THE future of a controversial holiday complex in the county was being decided last week - on the strength of two helium-filled balloons.

A proposed development at Upton-upon-Severn marina, to include holiday chalets and an enlarged marina basin, is to go before planning officials in January.

But in order to give residents and planners an idea of the likely visual impact of the development, helium-filled balloons were flown over the marina at the same height as the proposed chalets.

Reactions to the exercise - which suffered two "false starts" due to the balloons going missing and unseasonable weather - were mixed.

Carly Tinkler, head of Carly Tinkler Associates - which is conducting an environmental impact assessment on behalf of owners and developers Walton Marine - said she was surprised how unobtrusive the balloons were.

She said Holly Green and Ryall were "well screened" and, therefore, the proposed development would also be screened.

"In most places, you can only see them when you get right up close," said Ms Tinkler.

But residents of Ripple were of the opposite opinion.

Brian Clayton, a member of Ripple Parish Council's marina development sub-committee, said the balloons had "stuck out like sore thumbs".

"It just confirms what we've been saying all along, which is that the development is going to create major problems for the people of Ryall, Ripple and Holly Green," said Mr Clayton.

"The visual impact will be tremendous."

The council also objects to the development on the grounds of increased traffic, noise pollution and security worries.

The marina, which was bought by Walton Marine in 1988, already boasts a repair and maintenance area, a chandlery, a hire boat centre, a caf and a shop.

The family-owned and run company also runs marinas at Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey, at Portishead, near Bristol, and at Norwich, on the Norfolk Broads.

Responses to the balloon-flying exercise will be logged and handed to the designers.

Ms Tinkler said "flood flow modelling" also had to be completed to make sure the development would not worsen Upton-upon-Severn's flood problem, which saw the town under water for several months during the floods of last year.

The full planning application will be submitted to Malvern Hills District Council in January.