we work together to build The Cornwall We Want.

’We want to harness the tremendous community spirit that was so apparent during lockdown and hear ideas from residents and stakeholders across Cornwall about how we can work together to address the biggest challenges facing us.

’The majority of residents who took part in this survey wanted to ensure that lessons were learned - and understanding their hopes and fears will help us to so that and create a legacy that we can all be proud of.

’We want your views on the future so that we can together build a more sustainable, healthy, safe, vibrant and inclusive future for one and all.’