THE public appears to be behind plans to site a 'ocean liner' complex on Watchet's East Quay, with 96 per cent of those who filled out comment slips giving it the thumbs up.
The man behind the plans, solicitor David Capper, said reaction at last weekend's public viewing was "very positive" after over 100 people turned up to put their points across.
Despite such backing, marina developers Dean and Dyball have to be convinced that it is a more viable option than housing before £1.4 million project goes full steam ahead.
Mr Capper wants to include 30 holiday cabins, a 120-seat cinema and theatre, a swimming pool for residents and a whole host of other facilities aboard the five-deck 'ship', the SS Watchet Star.
It emerged this week, however, that the ambitious £1.4 million scheme would only cover the boat and "basic" fitting-out of the inside.
The planning team expects businesses and cabin owners to fit out their own facilities aboard the ocean liner.
On both Saturday and Sunday, residents were able to talk to Mr Capper in the council chamber about the radical scheme and view plans of the 250-feet long boat.
Most people came down on the side of Mr Capper's vision for Watchet with some voicing caution, saying it was a good idea but needed fleshing out.
However, the written responses could have distorted the view for the planning team because, according to one onlooker, many people against the project left the council chamber without putting pen to paper.
Mr Capper said: "I was very pleased with the response from the people I spoke to but, although it was positive, there was not total adoration.
"It is a major scheme and people are not just going to agree to all of it straight away."
Concerns over the height of the boat were voiced but Mr Capper said it would be no higher than the houses planned.
"On a boat you have the minimum legal headroom of around eight and a half feet so the boat will work out to be about the same height as the houses, which coould be three floors with a roof on top," he said.
Mr Capper said it was possible to sink the boat down into the ground, but he was concerned about the risk of flooding and dangers for the people using the boat if a fire broke out.
Another idea floated at the public meeting was to tie up a berth in the marina with ownership of a cabin aboard the boat.
Mr Capper said: "If the more expensive cabins came with a berth, then it would encourage other people to think 'that looks nice' and park their boats in the marina and then this would in turn attract more boats.
"There is nothing to suggest the marina will be successful - as was the case at Bridgwater where there is now just a half-sunk rowing boat."
Mr Capper said he had been given new ideas after talking to people, including suggestions of a creche and debt-counselling office on board.
Watchet Regeneration Partnership vice-chairman, town Cllr Sally de Renzy Martin said: "It has a lot to offer in terms of community facilities but I do wonder if Watchet as a town will be able to support these facilities all year round.
"I have mixed feelings about the project because I cannot support the SS Watchet Star 100 per cent as I have concerns about the financing."
In order to gain a fuller of picture of residents' feelings, further consultations, similar to last weekend's, will be held in the council chamber this weekend.