A MARINA will be visited by district councillors to help them decide the fate of the popular spot.

Shouts of objection came from the public gallery when the marina, in Wharf Lane, Bourne End, came up before Wycombe District Council's new development control committee last Wednesday.

Villagers packed the meeting at the council offices in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, waiting for a verdict on the site.

When Steve Mellor, group planning director of the Michael Shanly group, told the meeting the company had not received formal objection from the Bourne End Residents Association, comments like "We are not supporting it that's why we are here" and "He is such a liar" came from the public gallery.

The proposed development of the marina has met with a lot of opposition from local residents.

The site was earmarked by Berkeley Homes and Tom Jones Marina to build 16 houses, a chandlery, replacement marina workshop and other facilities at the marina in Wharf Lane, but the plan was refused in March 1998.

Property developer Michael Shanly then bought the site and produced its own plans for the area.

The revised application, submitted in November last year, is for 14 homes built on stilts, a public open space, improvements to the Thames Path National Trail and enhancement of the Abbotsbrook Basin.

Cllr Bill Jennings (Cons, Little Marlow) told the meeting that the proposal was complex and it would be a difficult decision.

He said: "This is the largest and most important application for Bourne End and Little Marlow.

"Unfortunately we have not been supported by the relevant agencies to recommend a refusal. I wonder whether the committee would respond to a site visit?"

Mr Mellor said they had received a call from a resident on behalf of other objectors to apologise for the outburst.

He said it was a case of mishearing the statement.

The members of the committee agreed to a site visit on Wednesday before making a decision.