The plan would see the marina's capacity doubled

Members of Cymuned, the Welsh Language pressure group, voted at their annual conference on Saturday to condemn the decision by Gwynedd Council.

They also agreed to call on Dwyfor planners to refuse permission.

Cymuned fears adding 300 berths to the council-owned marina will attract more non-Welsh speakers, to the detriment of the Welsh language in the area.

Dwyfor's planning committee will consider a full application in September.

Cymuned chief executive Aran Jones applauded the Gwynedd councillors who had voted against the plans.

But, he added : "The council board has made a remarkably poor decision and we are very supportive of the councillors who are calling for the decision to be passed over to the full council.

'Wealthy people'

"Report after report has shown that the proposed extension will not create a large number of jobs, and that the vast majority of the few jobs that will be created will not offer a good enough salary to enable workers to afford a mortgage in Pwllheli.

"Quality jobs are what we need in Pen Lleyn, not jobs looking after what is no more than a car park for wealthy people." The proposed expansion of Hafan Marina has proved controversial.

Some people, however, have highlighted potential benefits. Pwllheli town councillor Ian Roberts said the scheme would bring jobs and benefit future generations.

"I support the development of Pwllheli marina for the simple reason that we owe the future generation something to look forward to," he said.

"We owe them work at least. There are at least 30 young people learning skills with the marina in Pwllheli at the moment - these people are the future of the language.

"If they marry and have children and families, they are the future of the language. There's no doubt about it."

The development was proposed at the council meeting by development portfolio leader Dafydd Iwan, whose party - Plaid Cymru - made a last-minute decision to back the scheme on Monday night.

It is believed that 22 of Plaid's 28 Gwynedd Council members initially rejected the proposals.