COMMON sense will prevail and Pwllheli could see its marina extended by 1,000 berths, according to local business owners. A syndicate of businesses working from Hafan Pwllheli will present a private planning application by July 1 to extend the facility. This, no doubt, will reopen a heated debate which ravaged the area a year ago, when Gwynedd Council U-turned on a smaller plan. Ian Harrison, chairman of Pwllheli Marine Traders' Association, is spokesman for the syndicate. He said he hoped that Gwynedd Council's planning committee will refuse permission, so the group of traders can appeal to the National Assembly. He added: "I hope they knock it back and it will go to appeal, where common sense will prevail. "I have spoken to several members at the Assembly and they said they did not understand why Gwynedd knocked it back in the first place." In 2005, Gwynedd Council Board gave consent to extending the number of berths to 711 but a petition of 15 councillors froze the decision and the matter went before the full council. The expansion, if given the go-ahead, would happen in stages, according to Mr Harrison owner of Blue Water Marine. The development project will create well-paid jobs and an economic boost for the area, he added. He said: "A study last year stated that more than £30m would be created for the town, on top of what is already being made now. "The MTA can guarantee the creation of at least 47 jobs, but an expansion would mean another boatyard would have to come, creating even more jobs." He added that jobs created would be high-quality, well-paid posts. He said: "My company employs 23 people, full-time. The highest paid is on £14 an hour, not one skilled worker is on less than £7.50 an hour. We have two people with learning difficulties here who are on the minimum wage. "The only part-time staff are students here for the holidays or weekends." The events of the last 12 months has left a bitter taste for many people in Pwllheli. Mr Harrison said: "When the new Asda in town were pressed about job creation and the number of Welsh speakers they will employ, they were left to do what they wanted. "Then look at the amount of money that was squandered on reports on the impact of the marina. The people who are meant to be looking after the area are hypocrites. "People are too willing to hide behind the language and culture without addressing the truth about the economic needs of the town. "My two grandchildren have been brought up here and are fluent Welsh speakers. If there are no jobs for people like them when they grow up, they will move away. What good will that do to the Welsh language and culture? "I can name three families whose sons have moved to Deeside for work. I doubt that their children will grow up speaking the language there." | 
