A BALLOON-flying exercise to show the outline of the proposed marina development in Upton has drawn varying reactions from those who saw it.

After two false starts due to the balloons going missing and unseasonable weather, the project finally got off the ground last weekend.

The helium-filled balloons were flown at the height of the proposed development, which includes holiday chalets and an enlarged marina basin, to give residents and planners an idea of the likely visual impact.

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

She photographed them from as far away as the Malvern Hills.

Ms Tinkler said Holly Green and Ryall were "well screened" from the balloons, and, therefore, the proposed development would also be screened.

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

But residents of Ripple were of the opposite opinion.

Brian Clayton, a member of Ripple Parish Council's marina development sub-committee, said: "They 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. The visual impact will be tremendous."

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

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

Ms Tinkler said "flood flow modelling" has to be completed to make sure the development would not worsen Upton's flood problem.

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