THE approval of the application to expand Upton Marina has brought a mixed reaction from townspeople.

After months of controversy, on Wednesday Malvern Hills District Council finally gave outline planning permission for new holiday accommodation and an extended water basin at the marina.

Bill Dovey, chairman of Upton Tourism and Trade Association said he was pleased with the decision.

"It will do Upton a lot of good. There's other places that would be crying out for it and if they were offered a marina to put the place on the map, they would be happy," he said.

"The boaters do come in and they are good customers and a nice friendly lot. All the traders I have spoken to supported the marina and feel it would be good for the town centre."

At The Map Shop, partner John Baker said from a commercial view, it was good news.

"I know there are concerns for residents in Upton but our trade depends on people coming into the town. I just hope that some of the concerns of the local people are addressed in the final product," he said.

Adrian Field, research and marketing officer at Malvern Hills District Council, said the council's economic development department had supported the application.

He said the increased self-catering accommodation created by the expansion would in turn increase the amount of food purchases in Upton and be good for the town's economy.

"We've been trying to get improved tourism all year round and we feel this will help," he said.

But there was disappointment at the decision from Roger Wilding, chairman of Ripple Parish Council.

He said the development would be of no benefit to the people of Holly Green and Ryall.

"It's still building on the flood plain. I think people will see when they construct the huge flood bank along the main road, they will say 'where's the water going to go?'" he said.