ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners are calling on Thurrock Council to save one of the most threatened nature sites in the Thames Estuary reports the Local Democracy Reporter
Buglife is urging Thurrock Council to refuse planning permission for the proposed Tilbury 3 development which the charity says would lead to the loss of Tilbury’s ashfields. It is also calling on the local community to “stand up for its wildlife”.
For decades the waste from the coal powered Tilbury Power Station was stored in nearby fields. However, the waste material, known as Pulverised Fuel Ash has been reclaimed by nature, and together with a network of ditches and coastal habitats is home to nearly 1,200 species of invertebrate.
This includes 185 of “conservation concern”, making it of national importance. Species include the elusive “critically “endangered stripe-eyed Paragus, which is known form only a handful of modern sites, the vulnerable great sneak-spider, the endangered wall butterfly and the shrill carder bee, one of our most threatened bumblebees.
However, Buglife says the future of these “unique and irreplaceable” ashfield habitats is in the balance from proposals to expand the Port of Tilbury, as part of the new Tilbury 3 project.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Buglife is calling on Thurrock Council to take urgent action for its precious wildlife. In recent years, important Local Wildlife Sites and brownfield habitats have been lost both as a result of locally determined planning applications, but also Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects that are decided by the Government.
“|Tilbury 2 led to the loss of nationally important habitats associated with the power station, and now the spectre of the Lower Thames Crossing hangs over Thurrock. Time is running out for action to be taken to preserve its best remaining wildlife areas. Losing these ashfields would be another devastating blow for nature in the Thames Estuary.”
A spokesperson from the Port of Tilbury said: “Our Tilbury3 proposal is built around a clear commitment to respect and protect the local ecology.
“We’re proud of our previous local projects at Tilbury2 and the London Distribution Park, both of which have successful thriving wildlife habitats.”
Thurrock Council was asked to comment.
