PROPOSALS to extend Upton Marina are still afloat.

Walton Marine's application was on the agenda at a Malvern Hills District Council planning meeting on Wednesday, December 18, with a recommendation of refusal from officers.

However, elected members overruled the recommendation, telling officers to reopen negotiations with Walton Marine.

Planning officer David Murray said the application was unlikely to come back to the committee before March.

About 50 members of the public, mostly from Ryall and Holly Green, packed into Priory Lodge Hall to hear the discussion.

Their discontent was audible when a motion to refuse the plan, proposed by Ripple councillor Roger Sutton, was turned down 13 votes to seven.

Coun Sutton questioned whether an increase in tourism would be good for Upton.

He said: "I would invite members to visit Stourport-on-Severn, so they can see the large permanent riverside funfair, amusement arcades and six or seven fish and chip shops."

However, Coun Mary Wilkinson (Upton) said: "We must think very carefully before turning our backs on this chance. When again will be have investors willing to spend £3.5 million on tourism in this district?"

Upton's other district councillor, Eric White, also spoke in support.

The plan involves excavating a second basin with 120 moorings and building a large number of holiday lodges and apartments.

After the meeting, Steve Arber of Walton Marine, said: "We're pretty confident that we'll be able to overcome the technical problems. We got a pretty clear steer from the committee and I hope we'll get a start on it next year."

Mike Ostick, of Ripple Parish Council, said opposition from the people of Ryall and Holly Green had been consistent.

"It's not so much the second basin but the holiday village which people object to, because it fills in the gap between Upton and Holly Green."

More than 100 letters and a petition with 109 names were received objecting to the plan. A public meeting about the plan also attracted 120 people.

Mr Ostick said the parish council would now "take advice and regroup" before deciding what to do next.