Cornwall faces a deep crisis in resilience as Storm Goretti leaves many communities stranded without vital communication services. This isn’t just about fallen trees or power outages; it’s about the wider question of whether a region often seen as remote and overlooked by national infrastructure can truly withstand extreme weather events. The recent storm has laid bare the vulnerabilities in Cornwall’s infrastructure, sparking both frustration and calls for urgent change. But here's where it gets controversial: are we underestimating the importance of investing in local resilience, or are we simply expecting rural areas to adapt without enough support?
Nestled off a narrow, winding lane lies the tiny settlement of Cucurrian, on Cornwall's distant west coast. Usually, its remoteness feels like part of the charm, but in the past two weeks, residents have felt stranded in more ways than one. Storm Goretti brought with it fierce winds, snow, and heavy rain, causing widespread destruction. The storm knocked out thousands of power, phone, and internet lines, and toppled trees — including one that tragically crushed James Southey’s caravan, resulting in his death. While many homes have had their electrical and water services restored, communication lines remain dead in some areas even two weeks after the storm, leaving residents cut off in a world heavily reliant on digital connectivity.
Mark Pugh, a producer of audiobooks who lives in Cucurrian, expressed his frustration saying, “People here feel abandoned. We’re angry and disappointed — it’s like Cornwall isn’t prepared for this. Promises are made about resilience, but very little is actually delivered.” For residents like Pugh, the inability to reliably call or access the internet has severely impacted daily life and work, especially when trying to connect with relatives or manage essential services.
Elaine Claxton, a 70-year-old actor, pointed out the lingering damage: broken wires and a fallen tree still blocking her lane. She’s without broadband or landline, and her mobile signal is flaky at best. Maintaining contact with her vulnerable family members just a few miles away has been a challenging ordeal. Her sister, Shelley, an animal trainer, agrees that communities like theirs are resilient by necessity. “We have to be, but this storm makes us realize we need to rethink how we prepare for these increasingly frequent weather events. Nature is becoming more unpredictable, and our infrastructure needs to adapt accordingly.”
Further south, on the Lizard Peninsula, Sam Kirby, a 53-year-old digital marketing consultant and volunteer coastguard rescue officer, shared her experiences. Her traditional copper landline was barely enough to keep her connected to coastguard operations, but without broadband, she had to become a ‘digital nomad’ — working from supermarket car parks, libraries, and anywhere else with Wi-Fi. She questions the narrative that Cornwall boasts the best broadband in the UK and claims that it’s impossible to thrive digitally when basic communication tools are unreliable.
Frustration is mounting against Openreach, the company responsible for the UK's largest broadband network. Many residents and businesses question why services haven’t been restored more swiftly after the storm. There’s growing concern that transitioning from copper lines to full-fibre broadband might make communities more vulnerable. Sam Kirby warns that if such outages happen again next year, Cornwall could lose all landline communications altogether, leaving its residents completely cut off.
This isn’t only an issue for deeply rural communities. Karen Bennett, 72, who lives near Penzance town center, experienced her broadband cut off after a pine tree downed a nearby pole. Although a new pole has been installed, her internet service has yet to be restored. This disruption impedes her work as chair of a cultural exchange organization connecting Penzance with a town in France, making day-to-day operations more difficult.
Amid these infrastructural challenges, political shifts are also underway. The UK government has proposed a unique devolution deal for Cornwall that could grant the region more control over transportation, housing, and economic development. Additionally, the Cornish language, Kernewek, received official recognition under the European charter for regional or minority languages, securing it increased protection and status.
But amidst these cultural and political developments, many locals remain skeptical about whether the rest of the UK truly cares about Cornwall, especially given the ongoing issues with utilities and services. Loveday Jenkin, a leading figure in Mebyon Kernow, which advocates for greater self-governance, argues that the storm has exposed underlying weaknesses in Cornwall’s infrastructure. She emphasizes the need for more dedicated resilience funding, pointing out that Cornwall is often perceived merely as a holiday destination, not as a community that faces real daily challenges without adequate resources.
Adding to the sense of urgency is the arrival of another storm, Ingrid, which brought strong winds and heavy rain. Jenkin suggests that Cornwall could act as a 'canary in the coal mine' for climate change impacts—warning of more frequent and intense storms in the future.
Openreach responded by stating that they couldn’t specify how many residents remain without broadband but denied that the shift to fibre lines increases vulnerability. They argued that most outages were caused by fallen trees damaging overhead cables, which affected both copper and fibre networks. The company also explained that repair work — such as replacing poles and cables — is complex and takes time, especially after severe storms.
The recovery effort is enormous and ongoing. Alasdair Moore, managing the estate and gardens at Tresco on the Isles of Scilly, described the devastation caused by Goretti — fallen trees, damaged buildings, and disrupted water supplies. He reflected on the enduring resilience of his community: “Handling gales is part of our history here. The recovery will take years, but I’m proud of how everyone has responded. It’s a testament to the strength and heart of our remote communities.”
So, as Cornwall confronts these testy times, questions remain: Are enough resources being allocated to prepare these communities for future storms? Is the national infrastructure truly fit for the increasing impacts of climate change? And perhaps most provocatively, do we genuinely value Cornwall’s people and their needs — or are we content to see them stranded in the aftermath of nature’s fury? These are issues worth pondering—and discussing.
