Representation by Mark Wilson
- Date submitted
- 15 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am writing to voice my opposition to the proposed London Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula. I have lived in Greenhithe, right next to the proposed development site, since 2004, and have long been concerned by the amount of building taking place in the area. Open space is increasingly at a premium and pollution is a worsening problem (as was revealed late in 2020 in this article: https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18891016.air-pollution---towns-least-air-pollution-revealed-new-ground-breaking-study/). I fear that the London Resort will only make these issues worse. Of even greater concern to me, however, is the impact that the development will have on Swanscombe Marshes. The marshes have long been a ‘hidden gem’ that my wife and I have enjoyed visiting, but the past year has highlighted how truly important they are to us and to the local community – since March 2020 the marshes have provided the one truly open and safe space that we have been able to visit. They have been a key location for regular exercise, and we have seen many other locals taking advantage of this natural treasure on their doorstep too. The positive effect that the marshes have had on our mental well-being cannot be overstated – being able to be outside in such a beautiful, natural environment and to regularly see rare wildlife such as marsh harriers, nightingales, dartford warblers and voles, as well as hundreds of nesting birds and migrants, has been truly uplifting. I have visited a number of nature reserves over the years and grew up close to the Lake District and I truly believe that Swanscombe Marshes is one of the richest natural habitats I have seen. I feel lucky to have been able to see how things change here day by day, throughout the year. The idea, then, of a theme park being built here is terrible. As the recent recognition of the marshes as a Site of Special Scientific Interest shows, the ecology of Swanscombe Marshes is a national asset. I have read the London Resort’s proposal that the site will be developed in a sympathetic manner, with natural offsetting, etc, but the problem with this is that the marshes have evolved as a natural habit over time: it is their nature as a mosaic of habitats that makes them so rich, and disrupting some or all of these habitats – however good intentions to ‘make good’ are – will take more than it gives, and we will all lose so much: local residents will lose access to somewhere that has become a haven to many, important animal species will lose their homes and Britain will lose an important part of its natural heritage. With a dedicated conversation effort, I believe that Swanscombe Marshes can become something even better – a home for more (and more diverse) wildlife and a wonderful, important place for local people. This is what we need in Greenhithe and Swanscombe – a natural haven, not a theme park. Thank you for your time.