Two more business leaders in Falmouth's marine sector have pledged their support to plans to dredge a deep water channel into the port's docks.

When asked about their stance on Falmouth Harbour Commissioners' application for a licence to dredge by town councilllors, Paul Wickes, chief executive of the Cornwall Marine Network, and Diccon Rogers, director of KML, the company which has just taken control of Falmouth Wharves, were both quick to support the plans.

Speaking at a meeting of Falmouth Town Council on Monday night, Mr Wickes said: "If we dredge it will last for 35 years and after could lead to the creation of 1,500 new jobs, generally in the supply chain. This is an investment in the local economy. We have to have the dredge and we can do it in an environmentally fair way."

Mr Rogers said the dredge would not directly impact on his firm as the vessels they operate are not deep-draft vessels so can easily access Falmouth Wharves, which are located off North Parade, but said: "The dredge will benefit Falmouth. Access to and from the docks by deep draft vessels is vital and we absolutely support the dredging."

Town and Cornwall councillor, Candy Atherton, added: "We are coming to a critical moment in the dredging and we all need to stand together on this."

The harbour commissioners have submitted a detailed plan and environmental impact study to the Marine Management Organisation, the government's marine licensing body, and are now waiting to see whether permission will be granted for the dredge,

The Packet is supporting the application with its Pledge to Dredge campaign which has seen over 1,600 people signing petitions demanding that Cornwall Council gives its full support and financial backing to the dredging.