New-look marina to make a splash

Malvern Hills District Council has approved outline plans from Walton Marine to extend the marina's water basin into Fowler's Meadow, creating 120 new moorings and over 100 holiday lodges and chalets to the east of the site.

Mike Cook, Walton Marine's managing director, said he was delighted with the outcome and detailed work would begin very soon.

"I'd like to think we can now prove that the committee's decision was the right one and we'll certainly do our very best to make the people of Upton proud of the facility," he said.

Around 50 members of the public filled Priory Lodge Hall, in Malvern, on Wednesday to hear the decision by the council's southern area planning sub-committee.

Upton councillor Mary Wilkinson proposed acceptance of the application, saying: "I believe in my heart that it's the right thing to do.

"In planning you are representing what is best for the district. The economic development of the district is vitally important."

Professor Peter Pumfrey, of Upton Civic Society, said the development would create a precedent for detrimental exploitation of other environmentally attractive areas in the district.

Coun Roger Sutton said the latest plans had not been significantly scaled down from the rejected original proposals.

He added that most visitors came to Upton because it was a "footprint in time" not because it was dominated by a large holiday camp.

But Upton mayor Coun Eric White said: "If Upton is going to grow, green land has got to come over to development of some kind."

Members voted to grant the outline application by 12 votes to seven, with one abstention.

Several members of the public left the meeting early, complaining that they could not hear the proceedings.

Proposals for the expansion had proved controversial since they were first tabled in 2000. Many residents, particularly in nearby Ryall, said the plans were an over-development of the area and feared they could lead to an unacceptable rise in the number of tourists.