Representation by Mr J Hosking
- Date submitted
- 21 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Swanscombe supports nationally important Open mosaic habitat on previously developed land, coastal habitats, grasslands, scrub and wetlands that have developed as a result of the site’s complex human history. It is a wholly inappropriate site for a theme park. Natural England have recommended Swanscombe be declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest and we must comprehensively protect our most important wildlife sites from being lost or damaged in any way. All of the information submitted to date is based on a site free of any designation. The recent notification of the site as a SSSI changes the baseline considerably and it is essential that the application be re-submitted. Although the SSSI is now subject to consultation, there is a statutory duty for it to be considered as a SSSI until the end of this current process in July 2021. The site supports a nationally important assemblage of invertebrates, including 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. The site’s diverse breeding bird assemblage includes 15 red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern and 12 Species of Principal Importance- including Marsh harriers, Bearded tit, Nightingales and Black redstart. 13 nationally scarce vascular plant species have been found at Swanscombe, including 5 red-listed species such as the Man orchid. The site also has locally important populations of reptiles, bats, Water vole and Otter. I am extremely concerned that wildlife across England is in rapid and drastic decline. It is therefore more important than ever to protect and greatly expand our SSSI network and National Nature Reserves. The Swanscombe Peninsula is clearly the wrong place for any theme park and we must value our precious wildlife far more than we do a theme park for the survival of our ecosystems and human-utilised environment.