Representation by Ruth Bradshaw
- Date submitted
- 12 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to object to Planning Consent being given to the building of the London Resort Theme Park on the Swanscombe Peninsula. Natural England has declared that the Swanscombe Peninsula should be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), confirming it as one of our country's best wildlife sites. The Swanscombe Peninsula supports more than 250 invertebrate species of conservation concern, including the Critically Endangered Distinguished Jumping Spider (atticus distinguendas) which is found on only one other site in the UK. Swanscombe is also home to nationally endangered bees, spiders, beetles, wasps and many other invertebrates, which make the site of national importance. Swanscombe's rich assemblage of breeding birds includes 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance - including Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Nightingale, and Black Redstart. 13 nationally scarce vascular plant species have been found at Swanscombe, including 5 red-listed species such as the Man Orchid. Swanscombe also has locally important populations of reptiles, bats, water voles and otters. A document - rationale for the SSSI designation of the Swanscombe Peninsula - was presented to Natural England in February. The London Resort Theme Park should not be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula. It should be built somewhere which is far away from Swanscombe, not near any SSSI.