Gwynedd Council has denied ignoring local interest in favour of national chains when planning a hotel development in Pwllheli.

Plans to revitalise Pwllheli marina with a new hotel have been largely welcomed, but local hotelier Stuart Nashir-Hallard and Porthmadog councillor Jason Humphreys say Gwynedd Council is ignoring local interest in the development, encouraging national hotel chains instead.

But a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said it had marketed the site locally and no bids were submitted by local hoteliers.

Stuart, 39, owns the Golden Fleece in Tremadog. He told the Cambrian News he has been in contact with Gwynedd Council in 2015 to inquire about developing on the land himself. He said he did so after reading an article in the Cambrian News about plans to bring Travelodge to the area falling through.

He said: “They’re favouring chain hotel operators rather than investing in local businesses and keeping the area unique. It’s not adding to the area, all it’s giving us is a high street chain that is available all over the country.

“It doesn’t give us a unique selling point.”

Stuart told the Cambrian News that the council said they would get back in contact if it became available again, but that he has not heard from them since, even though there has already been an open tender process for the hotel development.

Stuart said: “The council are favouring these big, national businesses over grass roots, local businesses.

“These big businesses take money away from the locality. We, as a local business, put money back into the local area through using local services.”

Porthmadog town councillor Jason Humphreys claimed that local interest had been “ignored”.

“What concerns me as a ratepayer and as someone who enjoys Pwllheli is that some four years since, Gwynedd Council has failed to engage with potential local investors,” he said.

“It certainly looks to me as if Gwynedd turning its back on local money and energy. Perhaps it’s too much of an effort. Don’t get me wrong, I can certainly see advantages in dealing with a national concern and don’t object to it all.

“But local entrepreneurs are gold dust and will not only care more for their investment, but also in the general health of the area where their money and time is invested in.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the Cae Ceffyl site is the property of Gwynedd Council and has been identified as a development site with the potential for a hotel. Planning permission for a 55-bedroom hotel and associated restaurant, bar and parking facilities has been secured for the site.

“Following an open tender process, a developer capable of delivering a project on this scale has been appointed and proposals for the site are being prepared.”

The council would not name the developer.

The spokesperson added: “Our aim is to secure a hotel for Pwllheli and we have marketed the site locally and would have been delighted to work with a local hotelier. Unfortunately, no bids were submitted by local hoteliers during this tender process.

“A formal marketing campaign in respect of Cae Ceffyl was undertaken in 2017, following which a preferred developer was identified.

“The brief identified an opportunity for a hotel development, and did not stipulate national hotel chains over local hoteliers.”