Representation by Karen Lynch
- Date submitted
- 31 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a member/resident of the local community of Swanscombe, and a frequent visitor to the Peninsula for over 30 years, I whole-heartedly object to the development of a theme park by LRCH on Swanscombe Penisula for the following reasons; * Destruction of a designated SSSI landscape, including, but not limited to - Flora, Fauna, Waterways, Land, Air quality, Habitats, 'Green' eco spaces, natural flood plains and a site of great biodiverse importance. * Concern regarding affliction to local services and infrastructure, including but not limited to -Consistant excessive traffic entering and leaving the locality, both during and following construction.. Additional strain upon already struggling local road infrastructure. Additional pressure on the NHS; doctor and dental practices, as well as the local Darent Valley hospital. Additional strain on local council services. Additional strain on utility services. Potential additional strain on the local benefits system ie; Housing and Council tax benefits etc.as a result of low quality jobs. * Litter and pollution, including but not limited to - Additional litter genrated by visitors to the park and/or employees of the development, both during and following construction. Additional air pollution, generated by additional traffic visiting the development both during and following construction. This is particularly concerning when Dartford borough is considered to have one of the worst air quality emergencies in the UK. Additional water pollution generated by the development both during and following construction. Additional land pollution generated by the development both during and following construction. *Affects to existing jobs and housing, including but not limited to - the loss of approximately 140 existing local businesses resulting in the loss of approximately 2,500 individual existing, good quality jobs. The affects on local housing markets, including the private rental market, with tenants potentially being "priced out" of their existing homes. Health and wellbeing - The irreversible loss of safe, green, outdoor spaces, never more appreciated in a built-up area than throughout this past year for the positive effects on both physical and mental health. This space is used by local as well as occassional visiting people for a variety of activities including walking, running, exercising, bird watching, foraging, dog walking, kite flying, drone flying, fishing, geo-caching, boating, wildlife spotting, wildlife and geographical education, family socialising, art and photography. Swanscombe is a town steeped in important archaeological history, I have no doubt that this vast site holds further historically important archeological interest also.