London Wildlife Trust has submitted a highly critical objection to the re-heated proposal from an outfit called Roxhill to build a large rail/road interchange depot on a substantial part of the southern end of Crayford Marshes, adjacent to Slade Green train depot. We are now able to publish it here (see below). The previous exponents, Prologis, failed to start construction within the 5 years allowed.
The scheme would still destroy most of the separate Site of Importance for Nature Conservation on this part of the marshes, threaten the future of red-listed Skylark in Bexley, and red-listed Corn Bunting in London , when there may be only 20 pairs left in the whole of the capital. It would further industrialise one of the largest and most open areas left in the Borough for wildlife and people, on land classified as Metropolitan Green Belt, and add heavy lorry movements to local roads.
The planning decision on the previous scheme would have meant that the money from the destruction of this part of the marshes would have been put in a fund to properly manage the rest of it for nature. That ‘offer’ does not appear in the current application.
Other objectors include Bexley Natural Environment Forum, and Bexley Civic Society. More than 200 individual letters of objection have been signed so far.
For more background information see:
http://www.bexleywildlife.org/save-our-skylarks-string-of-marshland-sites-under-renewed-threat/
What little remains of our inner Thames south bank marshland at Erith (Crossness), Crayford and Swanscombe Marshes is threatened with more key habitat loss.
