Representation by Melanie Sapiets
- Date submitted
- 7 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The proposed site for development contains Grassland, Coastland, Scrub and Wetland and many habitats have arisen due to this. It has the largest number of nationally scarce invertebrates in the UK. It is the second of only two habitats of the Distinguished Jumping Spider and 1500 other types of invertebrates, 250 of which are a national concern to conservationists. Other species at risk include the Sea Aster Mining Bee, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Otter, Skylark, Man Orchid, Water Vole and various reptiles. Wintering birds depend on it for food. It is the most wildlife rich brownfield site in the UK. Adding to that, the air pollution around the Dartford Tunnel Approach and North of Bean was the square kilometre with the highest level of air pollution (measured as Particulate Matter 2.5 which is pollution that can enter the bloodstream) in the whole of the UK in 2018. That is double what the WHO recommend. From 2011-2016 that area was triple the national average of air pollution. Traffic is already expected to increase in that area by 50% from 2014 to 2041 due to the new Bean interchange and housing development, so building the London Resort will add more congestion on top of that due to that interchange being one which people will use to reach Swanscombe Peninsula. This means even higher levels of pollution and congestion in and around that area if London Resort is built, let alone the congestion that already occurs in and around Dartford and the surrounding areas if there is a problem with the tunnel. Even if most vehicles are electric by 2041, Particulate Matter of 2.5 is still released from brakes and tyres, and the huge amount of junctions in and around the A2/M25 interchange at that point will lead to breaking shockwaves. Moreover, 140 local businesses that are already in the area, that employ local people, will be forced to move. There are no other sites comparable in the local area for them to move to. Overall, this development threatens the health and life of not only the local community due to the pollution levels and congestion, but the threat to biodiversity and from pollution levels is actually a national one.