The owners of Falmouth Docks have said plans to build student accommodation on the site of Ocean Bowl could jeopardise plans to improve rail links for exports from Cornwall's quarries.

A&P Falmouth has sent a second letter of objection to Cornwall Council planning officers, stating that plans to reopen rail links into the docks would require all night operation which would not be compatible with having residential properties on the Ocean Bowl site.

In a letter received last week by Cornwall Council's planning department, the company wrote that Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company was discussing with COLAS, the owners of Cornwall's largest inland quarry at Carnsew in Mabe, about increasing the export of aggregates from the site.

Drystan Jones, port operations director, wrote: "We have received an enquiry from COLAS to increase the amount of aggregates for export by sea but also by rail with the docks acting as a 'Rail Port' for deliveries onto the national network. This operation will involve creating a stock pile of aggregates in the vicinity of the rail had on port land then loading it by mechanical means to freight wagons on the railway siding. The rail freight operation would have to run through the night time due to the day time passenger services."

Mr Jones said he had been told by Network Rail that it would support the reconnection of a railway into the docks, and both Network Rail and A&P had concerns that any residential development on the Ocean Bowl site would be affected by noise and vibrations from the site.

He added that the docks could be used by other nearby quarries, and that the port had been designated for use as employment land, while the Cornwall Local Plan supports the growth of a "thriving" minerals industry in the county.

Historic England has also issued new comments on the plans, after receiving amended designs from the applicants, including reducing the tower block from seven to six storeys and mixing dormers with pitched and projecting flat roofs on the lower five storey section.

The group said: "We would remain of the view that the level of harm would remain the higher end of 'less than substantial,'" and added that the harm to the setting of nearby heritage assets should be weighed against the public benefits of the scheme.

Cornwall Council is holding a public meeting about the plans at 6pm on Wednesday, October 5, at Falmouth School.

Anyone who attends the meeting who wishes to express their views on the planning application to the central sub-area planning committee will be asked to register on arrival and will then be called upon to speak.

Council said the meeting will provide an opportunity for councillors to listen to the views of local people, although no decision will be taken on the night.

The application is due to be debated at a meeting of the committee on Monday, October 24.

The application can be found on the Cornwall Council online planning register, under reference PA16/05447.