Thurrock Council-Paramount plan under scrutiny

News Release 03 June 2015 Paramount plan under scrutiny

Councillors and top Thurrock officers had a chance to quiz and listen to representatives of the proposed Disneyland Paris-style Paramount theme park on Tuesday (June 2) evening. Representatives of the huge scheme planned for the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent - just half a mile across the Thames from West Thurrock, Grays and Tilbury - came to the council's Civic Offices to make their presentation and answer questions. Councillors from all three major parties in the council asked about transport, education and job opportunities, and even how quickly they had to make official representations. Cllr Richard Speight, Thurrock's cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said afterwards: "It was a fascinating presentation and, if the plans become reality, will have a major impact on local economies on both banks of the river. "They were obviously oriented towards the Kent side of the Thames, apart from the Port of Tilbury and its storage and ferrying expertise, but Thurrock has much more to offer. "We will be putting in a response to their current consultation by their Friday deadline this week, and we will be making sure the developers realise Thurrock is the place to come when they are looking for the artistic skills they are seeking. "We have expertise here already with the Royal Opera House, Backstage Centre and the artist studios at Purfleet; and that's before you consider the film and television studios planned for that town too. We also have the increasing number of artistic courses at South Essex College." He added, "There are still plenty of questions to be answered around transport and employment – particularly around the possibility of ferries across the Thames. We'll be pushing hard all the way to make sure Thurrock suffers as little possible from the negative impacts, while benefitting from the jobs and growth that this development might provide."  Notes The London Paramount Entertainment Resort covers an area of 545 hectares and proposes a "world class" leisure complex and associated facilities including as hotels, business and a conference hub attracted between 10 million and 15 million visitors a year - on average 40,000 visitors a day – and creating approximately 12,000 full-time jobs on-site and estimated 15,000 additional jobs in the local economy.

Communications team Thurrock Council  01375 652017