Early plans for the proposed Paramount Park resort in the Swanscombe Peninsula have been met with delight by local residents.

A series of public meetings took place last week in Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Gravesend aimed at giving members of the public the opportunity to tell developers, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), how they would like to receive information as the planning progresses.

It was also announced that work on the £2billion scheme which will feature a water park, theme park, sporting facilities, an entertainment street, a staff training academy and about 5,000 hotel rooms could start as early as autumn 2016.

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If all goes to plan the resort looks set to open in summer 2019 according to the newly released outline of a proposed timetable for the project.

Speaking to News Shopper at the first of four public meetings at Ebbsfleet Academy in Southfleet Road, Swanscombe director of the Paramount Project, Fenlon Dunphey said: "The response from people has been exceptional.

"We're getting really good feedback and all of this will be processed ready for the next stage of consultations.

"People can get in touch with us over the next 12 months and let us know what they think."

Interested members of the public where given the chance to use iPads and traditional paper questionnaires to submit feedback at the meetings.

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Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite, said: "The feedback has been really really good - this has got to be something people are behind otherwise it won't work.

"It's going to be great, not just for the jobs created by the park but for the impact it will have on the area.

"We're hoping to create doughnut around the park, an area which really benefits from it."

Some of the concerns brought up by residents included the amount of parking provided at the park.

Cllr Kite added: "A lot of the people who will be visiting the park won't be local - they will be people tourists, people visiting from abroad, people visiting from London and the majority of them will be coming in by coaches, trains from London and by boat."