Local politicians are backing the campaign to stop the dumping of dredged material in Whitsand Bay, following a public demonstration at Rame Head.

Around 300 people turned out in torrential rain to show their support, carrying banners, singing songs, and forming a human chain in front of the bay.

Organiser Deb Hoskin said: 'It was amazing the number of people who came – children as well as adults.

'It shows the strength of feeling about dumping in the bay.'

A cross-party group of Cornwall councillors, together with MP Sheryll Murray and representatives of environmental organisations, met Environment Minister George Eustice, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment, to brief him on their concerns.

Local politicians representing communities in Whitsand Bay, Torpoint and Looe have united in their call for the use of an alternative, deeper site.

An area from Rame Head to Looe Island has been designated a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ).

'The dredging is vital to maintain the Plymouth dockyards, upon which so many jobs rely,' said Mrs Murray.

'What I want to see is a different site used for the dumping.'

Dredging company Boskalis Westminster, working on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, currently has an application in to renew a licence to deposit up to 367,000 tonnes of spoils from Devonport at the Rame Head disposal site.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which grants such licences, has said it is monitoring the Rame Head site and 'would take action if there was evidence that (the dumping) was having significant effects on the environment'.

The onus is on an applicant to supply information relating to conservation and to propose alternative sites for disposal. The Boskalis Westminster application, while making reference to the Tamar Estuary conservation area, does not mention the Whitsand Bay Marine Conservation Zone.

The company says it has looked into the possibility of putting some, or all, of the dredged material to alternative use, such as land reclamation, but it had 'excluded this option' for the current application.

It says: 'Natural England confirm the possibility for reuse but advise there are no schemes available or planned which would allow the material to be used at the time the dredging is to be carried out. Nevertheless, we are willing and interested to participate in such schemes should a suitable opportunity arise.'

Cornwall councillor and campaign group member Brian Hobbs said: 'An alternative site has been suggested. Why can't the MMO use its power to instruct these companies to investigate alternatives?

'There are elevated contaminates in Whitsand Bay. The object of the Marine Conservation Zone is to improve the quality of the area.

'More dumping will be to the detriment of the area and our children and grandchildren will reap the results.'