The Green Party group on Cornwall Council has entered what it calls the "unnecessarily polarised" debate over the future of Falmouth Docks.
Balaena (A&P) has submitted a £150 million plan to redevelop the docks. If approved, it would include new wharves, an area for building floating offshore windfarms, and enhanced berth capacity for alongside docking to improve cruise ship and cargo capacity.
The proposal could see up to 200,000 passengers visit the port each year by 2030, boosting the local economy by an additional £13 million and creating more than 350 jobs.
However, the proposal, which is due to be decided by Cornwall Council, has led to protests, a public meeting attended by hundreds of residents, and concerns about the ecological impacts of dredging the harbour.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust, local fishermen and members of the Stop the Dredge campaign are among those concerned about highly toxic pollutants being introduced into the Fal Estuary and Falmouth Bay during dredging.
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Green councillors Drew Creek, Karen La Borde and Dean Evans believe Balaena should seriously consider withdrawing the current application and bringing forward a revised scheme focused on reconstruction and modernisation of the docks without the extensive capital dredging.
They say their position can be summarised simply: Rebuild the docks. Renew the wharves. Strengthen Falmouth's maritime future. Reconsider the capital dredging.
"Should the current application proceed, we ask members of the strategic planning committee to examine each element of the proposal separately and to ensure that the environmental impacts and public benefits of the capital dredging are assessed independently from the essential reconstruction of the docks," said the Green group.
The councillors added that too often the discussion has been presented as a choice between supporting the redevelopment or opposing the dredging. "We believe there is a more balanced and constructive way forward.
"We fully recognise that Falmouth Docks require significant investment. The wharves are ageing and require reconstruction if Falmouth is to retain its position as one of Britain's leading ship repair and marine engineering facilities.
"We also recognise the opportunities presented
Greens Say Docks Debate Unnecessarily Polarised