Representation by John Francis
- Date submitted
- 14 June 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to object to this proposal for the following reasons: Cory admitted at their presentation on 13th September 2023 that this type of grazing marsh is irreplaceable, yet they want to build on it. The land Cory wish to take from Peabody (Norman Road Field) to 'increase' the nature reserve is not grazing marsh and no amount of 'enhancement' will mitigate the loss. Cory say the additional area will be protected but that seems inadequate, compared to statutory protection given to Crossness Nature Reserve? Rare wildlife Crossness Nature Reserve supports extremely rare and critically endangered wildlife such as water vole (Britain's fastest declining mammal) and shrill carder bee (the UK's rarest bumblebee). It is also home to a pair of resident breeding barn owls, an overnight dunlin roost and the very rare frog rush plant, previously thought extinct in Kent. Cory have already proved they have no consideration for wildlife - the Borax Field they own had nesting Skylark until last year. Despite our protests it is now filled with construction rubble. Volume of CO2 capture Cory state their CCS project has the potential to capture circa 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 per year. But marshland like Crossness Nature Reserve is also a store of CO2. Cory should calculate and publish how much CO2 the area of nature reserve they want to build on already captures and stores every year. UK Government support CCS Whilst the Government may support carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a way for the UK to reach its net zero ambitions this must not be at the expense of incredibly rare grazing marsh with Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (MSINC) and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) status A wildlife habitat which even Cory admits is incredibly valuable and cannot be recreated. This is an area which supports nationally endangered animals and plants, an area of natural beauty for local people to enjoy with all the associated health and wellbeing benefits. Humans and wildlife alike cannot afford to lose any amount of Crossness Nature Reserve in this heavily industrialised part of Bexley. Five years of construction Cory believe it will take five years to build their Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant. This is five years of construction traffic and machinery moving about land previously part of the Crossness Nature Reserve. With all the associated noise, dust and light pollution affecting a far greater area of the marshland than just the part Cory want to take and build on. A lot of the natural habitat will be damaged and wildlife will be scared away and injured during these five years? 25 year lifetime The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facility may only have a 25 year lifetime. That's less time than Thames Water have been managing and enhancing Crossness Nature Reserve! So what happens when the CCS plant is decommissioned? Will more of the nature reserve be taken by Cory's for their next project? Protection Cory state the new areas of nature reserve will be given protected status - what use is that protection when they can forcefully take part of an existing Local Nature Reserve? Also, the 'new' area is already mitigation land for Tilfen Land’s (now Peabody) development on the Veridian Business Park. And what about Cory’s own mitigation land to the east of Riverside 1, which looks as though it will now been built on? There is no guarantee Cory will protect anything other than their own pockets