Representation by Barry Wright
- Date submitted
- 27 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Sir, I have been bird watching and recording birds at Swanscombe marshes and the adjacent areas in question since 1988. During this time over 150 species of birds recorded and historically since records started 200 bird species . There has been a pair of Marsh Harrier successfully nesting in Black Duck marsh for more than five years, the birds feeding in the adjacent ditches and fields . Cetti’s Warbler breed in a wide variety of habitat across the peninsula with all singing males recorded in BirdTrack. Grasshopper Warblers that require low scrub and Reed edge number 5 to ten pairs each year. Nightingales currently have two or three territories on the site , these individuals return each year to the same area all within the area of proposed development alongside Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet. Peregrines are on territory at the pylons and hunt the peninsula for food. Short eared, Barn and Long eared Owl are all in the area. Long eared owl had a roost this winter of six birds, a pair of which is still on site and vocalising ahead of breeding . The occupy the same tree that a pair used in 1998 and other years. This territory also falls within the proposed development area. Little ringed Plover were present last year and may have bred, along with Skylark, Meadow Pipit, and numerous warblers. The black duck marsh area currently has breeding Pochard, Bearded Tits, Water Rail, a heronry and the Marsh Harriers . The mud and shoreline allow wintering Jack Snipe, Snipe, Turnstone, Dunlin, other waders and Water Pipit a safe undisturbed winter home . This winter has seen nearly a thousand ducks wintering on the marshes, thousands of thrushes feeding, wintering Dartford Warblers and Lapwings. In the presence of the development in its current or any form will bring about the removal and extinction of all these species with a quiet, safe, undisturbed breeding or wintering grounds. The mosaic of habitats at this site allows such a high diversity, it can not simply be moved or replaced . The resort will be the death knoll of biodiversity at the site in all its forms and a short term financial gain at local biodiversity loss. We have to live with any development forever , the wildlife can’t be replaced or increased and is an incorrect statement put forward by the developers . As a SSSI it’s irreplaceable