Representation by Sinthujaah De Silva
- Date submitted
- 31 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I would like to make it clear in this application I am not doing so in my professional capacity as Head of Planning for the South East of England for the NHS however I will be using my experience and knowledge of my decade of working in healthcare to inform this representation. I believe the London Resort will have a large negative healthcare impact for the South East of England in particular North Kent. Due to the current traffic and air pollution levels, the areas around Swanscombe, Dartford and Gravesham have increasing respiratory conditions as it is. With the last year of Covid this has risen to levels where the healthcare system is not able to cope. There is significant work under way to manage however this is without the context of the London Resort being added to the pressures. Removing key green space that provides better air conditions (given Dartford being one of the worst air pollution areas in the country) and replacing with essentially a pollution powerhouse, will only significantly pressurise local healthcare systems. Furthermore, Kent has always had a long term issue with traffic and ambulance movement- this is purely with the existing traffic, the London Resort proposal to purely build a separate exit will not ease pressure for the wider healthcare system- the onslaught of Resort customers will further put pressure on emergency services and out of hospital pathways who will need significant support for several years to come let alone adding a massive infrastructure which will further put pressure on the systems. If Covid has taught us anything- it is that we need our healthcare in line with health inequalities. North Kent is an area of high economic deprivation with a number of health inequalities- having a London Resort in an area like this with existing significant healthcare issues and health inequalities will only sink on local NHS infrastructure and in turn not allow care to be delivered. I would also like to add, I moved from Essex to Dartford to start a family, and have an[] old, in the last year I have developed[] and I do believe this is related to the local air pollution- I wouldn't want my daughter and future generations to have this expanding and exacerbated. Furthermore, the opportunity to go only on walks with my family in the last year has made me realise how significant local biodiversity is and my request is we don't take this away from an area that already suffers from health inequalities and economic deprivation.