We were hailed as the UK’s ‘best kept secret’ seaside village – but locals are being forced out & only shop has closed
LOCALS living in one of Britain’s best seaside villages fear they could be kicked out by second home-owners.
Residents in Downderry, sitting on the picturesque Cornish coast, say many are being forced out by influx of newcomers.
The coastal village was dubbed by as one of the best places to live by the sea.
It is labelled the UK's "best kept secret" for its beautiful stretch of sand, pretty houses perched on the clifftop and a delightful foodie scene.
Yet Downberry's future appeal could be in danger of fading.
Locals are struggling to keep their community alive after a growing number of second holiday homes.
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Mark Gibbons from the Deviock parish council said: "It's a wonderful place and we'd like to keep it that way.
"Downderry used to be known as the forgotten corner of Cornwall but it's not like that anymore."
Local housing is being snapped up for eye-watering sums to be redeveloped and turned into holiday homes.
Cllr Gibbons, who moved from London a decade ago, is now fighting "inappropriate development" of the picturesque quite area.
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He added: "Bungalows here go up for sale and get sold to someone up country at expensive prices.
"I don't think it's right that people who can't afford to live in mansions get shunted out of the village."
Young people are also being pushed out of their childhood homes as they "can't afford to live where they grew up".
Now, even the village's only shop used as a post office is set to close in September.
Locals were left "devastated" when owners Kim and Richard James decided to close the shop after being hit by higher costs.
The elderly community will be left out as the shop is the only place where they can get daily essentials.
Laura Done, chair of Downderry and Seaton Residents Association (DaSRA), said news of the closure was "a severe blow for the community".
"The shop has served as the very hub of village life, and we remember with special gratitude the lifeline it provided during the long and testing months of the pandemic," she added.
However, the local council has started to provide community homes at the centre of the village for those in need.
There have also been discussions with the Post Office contractor on options to continue the current service in the village.
It comes as others living in Bamburgh feared it could come under threat from an influx of tourists and second home-owners.
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Locals at the picturesque Northumberland coast, say many are being forced out of the area by newcomers.
Elsewhere in Cornwall's Polzeath, locals have even compared their picturesque beach to Benidorm as it becomes overrun by visitors.
