Representation by Carol Brockhurst
- Date submitted
- 13 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am so concerned to hear that Swanscombe Peninsula has been confirmed as a suitable site for a new theme park in London. The Peninsula supports an amazing range of wildlife as it contains a range of habitats that have developed over a long time: coastal, grasslands, wetlands and scrub. I know that Natural England have recommended that the Peninsula is declared as a Site of Scientific Interest, so I do not understand why permission to destroy the site and its wildlife would be given the go ahead. There is a high number, over 250, species on the Peninsula that are flagged for conservational concern and so of national importance. These include: - invertebrates such as the Distingushed jumper spider (Attulus distinguendus) which is only found in one other location in the UK, and is marked as endangered or vulnerable in other parts of the world; - a wide range of birds such as the Bearded tit and Nightingale; - well-known and loved mammals such as the water vole and otter; - plant species that are rare and scarce including 5 red-listed species such as the Man orchid. Wildlife and the variety of species in the UK have been so much more appreciated since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, and many more of us understand the need to support and enhance the environment and its habitats to improve the chances of survival for all the species that live with us and support our place in the world. I cannot comprehend why at the stage of our understanding of our place in the world why steps would be taken to destroy or remove some of the precious remaining habitats and the species that rely on these that we have and love in the UK. Longer term, we will all benefit from the survival of Swanscombe Peninsula, whereas only a few will benefit from a theme park so I ask that the Peninsula is not destroyed for a short term commercial interest.