Madam,

The Hafan marina is one of Pwllheli’s greatest assets. Many businesses in and around Pwllheli rely on income from berth holders and transient visitors to the marina to survive.

Ten years ago, Hafan and Pwllheli was thriving. The silting was kept under control, access to berths was assured for all but the very lowest spring tides.

There were hundreds of names on the waiting list for a berth. The Hafan marina was run by Yacht Haven Management Ltd on behalf of Gwynedd Council.

In 2008 Gwynedd Council took over the running of Hafan.

Silting up of the channel has gone largely unchecked causing many boats to run aground. Many of the berth holders have left Hafan and taken their boats to other facilities. What was once a long waiting list is now a mere 68 per cent occupancy.

Gwynedd Council has failed in its duty to maximise the potential of Hafan. Some businesses have suffered a dramatic loss of income and jobs have been lost.

It has been reported that Gwynedd Council have launched a review to consider and assess different management models for Hafan’s future.

Given that Hafan is first and foremost a business it should be managed as a business, by a body that is capable of responding quickly to its customers’ needs and able to make quick decisions as required. The local authority is not the body to do this.

Will Pwllheli’s newly elected representatives on Gwynedd Council push for the management of Hafan to be put back into the hands of Yacht Haven Management Ltd, who have a proven track record, or some other similar organisation that is capable of maximising the considerable potential of Hafan?

Yours etc,

Tom Hughes, 24 Penlan Street, Pwllheli.

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