Representation by David Morton
- Date submitted
- 24 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
My primary concerns are as follows: 1) Carbon budgets and net zero: It beggars belief that in a time of climate emergency and efforts to mitigate climate change, this scheme is being proposed. The construction and operational emissions are huge and would damage the government’s credibility in this regard. 2) Induced traffic and pollution: The phenomenon of ‘induced traffic’ is well-documented and this scheme would be no exception, leading to increased traffic levels and pollution, especially levels of the very damaging PM2.5 particulates. 3)Devastating loss of irreplaceable ancient woodland and threats to wildlife: The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe, and the most recent State of Nature report, published in 2019, suggests there has been a 13% decline in the average abundance of wildlife in the UK since the 1970s. Numbers of farmland and woodland birds have reduced significantly while pollinating insects are struggling. We should be enhancing and expanding habitat, not destroying it. Specifically, parts of the Shorne and Ashenbank ancient woodland are threatened , which is a site of Special Scientific Interest and home to a number of rare species including woodpeckers, great crested newts and dormice.