PORTHMADOG councillors have supported controversial plans to create a major retail and hotel development in the town.

Morbaine Limited has submitted an application to develop two non-food retail units, one with ancillary garden centre, a Premier Inn hotel with a café/restaurant and associated parking at Penamser Estate.

Since the plans were announced they have received mixed reviews with some local businesses describing them as ‘another nail in the coffin’ for high street shops.

However, the plans have received support from Porthmadog Town Council with the hope they will boost the economy and provide jobs for local people.

Cllr Angharad ab Iorwerth said: “I understand this application is not going to be welcomed by everyone, but we as a council can’t object to everything.

“I think with this type of application we need to ask for support from Gwynedd Council so that what is opened up on the site doesn’t have a negative impact on the shops that are already here, we need to know that our local businesses won’t be affected.”

Cllr Simon Brooks said: “We have to support these plans, it is important for Porthmadog, we are already losing out to Pwllheli on many things so we need to support this for those reasons."

Read the full story in today’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian news