Representation by Ian Bullock
- Date submitted
- 13 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am a biologist who lives in a National Park already compromised by recreational developments. Why is it that developers think that our last, beleaguered wild places are fair game for making money? During the Covid lockdowns, we have all learnt the precious, recuperative potential of green, natural, accessible areas. More important is the government's boldly stated commitments a) to Climate Change policy and b) Biodiversity. Recent data shows the 60-70% decline in British Wildlife in the last 30 years. The Swanscombe headland is not just a piece of waste land. It is a key set of habitats for wildlife, already noted as potential SSSI status and thus a crucial carbon sink in the fight to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings, traffic and infrastructure will destroy a biodiversity asset and instead add to our damaging GHG emissions.