A CONTROVERSIAL proposed development in Pwllheli is to open a share scheme which backers believe will bring benefits to all the town's people. Businessman Ian Harrison, who is spearheading the consortium who have applied for planning permission to put 1,000 extra berths at Yr Hafan marina, told the Herald of his plan to make shares available for £5 each. The move is aimed at bringing the marina and the town closer together. The last application to extend the facility caused a storm in the town when Gwynedd Council u-turned on its own decision to increase the number of berths to more than 700. Recently, it was revealed that a consortium of local businesses were to request planning permission to extend the marina. Mr Harrison, owner of Blue Water Marine and chairman of the Marine Traders Association, said: "We are going to set-up a company to involve local people. "We felt that the last time around people in the town were being brain washed. They were told the marina was a parking ground for the rich, that is why we came up with this share option." Following a meeting between the consortium, Pwllheli Chamber of Trade and town's people a number of ideas have been suggested including the share option - one third of which will be reserved for local people to prevent large companies from block-buying them - and 50 berths being reserved for local boat owners at a reduced rate. Chamber of trade vice chairman Ifor Hughes, partner of Bwydlyn butchers, said that at the moment the marina seems to be dismembered from the body of Pwllheli. He said: "It was first suggested that shares were to be sold for £100, but I asked how can local people feel involved. At £5 a share anyone from the town can buy them. "Too many decisions are made that don't involve local people. "This scheme will not be selective. Too often it feels as if the marina has been cut off from the rest of the body, where we feel that people who use the marina don't come into the town and people from the town don't go to the marina." He added: "Last time there were proposals to expand the marina many untruths were told. "For example we were told that the new berths would be for motorboats - that was utter lies. "Some of the councillors that voted the last time around have admitted now that they made mistakes." Mr Hughes added: "As a Pwllheli boy I want to see Pwllheli move forward, and all the businesses reap the benefits." Ian Harrison said: "A total of 3,000 shares will be available at first issue and we have already had some enquiries. "After the last application fell through more than 1,000 people from Pwllheli signed a petition supporting a marina explanation, I think that bodes well for our scheme." | 
