Representation by Paul Stanley Hobbs
- Date submitted
- 13 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am writing to object against the planned building of the London Resort theme park on Swanscombe Marshes. Swanscombe Marshes is a unique open mosaic of coastal habitats, grassland, scrub and wetlands that have developed as a result of the site's complex human history. It is very important to have wetlands as they help offset flooding, which now happens more often. It also supports over 250 invertebrate species of conservation concern, including the Critically Endangered Distinguished jumping spider (Attulus distinguendus), which is found on ONLY ONE other site in the UK. Swanscombe is also home to nationally rare and endangered bees, spiders, beetles, wasps and a host of other invertebrates that make the site of NATIONAL INTEREST. It has rich breeding birds including 15 RED LISTED Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 species of Principal Importance - including Bearded Tit, Nightingales and Black Redstart. 13 nationally rare vascular plant species have been found at Swanscombe, including 5 Red-Listed species such as the Man Orchid. It also has locally important populations of reptiles, bats, Water Vole and Otter. At these time of restricted movement for all it is also a haven for people to walk in and help with the mental health too. So many of this wildlife is in serious decline in the UK as well as the habitat. The Swanscombe Peninsula is simply the wrong place for a theme park - we must value our precious wildlife more than we do a theme park. What damage would be done to build such a theme park and there would also be a higher risk of flooding due the lack of the marsh being a buffer. Yours faithfully Paul Hobbs