Representation by Steve Smith
- Date submitted
- 12 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to protect at the proposed destruction of a SSSI site at Swanscombe. To get SSSI status there are noteworthy and nationally important species which occur at the site and habitats which are important. There are a good selection of breeding birdslike Nighingales which have declined over recent decades in the UK. There is also a nice selection of Orchids present. Orchids are great indicator species as their presence indicates the land hasnt been disturbed for many years. But these obvious species are good indicators that there are likely to be other important & scarce invertebrate which will be less obvious to the casual observer. This includes a critically endangered Spider with this being one of only two locations that it is known from. It takes a lot of evidence & study to gain a SSSI status & it should be illegal to willfully destroy these sites. Areas of wilderness are important and should not be destroyed just because a builder wants to build something. Please reject these plans & also make it clear that they are rejected for good so the developer cannot tweak something & restart this whole disruptive process all over again