It's mutiny in Pwllheli as sailors and marina users blast join-up proposal 

Jll 

I 
SAILORS and marine business owners have slammed a decision to reel in the running of Pwllheli marina. 

At a meeting of Gwynedd Council's scrutiny committee on Tuesday, members voted in favour of combining the marina management with that of the harbour from 
April/2008. The final decision will be made by the council board. 

But those who make a living from the facility or pay rates to use it for pleasure say that the council does not have the experience to run the marina, and are worried it will have a financial impact on the town as visitors are deterred from using a neglected facility. 

David Peters (pictured inset), chairman of Pwllheli berth-holders association, said: "I am appalled by this decision, I don't know what to say. 

"The council has no master mariners on its staff, they don't have the experience or the qualifications. 

"I think this will be a disaster, let's face it Pwllheli harbour has become a tatty, downtrodden place with no investment. The marina will go down the same route. 
"If the council is facing a financial deficit 

C&D Herald 20/9/07

By SARAH SCOTT 
it makes no sense to take on another service." 
He said that the council has wasted thousands of pounds of tax payers' money on " ineffective dredging, and not taken the ad-;li 

vice of those who use the mar- ina every day 
lan Harrison, chairman of Pwllheli marine traders association, said he has called an" emergency meeting of the I group to discuss the matter. 
He said: "The council can't even run the harbour, let alone  the marina.  
"We hear plenty of complaints because there is so' much silt in the harbour, but people make the best of the! situation. But boats have been' damaged ~use of it. 
"No-one from the council ap- proached us to discuss this, and we are the marina users and our livelihoods depend on it." 

In the council chamber, Gwynedd officer Rhys Wyn Parri, explained that £42,730 would be saved from Yacht Haven Company's current management fee and long 
Turn to page three 

Mutiny over 		
marina merger

	From page one 	 

term savings could be made by staff rationalisation and budget management. 
Mr Parri also said that by internalising the marina with 

the harbour management, the council could look towards handing the whole facility to the private sector in the future. 
Cllr Owain Williams, one of two who opposed the move, asked why Gwynedd Council wanted to go against the national trend by hauling the management of the marina in, house. 
He said: "If it's not broke, don't try to fix it. We don't want to risk the income the marina brings to the council" 
Cllr Dafydd Iwan, portfolio holder for economic development, said: "There is a strong argument for internalising the marina for better control. 
	"There are exciting plans in 	 Unhappy: Ian
the pipelines to develop Pwllheli         Harrison
 as an events centre and mari-. 
time centre, there is great po-_ 
tential by being able to control it 
all. 
"We must remember we are doing this for the people and 
	the economy of Gwynedd." 	. 
Cllr June Marshall expressed concern as there were no concrete business plans in the council documents.