Cornwall Ferries Ltd in Falmouth is now to ask the Penryn Harbour Authority to dredge the area around Ponsharden Quay to allow the park and float service to be used around the clock.

Carrick District Council would have to shoulder the cost of the work, estimated to be about �100,000.

But environmental groups say they are concerned that dredging will threaten the wildlife that borders the area, which is designated a European area of conservation.

We are only talking about a 100 yards of dredging Toby Budd, Cornwall Ferries Ltd

Toby Budd, operations manager of Cornwall Ferries Ltd, said they were having to turn customers away every day and that getting people to use to the service was vital to the future of the town.

He said dredging would have a minimal environmental impact.

He said: "We are only talking about a 100 yards of dredging and a channel that only needs to be 12 foot wide, so I can't see it having a huge effect on local wildlife."

In a statement, English Nature made it clear it would have to be consulted about the work.

It said: "The key concern is that the dredged silt could contain contaminated sediments that would have to be dumped at sea.

"But, broadly, there are benefits to the project in terms to its commitment to sustainable transport."

Carrick District Council's head of maritime services, Andy Brigden, said the process would take around six to nine months to just get permission to dredge .

You obviously want to have a return on your dredging costs Andy Brigden, Carrick District Council

He said: "We have to look and see how much dredging it would entail and whether or not it could be disposed of at sea properly.

"So that involves all kinds of licensing and testing to make sure that that deposit isn't dangerous to the sea bed.

"It's not simply a matter of 'it's a good idea, lets do it'. Dredging costs significant sums of money, and you obviously want to have a return on your dredging costs."

Cornwall Ferries Ltd hopes to have the work done over the winter months before the summer brings more visitors to the county.

The company says the environmental cost of the dredging must be offset against the need to get cars off the county's roads.