No fun for Nature - Save Swanscombe Marshes

Buglife is delighted to confirm that the London Resort project has officially been terminated. This decision follows a High Court ruling to liquidate London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) due to financial and contractual disputes, bringing an end to a decade of uncertainty and environmental concern. The High Court’s ruling not only signals the definitive end of the London Resort plan but also lifts the shadow of doubt that has loomed over local businesses and the community for years. It ensures that this critical natural space remains safeguarded for future generations. Furthermore, the Planning Inspectorate has held LRCH accountable for its "unreasonable behaviour" throughout the planning process, awarding legal costs to a number of organisations, including Buglife, National Highways, Kent Wildlife Trust and others. This recognition of wasted resources underscores the importance of due diligence and respect for environmental regulations in major development proposals.

Today the Save Swanscombe partners have launched a Vision for Swanscombe Peninsula, which puts nature and the local community at its heart. Following a community survey, a vision has been created that reflects the local desire for it to be managed for its amazing interest and as a much loved green space. 

To help make the #SwanscombeVision become reality, we have called on local residents of Dartford and Gravesham to write to their MP and Council Leader calling on them to support the vision.

You can also help to make the #SwanscombeVision happen by showing your support using our #SwanscombeVision social media assets.
https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/vision-for-swanscombe-peninsula/
None of this would be possible without your support- thank you.

Yesterday we received the great news that the application to build the London Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest has been withdrawn at the eleventh hour! The news came the very morning that the Preliminary Examination to agree a timeline for the six month examination was due to be agreed, following a 13 month protracted Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) application.

However, despite this welcome news, the developers plan to resubmit their troubled application later in 2022, meaning that the fight is not over.

We will continue to work with the local community to stand up for the important wildlife on the Swanscombe Peninsula and to explore avenues to prevent this wildlife haven being lost.

We urgently need to raise at least £60,000 to get much needed legal and expert advice. The coalition of Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent and the Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI campaign group has just set up a Crowd Justice page, to help give us the strongest footing to stand up for nature at the forthcoming planning examination

Please help us to raise £60,000 by visiting our Crowd Justice campaign page at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-swanscombe-peninsula/ and support our efforts to save our precious wildlife.

We urgently need to raise at least £10,000 to get much needed legal and expert advice. The coalition of Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent and the Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI campaign group has just set up a Crowd Justice page, to help give us the strongest footing to stand up for nature at the forthcoming planning examination

Please help us to raise £10,000 by visiting our Crowd Justice campaign page at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-swanscombe-peninsula/ and support our efforts to save our precious wildlife.

Great news today Natural England's Board met and unanimously designated Swanscombe Marshes as a S.S.S.I.

If you can send a response to the Dartford Local Plan before 5pm today https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/dartford-local-plan/

Come and joint the Rally to Save Swanscombe Marshes!

On Saturday 2nd October, Buglife, CPRE Kent, Kent Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Save Swanscombe Peninsula SSSI are coming together with the local community for a rally to celebrate the amazing wildlife and habitats at Swanscombe Marshes. Take a tour around the site and add your voice to our calls to save this nationally important wildlife haven.

Date: Saturday 2nd October, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Manor Way, opposite Britannia Metals, Northfleet, DA11 9BG
More information: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/2021-10-02-save-swanscombe-marshes

Save Swanscombe Rally 2nd October 10am for more details https://www.buglife.org.uk/events/save-swanscombe-marshes-rally/

Natural England are looking to formalise the SSSI designation for Swanscombe Marshes you can make representation in favour of this up until 12th July for more information go to this webpage https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/tell-natural-england-that-you-want-the-swanscombe-peninsula-protected/

The Good News
Natural England has recognised the outstanding wildlife value of the Swanscombe Peninsula and declared that it should be a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). https://www.buglife.org.uk/news/wildlife-haven-protected-as-theme-park-threat-looms/
Action needed
Help Buglife, Kent Wildlife Trust, RSPB and CPRE Kent highlight the value of this wildlife haven by registering as an ‘Interested Party’ and emailing your comments to the Planning Inspectorate. It will only take five minutes and will make sure that your voice is heard in this important battle to save the site. You have until Wednesday 31st March to speak up for the amazing wildlife at Swanscombe. All you ned to do on this page https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/save-swanscombe-marshes/save-swanscombe-marshes-action/

Check out these great campaign tees
https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2021/02/Mockup-scaled.jpg
See the rationale for SSSI designation
https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2021/02/Swanscombe-SSSI-rationale-Feb-2021.pdf

Check out latest pictures of the Distinguished jumping spider https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2021/02/Attulus-distinguendus-1-c-Roman-Willi-www.endlessfields.ch_-1024x683.jpg