Some councillors say the expansion would bring economic benefits

Gwynedd councillors have been urged to back the proposals to increase moorings from 400 to 700 in a �3.8m investment.

But members of the controlling Plaid Cymru group on the council are divided.

Some say it could lead to an influx of non-Welsh speakers which could damage the traditional language heartland.

Council officials have recommended allowing about 300 additional moorings in the harbour.

Two local Plaid Cymru county councillors support this plan but other councillors object.

The worry is what the effect will be on the language in the town and the area Pwllheli town councillor Iwan Edgar

Gwynedd Council has commissioned a number of reports to see how appropriate it would be to increase the anchorages.

The reports conclude that �3.8m should be invested to create the hundreds of new moorings.

At a recent meeting of the Gwynedd Council Board members decided to postpone the decision to collect more information about the plan.

But two local councillors who back the extension have decided to refer the matter to the full council so that a decision can be made.

One of them Michael Sol Owen said the development had already been a "tremendous success".

"By now it has created more than 100 jobs. Coleg Meirion Dwyfor has invested in a new department by the harbour and they expect to have 30 students in September.

Language

"We can't bury our heads in the sand and expect the harbour to stay as it is.

"We must create work for our children and youngsters in the area," said the councillor.

However, Councillor Iwan Edgar, a member of the town council, warned about the possible effect on the community.

"The worry is what the effect will be on the language in the town and the area," he said.

"I think that the council, if they haven't done this already, should review the present effect of the marina on the area.

We can't bury our heads in the sand and expect the harbour to stay as it is Councillor Michael Sol Owen

"I'm sure that there are some positive elements but there are others that can be very negative. I believe it's the council's responsibility to measure these openly and fairly before reaching a decision."

Gwynedd council leader Richard Parry Huws said that the councillors must have all the facts before making a decision.

"We can't ignore evidence that's around us with the immigration, people buying holiday homes...and the effect tourism has on holiday homes," he said.