An ambitious new project to dredge the Penryn river could see a new commuter ferry service running between Truro, Falmouth and Penryn.

On Monday night Penryn Town Council heard of a vision to regenerate the town's waterfront, along with the waterfront in Truro, by dredging channels in the two rivers to allow a fast catamaran ferry to provide a quick, green alternative to car travel.

David Pollard is the man with the plan, called the Jigsaw Project, who told councillors that the project would "open up Penryn's front door" along the riverside by dredging a narrow, two metre deep channel to Exchequer Quay, encouraging tourism, commuters and recreational water users.

He said: "It is called the Jigsaw Project because it's not only about Penryn but Truro and others as well, although it's my belief Penryn has the most to gain from it.

He added: "The river is a fantastic asset, not being used as it could."

Mr Pollard hopes a proposed new pontoon at Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth could be one part of an overarching scheme, which would also include dredging from Ponsharden to Exchequer Quay in Penryn and Newham Lock or Malpas to Town Quay in Truro, allowing access at all states of the tide.

Instead of picking up the costs of running a commuter service, which would he estimated would take around an hour with potential stops including Flushing, Mr Pollard said the towns could issue a license and out the service out to tender by local operators.

He also floated the idea of a possible walkway allowing greater access to the riverside behind Jubilee Wharf and properties on Commercial Road, and said the plans could open up Penryn to visitors from cruise ships that dock in Falmouth.

As well as rejuvenating Penryn, Mr Pollard said the project would prevent further silting which would make Penryn a "no-go area for water traffic" within 50 to 100 years, and would also be important for flood mitigation as it allowed for water run off from the land to pass through. He cited areas such as East Anglia and Somerset where silt was dredged and then used to build natural habitats elsewhere.

Councillor Martin Mullins said it was an "excellent project" that Penryn has been "crying out for," but said it would have to be carried out at once and asked how it would be funded. He was told that if the council could put together a well planned scheme it could get European funding, and the second round of governmental coastal communities funding could soon be offered to Cornish projects.

Meanwhile Councillor Rich Mitchell said he was concerned about the potential ecological impact on sensitive sites in the river.

Mr Pollard reiterated that the dredging would only restore the channel that had been there before, and would be subject to approval by the Marine Management Organisation.

He also told councillors that unlike in previous years, dredging would not need to be ongoing, but for such a small channel it would be a matter of years, not weeks or months.

He later told the Packet: "The presentation at Penryn Town Council was well received in principle, but the next step would be to get in to the detail and also enter in to more detailed consultations, including with other affected and potential beneficiary communities, such as Malpas & Truro."