From: Gage Williams OBE
The Cornish
Eclipse County Planning Co-ordinator
Menkee, St Mabyn, Bodmin, Cornwall,
PL30 3DD
Tel - 01208 841378,
Fax - 01208 841626,
03/01/99
19:22
AIMS To
identify the implications of the eclipse for Cornwall and to propose how these
might best be managed.
INTRODUCTION
1. There will be a total eclipse of the sun in the late morning of 11 August
1999. Within the UK, the eclipse will be seen in its totality only in the
south western 80% of Cornwall and in south western Devon. The area in Cornwall
and Devon south of the line running from Port Quinn to Teignmouth will lie within
the area of totality. The sun and the moon will first ‘touch’
at about 09.57 am. The moon will totally cover the sun on the centre line
of totality which runs approximately through Penzance and Falmouth for about 2
minutes and 6 seconds from 11.11 am. The sun and the moon will finally ‘separate’
at about 12.35 pm when normal daylight conditions will return. While the centre
line does not run through Devon, it has almost as much geographic area in the
area of totality as Cornwall. The rest of the UK will experience a partial eclipse
whereby the moon will not totally block out the sun. The path of totality
will also pass through France, Germany, Austria, Turkey, the Middle East, Pakistan
and India. 2. The last total eclipse in the British Isles was visible in
the Shetlands on 30 June 1954. The last total eclipse visible from mainland UK
was on 29 June 1927; totality lasted just 25 seconds. Three million people
allegedly moved to see this eclipse in Northern England despite lack of cars;
the biggest recorded movement of people by train. The next total eclipse of the
sun will occur on mainland UK on 23 September 2090. 3. There has been considerable
interest shown by the media in next year’s eclipse, an interest heightened
by the awareness of the approach to the millennium. Indeed, the BBC, Sky
News and WestCountry TV are predicting that the eclipse will be the most significant
European event of 1999. The BBC estimates that up to 6,000 members of the
international media will be in Cornwall for the eclipse as not only is Cornwall
the first land fall for an eclipse which will be seen by more people than any
in history, but also Cornwall is English speaking. 4. 11 August 1999 is
a Wednesday; a day when commuters will wish to travel to work; mid-harvest; mid-tourist
season; and in the midst of the summer school and university holidays. Added
interest will be generated by the study of the eclipse being a central focus of
the 98/99 national core curriculum for science for all schools; many schools have
already booked school visits to the county. NUMBERS OF ADDITIONAL
VISITORS TO CORNWALL 5. There is no recent precedent for
assessing the likely numbers of additional visitors on top of the 250,000 tourists
who would be in Cornwall in a normal August. Friends and visiting relatives
probably account for a further 40,000 at this time of year. Modelling based
on the capacity of the three main roads leading into Cornwall has indicated that
the roads system can bring about 200,000 new people into or out of the county
per day, a figure in line with a normal August changeover Saturday. 6.
While the above does not include those arriving on regular and special trains,
on cruise liners, by yacht and by air, these are unlikely to bring in more than
an additional 100,000 visitors over the period. The numbers coming ashore temporarily
from cruise liners and recreational small craft should not be underestimated.
7. Many eclipse followers will choose South Devon rather than Cornwall
which is a shorter drive and is more accessible by road. Others may decide
to avoid the over-crowded SW by going to the Continent where the path of totality
will be more accessible. Early bookings in the west of Cornwall have been
made for almost as many two week holidays as for one week. Normally, only
10% of visitors stay for two weeks or longer. Those booking for two weeks
if travelling over weekends will be split between those arriving 10 days before
and staying for 4 days after and vice versa. A proportion of the 4.5 million
students and New Age Travellers may choose to spend several weeks in Cornwall.
Telephone surveys of accommodation providers, to include a random sampling of
Cornish households, to be conducted by Cornwall College at the end of each month
starting in January, will give an indication of numbers making reservations and
their arrival and departure dates. While the numbers shown in the graph
below are at this stage purely illustrative, the numbers of visitors and their
duration may resemble: THE CHALLENGES
8. The first challenge will be to ensure that best use is made of this heaven
sent opportunity to promote Cornwall for pleasure and business to many additional
visitors, many of whom will be first time visitors. This will be at a time
when the Cornish infrastructure is at full capacity in a normal August; ingenuity
and improvisation will be required to ensure that the extra eclipse visitors are
not put at risk. 9. If the illustrative numbers shown in the chart above
are close, then the average number of people in the weeks before and after eclipse
week (Fri 30 July to Sat 7 Aug and Sat 14 Aug to Sun 22 Aug) will be about 400,000
compared to the normal 290,000 tourists and visiting friends and relatives in
a normal August. However, there is likely to be a sharp increase during
eclipse week caused by visitors coming for one week or less. The illustrative
numbers show an average of just over 1 million visitors for eclipse week.
The Highways working party estimates that the county road system can cope with
a visitor population of about 750,000. While this figure is in excess of
what the county infrastructure can bear, the duration is relatively short.
Further, during eclipse week, many road users will reduce their journeys to essential
trips; in effect, for a relatively short period, traffic is likely to be self-regulating
provided people are given accurate information on traffic conditions. In
particular, it will be hard to assess the numbers of students spending their summer
in Cornwall as many will not bother to reserve accommodation and will attempt
to camp by tradition, on beaches and elsewhere. The second challenge
will be to ensure that the infrastructure does not break down. MOVEMENT
10. General: If business is to continue over the period
30 July to 23 August when numbers will be at their highest, it will be important
to ensure that visitors, many of whom will be camping in temporary campsites,
do not have to drive out of their campsite when shopping for food, newspapers,
drink and camp supplies. Planning officers are considering how this can
best be achieved. Those campsite providers not prepared to ‘set up
shop’ will need mobile shops and banks to visit their sites on a regular
basis. Those taking bookings for all types of accommodation should encourage people
to stay for two or more weeks in order to reduce traffic problems; normally insist
on visitors booking for at least a week; and if possible allow changeover days
other than Saturday. Road: 11. Road
problems will be eased as Devon and Cornwall have already planned to have no road
works over the period 30 July to 23 August 1999 inclusive. Road works on
the M4 and M5 outside of Devon will be subject to roadwork embargoes. Road
signs telling motorists the frequency they should switch to for information on
the eclipse and traffic news will need to be placed on the roads heading south
west as far north as Birmingham and to the east as far as Swindon.
While general updates will be given by all the main radio stations, there will
be a need for more specific information to be given by commercial FM stations
taking out temporary Radio Service Licences similar to FM Tall Ships. This
specific information will be garnered from a combination of police, AA and RAC
reports supplemented by major road trip recorders and companies such as Trafficmaster
which provide motorist clients with accurate forecasts of journey times and known
congestion. 12. There are no plans to introduce one way systems on major
roads as the safety problems outweigh any likely increases in flow that might
be achieved. However, there may be localised one way schemes put in place
to alleviate known pinch points such as Dobwalls and Camelford to allow the free
flow of traffic and the movement of the emergency services. The emergency
planning, highways and police planning teams are addressing these issues. 13.
Cars: Sharing of cars should be encouraged by national media announcements.
To alleviate demand for fuel, drivers should be advised to fill up their cars
before entering Cornwall, bring water for boiling over or to drink, cash and initial
food supplies as shopping may be difficult on arrival. Pets should be discouraged. Coaches:
14. Coaches should be encouraged as each carries the equivalent
of 15 carloads. Day trip coach parties should be avoided as regardless of advice,
traffic will be very heavy on the eclipse day. This will require coaches
to stay with their passengers and tour operators will need to offer a complete
package including accommodation and visits to county attractions. The initiative
on this could be taken by the theme parks and associations such as CATA directly
with the tour operators. The many cruise liners anchored off the south coast (and
rail passengers) will require coaches or rented transport to take parties to activities
and attractions ashore. Local authorities should consider making use of
coaches which have delivered their visitors as additional transport for park and
ride schemes necessary for many towns and certain special events. Haulage:
15. Food, beverage, fuel, waste, recovery and other haulage
users will be greatly increased over the eclipse two weeks. The lack of
warehousing due to Cornwall being increasingly resupplied within the day from
Central England as the roads have improved coupled with the prevalence of ‘just-in-time’
stock keeping will exacerbate this problem. The roads will be congested
regardless of the measures taken; this will increase journey times to a level
requiring truck drivers to stay overnight rather complete their usual round trips
from, say, Bristol to Penzance in the day. Most hauliers and distributors
have decided to make all deliveries at night time. Consideration should
be given by district councils to relaxing restrictions on delivery times in towns.
Temporary warehousing should be made available - for example, at unoccupied business
parks, surplus RAF and RN hangars and bulb and vegetable chiller facilities etc.
RAF St Mawgan has offered a secure free-standing space for petrol and diesel to
be kept on tanker trailers.
16. The
dependence of the county on outside food supplies will offer great opportunities
for local food growers to supply directly to the supermarkets which may result,
if successful, in long term contracts. Farmers will also be able to sell directly
to the public at campsites and at roadside shops. Emergency items such as
blood and drugs or high value food items may have to be flown in and then moved
onwards by helicopter while casualties which cannot be treated in the county may
have to evacuated by specially fitted aircraft. RAF St Mawgan has already
anticipated this last requirement. 17. Harvesting:
11 August is usually in the midst of the main harvest. Accessing major
roads from fields may be difficult. Farmers (e.g. through the NFU) are considering
the implications of all this for their work. 18. Commuting:
Employers not involved directly with the eclipse, should consider
a holiday on 11 August and introduce flexible hours or ‘work from home’
during the two week period. Some may have to provide temporary accommodation
at the workplace. Public bodies need to identify key officers required throughout
the period and ensure that their leave is taken at another time. Emergency
services have considered leave arrangements over the period 30 July to 23 August. Rail:
19. Railtrack should minimise repair work which might delay
trains over August. Great Western, Virgin and other operators will need
to co-operate with one another in order to meet the increased demand for rail
travel over the period. For example, Heritage Tours has already booked two
trains, an airliner and a cruise liner. Penzance will receive 7 additional
trains; the trains’ organiser is currently seeking ways to move the passengers
to Lands End. One of these trains is planning an overnight stay and has
told its passengers to make their own arrangements for accommodation which is
likely to result in some sleeping rough in the town. Special trains should
clearly offer a complete package. The rail system should be able to handle
31 trains per day, an increase on the current 22. Rail companies are unwilling
or unable to add an extra goods wagon for bicycles. There is an opportunity
for an operator to rent out bicycles at the Cornish stations. 20. The supermarkets
and other bulk suppliers should look to the railways or shipping to alleviate
their resupply problems. This may lead to continuing contracts with rail
and shipping companies. For example, ECC International has empty trains
and shipping entering the county on a regular basis. If the sidings exist,
surplus railway carriages might be provided for accommodation. Sea:
21. There will be sizeable and unpredictable numbers of visitors
who will come to the county by boat - private yachts, motor boats and cruise liners.
Additional moorings will need to be provided. The eclipse coincides with
the Falmouth (eclipse week) and Fowey (week after) regattas and also with the
Fastnet race with a history indicating that fair weather cannot be guaranteed.
Many of the yachts visiting will be crewed by amateur recreational sailors possibly
on their first long journey from the Solent and elsewhere. The Coast Guard
and Search and Rescue implications are considerable. The Royal Navy and
Coast Guard could play a key co-ordinating role as well having a unique opportunity
to show themselves off to the public. There may be a need for a communications
policy as VHF channels will be crowded. There may also be a need to appoint
a marine strategy co-ordinator. 22. While arrival by boat or liner is to
be encouraged as a means of easing the pressure on the roads, it may place extra
pressure on food and other resources such as repair and fuelling facilities provided
by the south coast ports and harbours. Chandlers will need to hold additional
stocks. Main attractions need to make early plans with cruise liner operators
to ensure that their passengers are able to visit by coach or by other means.
The car rental firms should also be made aware of the opportunities available
to them from this and also from other visitors who arrive by rail and air. Although
at the busiest time of year, the ferry lines may be able to provide a service
for three weeks over the eclipse from, say, Southampton to Plymouth or Falmouth,
which has no roll on/roll off facilitie,s thereby enabling motorists to avoid
likely traffic congestion. Air: 23.
Some visitors will choose to avoid the congested roads by air travel; the airlines
should prepare for an increase in demand for flights and pressure on the slender
airport, AVGAS and car rental resources in the county. RAF St Mawgan has
contracted International Air Tattoos to run its annual Air Day on the afternoon
of the eclipse. About twenty wide-bodied jets are expected to fly leading
industrialists in to see the eclipse and the air display.
24. Large numbers of privately owned aircraft, micro-lights and
balloons will visit the county. Many lack the radios to enable them to conform
with air space management instructions and night navigation aids and lights which
will be required for the darker periods of the eclipse. RAF St Mawgan, the regional
airports and the CAA are currently discussing any special measures required for
air space management as currently Cornish air space is a ‘free’ zone
with few restrictions. 25. RAF St Mawgan will offer camping facilities
to the public for a period of about ten days to cover the eclipse at St Eval airfield
and possibly also at Portreath. RNAS Culdrose will provide facilities for
emergency services should these be required as well as offering facilities to
the public. The large numbers of young people who would attend would offer
excellent recruiting opportunities. The sites have well rehearsed traffic
and parking plans. 26. Other: Consideration could be given to establishing
cycling routes into the county building on the existing work done by Sustrans
with the Bristol to Padstow cyclepath and other parts of the new national network.
There are considerable advantages in maximising the number of cyclists as their
resource requirements are less than for motorists. Further, car parking
space at Cornwall’s main visitor attractions will be insufficient whereas
visiting cyclists require little space. The main attractions should provide
touring maps for cyclists showing camp sites, B&B etc in between the attractions.
Visitors in cars should be advised to bring bicycles as touring from their campsite
may be difficult by car. The above applies also to hikers. The eclipse will
give the National Trust a great opportunity to publicise the South West Coastal
Route which is a new facility less dependent upon mid-summer visitors. PARKING
27. Parking difficulties will arise when visitors attempt
to shop or visit the main attractions where capacity has been tailored to meet
the normal mid August surge in numbers. There will be a shortage of Park
and Ride buses as buses will at a premium. One of the consequences of this
may be long queues of traffic at the access points to supermarkets, shopping centres
and petrol stations. Queues in hot weather result in vehicles boiling over,
extra fuel consumption and greatly lengthened journey times which in turn increases
the numbers of vehicles on the roads at any one time. Traffic direction will be
needed at potential choke points and special parking restrictions and relaxations
may be required. Supermarkets, shopping centres and petrol stations will
need to be encouraged to provide a full 24 hour service throughout the 3 week
eclipse period. 28. Parking at campsites and open air festivals should
only prove a problem should there be wet weather, problems which are typified
by wet days at the Royal Cornwall Show. There will be a need for additional
recovery provided by the AA and RAC and others. Campsite slope gradients
should allow for wet weather conditions and plans made for wet weather recovery.
29. Throughout the period, there will be a need for police or military
air cover to monitor traffic flows and relay to local radio and TV the areas of
congestion to be avoided and to advise on routes and times for people to make
their journeys. Additional portaloos and refreshments need to be provided in more
lay-bys than at present as these will inevitably be used more due to long slow
journeys and as unsanctioned temporary campsites. ACCOMMODATION
30. Serviced: The 1995 Tourist Survey identified 33,000 serviced
beds provided by hotels, motels, farmhouses, guest houses, B&B and inns.
Proprietors should be encouraged to increase the number of beds they can offer.
Hoteliers may wish to ‘Adopt a B&B’ as an annexe for their hotel.
The biggest increase can be provided by families providing B&B albeit on a
temporary basis. Often this will include camping in the garden. Many of
these will be non-paying ‘Visiting friends and relatives’ (VFRs).
Householders will need practical guidance to ensure that standards are maintained
and that health, indemnity and safety requirements are met. There is a strong
probability that this will result in many families providing B&B on a more
permanent and regulated basis during future summer seasons when there is always
a shortage of beds. The extra number which could be accommodated in this
way is considerable. The Cornwall College monthly surveys will attempt to assess
the number staying with households which may prove critical because they will
place a greater load on the infrastructure than campers. 31. Self Cater
and Caravans: The 1995 Survey identified 65,000 self cater beds in the county,
of which 28,000 are provided by caravan sites. Caravan site owners could
liase directly with adjoining farmers to increase temporarily the acreage of their
sites. Existing campsites may either have difficulty in extending their areas
or be reluctant to increase the density of their campers and caravans. In
which case, they may wish to ‘adopt a farmer’ with land nearby as a
form of overflow for the extra bookings they are bound to receive. They
could provide the adopted farmer with expertise and perhaps funding for any facilities
they deem essential to maintain standards. Camping:
32. This leaves camping to pick up the additional numbers.
Farmers may rent out land for camping (without caravans) for four weeks of any
year as a campsite without planning permission (with the exception of Article
4 scheduled land) - however, local authorities must be notified. If more
than three caravans are catered for, planning consent will be required.
A high percentage of visitors will be in the 16 to 24 age bracket, comprising
nearly 5,000,000 UK citizens, who are likely to be more prepared to camp than
other age groups. Many will be students with long summer vacations who may
well arrive before 30 July and stay for longer than 23 August. Camping already
accounts for about 150,000 of the 250,000 visitors staying in Cornwall at peak
season. The existing sites should be able to double their numbers by a combination
of increasing camping densities, taking on adjoining fields and many of the less
well sited campsites have spare space even in August. Despite this, there
will be a need for additional approved campsites if large scale casual and uncontrolled
camping is to be avoided. New Age Travellers will be a specific issue to
be addressed. 33. Many of these additional spaces may be provided by farmers.
However, to do so, sufficient water points and toilet facilities (about 1 loo
per 30 males and per 25 females) will have to be provided. When planning
for caravans, the normal density is 25 to 30 per acre; for camping, about 40 ‘pitches’
per acre. Recommended planning densities and requirements can be obtained
by calling 08706 08 11 99 and requesting the information pack which includes
a proforma which has been put together by the district planning and environmental
health officers. 34. While farmers will provide accommodation for many,
another approach is also to allow a number of large campsites each holding, say,
20,000 people. The scale of these campsites would ensure that proper
facilities are installed probably with the site being subdivided into ten or so
‘villages’ each with its own shops, pub, fast food providers, cashpoints,
telephones and entertainment. More importantly, these facilities would reduce
the need for the campers to take to the roads for shopping and they are likely
to remain in camp to view the eclipse. Planning consent would be needed
and conditions imposed which may include provision of water and sewage treatment
so as to reduce the impact upon the county infrastructure. SWW has stated
that all camping sewage will have to be stored for treatment later as their sewage
facilities will be fully stretched by the extra visitors staying with households.
35. Villages and local schools may wish to establish temporary campsites
on village greens, play parks and school playing fields. Careful liaison
will be needed between schools and the emergency planning organisation as many
of these facilities are earmarked as rest or control centres in emergency contingency
plans. FOOD 36. The 250,000 normal
peak holiday visitors are a predictable increase of about 50% on the indigenous
population of 460,000. Their food requirements can be assessed with a degree
of accuracy by the main victuallers. The unpredictability of the numbers
who will be in the county for the eclipse, and how long they will stay, are two
factors which will present real challenges for the food retailers. However,
advance bookings of accommodation will give early warning of likely numbers although
despite all advice many will still choose to arrive without a booking. Closer
to the event, the existing electronic trip devices on the main roads will give
accurate figures for traffic inflows. The average number of tourists occupying
a car has been assessed as three by surveys done in August 1998. Accurate
figures, to include visitors arriving by means other than car, will be useful
for all suppliers. 37. Supply problems will be compounded by the lack of
warehousing, congestion on the roads and the extremes of August weather which
can dramatically change the demands of the consumer. Additional storage
space close to the main retail outlets needs to be identified early. This
survey should include chilling and freezer facilities which will be at a premium.
The large multiples need to examine other methods of resupply such as timings
which may require night time, air, rail and sea deliveries. The problems
can be eased somewhat by a county and national campaign informing the public.
Measures which might help include stocking up by households, bringing food in
their cars and ‘get you in’ packs awaiting visitors at their campsite
on arrival which would be paid for in advance along with their booking deposit.
The average household currently does two large shops a week; it would help if
this could be reduced to just one shop. 38. The multiples need also to
take up any opportunities to buy produce direct from growers and farmers, reversing
a trend which has seen most of Cornwall’s excellent produce moved up country
for processing prior to being hauled back by road to the supermarkets. A
break in this practice will offer farmers and producers real opportunities to
re-establish long term contracts especially for niche areas such as organic foods
where consumers want to buy local produce. Farmers need to negotiate now
with the supermarkets crops which they would buy. DRINK
AND WATER 39. As with food, total demand and the type
of demand are greatly influenced by the weather and the numbers. Local brewers
and bottlers will have the advantage of being able to respond more quickly to
shortages than their national competitors who face congestion on the roads to
the south west. Retailers should be encouraged to build up stocks well before
30 July. Demand by campers for bottled water will be considerable. Fortunately,
campers use considerably less water (about 40 litres per day) than domestic users.
A greater problem is likely to be in maintaining water pressure especially to
the peninsulas which tend to be at the end of the pipeline. Milk Marque
has offered to deliver potable water in return for milk all of which will be collected
at night. Bore holes may have to be drilled for the larger campsites. SEWAGE
AND REFUSE 40. The sewage treatment and waste disposal
facilities will need to be managed in such a way that they have the necessary
capacity to deal with perhaps double their normal throughput at a time of year
when bacterial growth is at its most rampant. Most campsites will be required
to hold their sewage for subsequent treatment. There will need to be a co-ordinated
plan and facilities for the emptying and cleansing of the thousands of portaloos
which will need to be hired by the local authorities and private ventures for
the eclipse period. One portaloo servicing company has arranged for sewage
to be trucked to Wales. Permission may be given for those farmers with sealed
slurry tanks which are empty in the summer to be used to store human sewage which
can be treated by the sewage works later provided it is not mixed with animal
sewage. The Environment Agency is considering all of these issues and should be
consulted if in doubt. 41. There will be a major increase in the amount
of normal mid-summer refuse, much of it concentrated at the campsites. Doubling
collection during the summer holiday period will prove difficult but necessary
especially if the weather is hot. The public tips have agreed to extend
their opening hours to help solve this problem. FUEL
42. As with food and drink, it will be essential to monitor
the numbers of vehicles, aircraft and boats entering and leaving the county in
order to calculate how much extra fuel will be required. Oil companies will
need ingenuity to meet likely demand. For example, they can pre-position
fuel in secure locations in tanker trailers, a facility on offer by RAF St Mawgan,
and make better use of rail and sea resupply. On the positive side, there
will be seasonally low demand for domestic heating fuel which will free up tankers
to resupply the garages with motor fuels and visitors are likely to undertake
shorter journeys than normal once they have arrived. In conjunction
with Devon, national and local radio should encourage visitors to fill up before
entering the county. Queues at petrol stations, especially on the main routes,
are likely to be considerable and may constrict traffic flow on the adjoining
main road. Any traffic delays will result in lower miles per gallon. Demand
for other fuels such as charcoal for barbecues, batteries for campers and butane
gas for camp cookers will be exceptional. CASH AND BANKING
43. Over 80% of purchases made by holidaymakers are with cash.
The average daily spend by tourists for the Tall Ships was £48 per day of
which £38 will be cash; a million extra visitors could require £38
million per day. This figure should be lower as many will bring their own
cash, and should be encouraged to so. However, the ATMs (most hold just
£50,000), banks and post offices (many visitors will qualify for benefits)
will need to provide additional funds each day. Special provision, including
extra security and insurance, will be needed. Security vans will face congested
roads. Consideration should be given to providing campsites with a mobile
banking service and extending banking hours and days. Banks will need to
be able to speedily re-circulate cash which may require additional staff either
from up-country or on a temporary basis. Credit cards will need to
increase the capacity of their telephone based credit verification systems if
delays are to be avoided which will exacerbate the likely queues at many check-out
points. EMERGENCY SERVICES 45. Medical:
People die and are injured on holiday. There will be
pressure on hospitals. It should be possible to project the numbers based
on records kept from previous summers. There may also be statistics based
on the link between age and types/frequency of accidents. Heat exhaustion
and heat stroke figures should be available linked to temperature, hours of sunshine
and humidity levels. There is no historical evidence for the numbers of
people likely to sustain eye injuries from looking at the sun during an eclipse.
Good public information should keep numbers low but much will depend on the weather.
Pharmacists are likely to need increased stocks to cater for hoarding by residents,
sensible doubling of prescriptions by GPs to reduce visits and the extra numbers
of visitors. 46. Routine, non-emergency clinics may have to be suspended
and doctors and district nurses may need to be positioned to move to casualties
rather than await arrival by ambulance. Ambulances will need to be
dispersed and augmented by the voluntary ambulance services. The medical
services will need to be given up to date figures on the numbers entering and
leaving the county which should enable them to make reasonable predictions of
the treatment which will be required. The Health Authority is addressing
the implications of this and will need to bid early for outside assistance if
the probable numbers exceed the county’s stretched capability. For
example, based on 5% of visitors per week needing to see a GP, initial estimates
are for an increase of about 90 to the county’s 310 GPs. However, as
there are normally 20% away on holiday in August, if leave is taken earlier or
later than the three critical eclipse weeks, this shortfall is reduced to just
30 GPs. It should be possible to recruit 30 locums especially as many GPs
will be keen to see the eclipse. 47. Health & Safety:
Whilst statutory health and safety requirements must be met,
it will be impossible to inspect every new enterprise. Instead, sensible
and practical guidance must be given using the media. 48.
Fire: The combination of hot weather, camping, overheated
vehicles and open air festivals in dry conditions could result in the Fire Service
being exceptionally busy. Guidance will need to be given to those providing
temporary accommodation and cooking facilities. Again, the Fire Brigade
- with the other Emergency Services - is planning for these operational demands.
Vehicle Recovery and Repair: 49.
Traffic jams cause vehicles to break down, compounding the jam. Additional
breakdown recovery will be required on all the arterial routes into and, later,
out of the county. Police overhead cover will need to be able to communicate
with the recovery services probably through control headquarters. The AA
and RAC should be encouraged to provide extra cover and it may prove necessary
to advertise nationally for out of county recovery crews to operate in the county
for the three week period. Cormac will cease routine road repairs over the
period and will assist with traffic control and clearance at likely pinch points.
The military may also be able to help if requested. Garage owners will need
to extrapolate the likely demand for repair work and reduce their routine servicing
schedules to accommodate the increase. Spare parts distributors should also
be able to predict the increased demand for components based on the normal August
surge and may need to switch to night time delivery. 50.
Crime and Policing: The usual increase in crime during
the summer season will be amplified roughly by the increased ratio of visitors
to residents. The police will also be stretched by traffic control and large
events. The police have cancelled leave and will be fully manned from 30
July to 22 August inclusive. 51. Military Assistance
to the Civil Community: An initial request has been made by the Devon and
Cornwall Constabulary through Commander 43 Wessex Brigade to the MOD for assistance
from all three Services with traffic controllers, recovery, helicopters for route
monitoring and medical facilities during the two main weeks of the eclipse.
The MOD is discussing with the Home Office and other departments methods for funding
this support as a Military Assistance to the Civil Community (MACC) project and
a positive response is anticipated. SPECIAL EVENTS
52. A number of special events and major festivals
are in the early stage of planning. These are to be encouraged for two reasons:
first, they allow large numbers to be controlled in carefully chosen and serviced
sites with good access to main routes; and secondly, they should be immense fun
and result in people returning in subsequent years. However, organisers
will need to ensure that events require the minimum of policing as police resources
will be overstretched. Events will need to provide adequate security and
stewards. Events which do not require tickets due to full sponsorship require
less stewards and police as no perimeter fence will be required. However,
indeterminate numbers expected at free events may increase health and safety risks. INFORMATION
53. The successful management of the large numbers expected
to visit Cornwall will be dependent upon accurate and timely information being
given to two groups: the Cornish; and potential and actual visitors.
To establish a special information system to achieve this dual task in the time
and with the resources available would not be possible. The Northcliffe
Group of newspapers, which includes the Western Morning News and the Cornish Weekly
Newspapers Groups (18 out of 23 Cornish Newspapers and daily circulation of 140,000
in Cornwall) has agreed to provide the following facilities: a. An expanded
call centre in Truro with a widely publicised eclipse hotline with a dedicated
number - 08706 08 11 99. The call centre will mail anyone seeking information
on how to provide a campsite or bed and breakfast with useful guidance much of
which has been compiled by the six district planning and environmental health
officers. It will not provide potential visitors with information. b.
A website launched on 26 October - www.thisiscornwall.co.uk to provide full
details on the eclipse, accommodation, what’s on and where, travel and safety
information. Accommodation providers may advertise their hotel, B&B
or campsite for a small fee. The website will receive extensive publicity
in national and regional newspapers most of which belong to Northcliffe’s
parent company, DMGT. c. Full page eclipse advertisements and editorials
in the Cornish Weekly Newspapers each week from 5 Nov 98. These will inform
and encourage people to make best use of the eclipse opportunity. They will
reach all of the Cornish Weekly Newspapers’ 250,000 Cornish readership.
These pages will largely replace the need for 08706 08 11 99 hotline and its information
pack on how to provide accommodation. d. A new monthly ‘Cornish Issues’
newspaper which will be mailed direct to local, regional and national decision
makers, businesses and local authorities. This will be launched shortly
after Christmas. e. Teletext messages for terrestrial TV. 54. There
will be a need for local FM radio stations to be established for the eclipse.
The stations will be similar to FM Tall Ships. One is already planned for the
Truro area with a 20 mile radius of listeners. The BBC have agreed to broadcast
public safety messages and traffic information. The latter will provide
a BBC liaison officer at the Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters in Exeter.
BBC local radio stations along the M5 and M4 will push out local traffic updates.
55. Preparing the County. The county needs to be made aware of the
opportunity offered by the eclipse. An opportunity which, if handled properly,
could result both in additional money being spent in the county and many first
time visitors returning for further visits. Cornish humour, music and hospitality
should be given full rein. If the county can develop a festival and carnival
atmosphere, this will do much to reduce frustrations caused by congestion and
the rigours of temporary campsites. The aim should be to make jams on the
Goss Moor fun! 56. To look after the visitors properly will require temporary
camping facilities and entertainment in the larger campsites. The special
situation will require special measures to be taken by the district councils and
magistrates if the estimated one million who will have to camp are to be adequately
cared for. Ideally, facilities should be sufficient to prevent the need
for campers to take to the roads for their basic needs. For the roads in
and out of the county to cope will require an acceptance that visitors need to
be encouraged to have a firm reservation and to allow plenty of time. While
not every visitor will be able to afford the time, students, who will make up
a high proportion, will have little difficulty in staying for three weeks or more
as well as providing much needed help. 57. Preparing the Visitor.
The facts without sensational embellishment need to be given to those contemplating
visiting Cornwall for the eclipse. First, it will need to be made clear
that traffic will be particularly heavy in the days immediately before, during
and after the eclipse therefore they should allow plenty of time. Those offering
accommodation should be advised to accept bookings of at least a week. If
they have failed to book a bed, then they should consider camping. They
must have a firm reservation before setting off. They should be made aware
that the county will be very crowded and that the infrastructure will be under
considerable pressure. The aim should be to ensure that no visitors are
surprised by the abnormal situation they find once they arrive in Cornwall.
If this is done well, visitors’ patience and understanding of slow traffic,
queues and occasional shortages will be that much greater. TV and radio
will also play a key role in ensuring that visitors are not surprised by what
they find. The BBC has a statutory duty to provide public safety information.
Lowering expectations will raise tolerance. MARKETING
58. The eclipse itself will not require any marketing - it
is remarkable just how much media attention it has already received. The
eclipse offers Cornwall the opportunity to market itself not just for pleasure
but also for business. Part of the marketing effort will be to allay peoples’
concerns over overcrowding and jammed roads; this can best be done by explaining
what measures are being taken. Once people are in the county, they
should be encouraged not to move to the central line of totality on the day of
the eclipse as the totality can be seen, albeit for less than the maximum period
of 2 minutes 6 seconds in about 85% of the county. However, the duration
builds up sharply as soon as one enters the area of totality with about 80% of
the county receiving at least a minute of totality. They need reminding that the
whole event takes 2 ½ hrs. 59. In the months ahead, visitors should
be told as much as they can about the eclipse and the special events which will
occur during the 1999 summer season. Some visitors will deliberately choose
to avoid the eclipse; others will be determined to book their places early.
Owners of holiday accommodation will have the dilemma of allowing their ‘regulars’
to book in with no steep rise in price or to increase prices so sharply that they
lose them forever. The agencies have the added concern that owners may remove
their properties from their books for August if they feel that they have not increased
the rent sufficiently. The Cornish Association of Holiday Home Agencies
has just agreed to increase prices by between 25% and 35% only for the eclipse
period which may be a useful benchmark for others. Overpricing will damage
tourism in the long term and should be discouraged. 60. Public Relations:
The media needs to be kept supplied with newsworthy stories on the eclipse and
how Cornwall intends to welcome and entertain the visitors. This publicity
should boost visitor numbers throughout the season and provide the opportunity
to highlight the attractions of Cornwall during the off-season months. For
example, Sky News regards this as the biggest event of 1999 and goes out to 70
million people in 40 countries. They intend to deploy 8 out 9 of their newsgathering
teams: 2 to Devon and 6 to Cornwall. The County Information Officer is in
discussion with BT over the setting up of full press and media facilities and
helicopter landing site at the Goonhilly visitor centre for the period 6 –13
August. 61. Theme Parks, Museums, Art Galleries, Hall for Cornwall, Cinemas
and Theatres: All the above need to plan for special events or new displays
and rides to coincide with the eclipse three weeks. Opening hours, licences
and parking facilities may need to be extended. EDUCATION
62. The eclipse provides a great opportunity to introduce
people to basic astronomy at a time when interest in the solar system and time
will be heightened by the approach of the millennium. a. Schools Programme:
The eclipse is the centre piece of the schools core curriculum for science starting
this autumn. Many schools will organise visits to Cornwall to see the eclipse
and will provide the opportunity for Cornish schools to provide them with accommodation.
b. Eye Damage: There is a major requirement to educate the public
about the damage which might be caused to eyes by looking directly at the sun.
Programmes and articles in the local media can show people how to make viewing
devices while explaining what they can expect to see. A clear statement on eye
safety has now been agreed. This education should include information on other
preventive measures to avoid heat stroke, rip-tides and other hazards which could
cause injuries to the unwary. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
63. Business Conventions and Displays: Early hotel bookings
may well mean that it is too late to arrange new business conventions to coincide
with the eclipse. However, there are a number of scientific gatherings which
have already been arranged. For example, 300 astronomers and horologists
are gathering at Tregothnan. Groups such as these provide a well informed
audience for presentations to raise awareness of Cornish issues. The range
of visitors and methods of arrival offer great opportunities for Cornish businesses
to display themselves to potential customers. Despite being regarded as the biggest
event of 1999, the eclipse still lacks any major sponsors. EMERGENCY
PLANNING 64. The intensity of activity in, around and
over the county during August 1999 will increase the possibility of a major accident
occurring. Emergency Planners will need to ensure that plans are updated
and allow for the unprecedented congestion and pressure on resources caused by
the eclipse visitors. CONCLUSIONS 65.
The eclipse offers Cornwall a heaven sent opportunity to show itself off to a
large and unpredictable number of people many of whom will be first time visitors.
The aim should be to give them such a good time and at a fair price that many
return in subsequent years thereby giving a long term boost to Cornish tourism.
66. Because the date of the eclipse is immutable, planning and preparations
for the surge of visitors caused by the eclipse can be exercised and rehearsed
beforehand. To waste the remaining months could lead to the opportunity
being squandered. It is essential for ‘one and all’ to accept
that special measures, such as MACC and others proposed in this paper, need to
be taken if the existing infrastructure is to cope adequately and safely with
numbers in excess of its normal capacity without undue damage to the county. 67.
To ensure that visitors are given a good time will require ingenuity, good humour
and improvisation if the anticipated and predictable challenges in the areas of
travel, logistics and accommodation are to be met. It is concluded that
the Cornish infrastructure will be able to cope thereby meeting visitors’
expectations while protecting residents’ rights and boosting the economy
in both the short and long term. | 
