Representation by Peter Kennerley
- Date submitted
- 14 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Swanscombe Peninsula supports an outstanding range of wildlife inhabiting a unique open mosaic of coastal habitats, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. Natural England have recommended Swanscombe be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest that 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 home to nationally rare and endangered bees, spiders, beetles, wasps and a host of other invertebrates that make the site of national importance. 15 species of red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance occur at the site including Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Nightingale and Black Redstart. It also has locally important populations of reptiles, bats, Water vole and Otter. A theme park can be built anywhere, ideally on brown field land. 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.