APPLAUSE erupted from an emotion-fuelled public gallery as district councillors voted against redevelopment plans for Bourne End Marina.

Bourne End residents and marina users packed into the council offices in Victoria Road, High Wycombe, for the much awaited planning panel meeting on Wednesday night.

Councillors turfed out the application by developers, the Michael Shanly Group, despite approval by the council's planning officer and the Environment Agency.

Michael Shanly's plans were for a new marina building with staff flat above, 11 three-bedroom homes, three two-bedroom flats, boat storage, parking and an area of public open space.

But Brian Pollock (Lib Dem, Bourne End cum Hedsor), spoke out about the plans which he said would cause problems with flooding and the overall effect on the character in the area. He pointed to strong advice received from the National Trust who branded the plans as 'totally unacceptable' and who feared the development would have a 'devastating affect' if allowed to go ahead.

A flooding 'Compensation Scheme' drafted by the Environment Agency which addressed potential problems with flooding did not convince councillors.

Councillors voted against the development on the grounds of the scale, magnitude and overall effect on the area by seven to five.

Steve Mellor, Michael Shanly Homes group planning director, said: "We are considering the way forward because we cannot understand how an application which met the council's development in every respect and indeed in some cases exceeded it, could be turned down."