Gravesham councillors have returned from a contraversial visit to Dinsey World, Florida saying the trip was 'worthwhile.'

A party of nine councillors left Gravesend for Florida on April 19 for the three-day-trip which cost £15,000 in a bid to inspire ideas for the new £2 billion Paramount Park Development proposed for the Swanscombe peninsula.

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A spokesman for Gravesham Council said that a report summarising the findings of the trip will be produced for Gravesham Borough Council’s full council meeting.

The spokesman added: "The delegation had a series of meetings with community leaders, businesses and operators of various sites looking at issues including job creation and retention, infrastructure and supply issues as well as the effects on local businesses, housing and transportation.

"The results of both group and individual discussions are being collated for the report which will go to a meeting of the full council."

Kevin Burbidge, the council’s director of housing and regeneration, described the trip as 'an intensive series of meetings.'

Mr Burbidge said: "Members gained useful and detailed insights into the ways in which problems have been overcome and both the success and failures of various aspects of a development of this magnitude."

Council Leader, Labour Councillor John Burden added: "It was a very worthwhile visit, we picked up lots of information and made lots of worthwhile contacts."

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Original plans for the trip were critcised by Bryan Sweetland, Gravesham Council Conservative councillor for Istead Rise branded the trip "an expenses paid sight seeing trip to Florida" and a "jolly."