Sluicing will be reintroduced in Hayle Harbour as part of plans to regenerate South Quay and Carnsew.

The decision will be made in September when plans go in front of Cornwall Council.

Hayle sluices are unique, there are the remains of some 15 other sluices in Britain, but none in the condition and form of that at Hayle. The restoration will provide a unique historic working sluice, which will perform the practical function of dredging out the channel.

The Sluicing is crucial to the future operation of Hayle Harbour and without sluicing the Harbour faces a bleak future.

The possibility of restoring the sluices has been welcomed by Hayle Harbour Users and campaign group Save Our Sands (SOS) who have seen dredging as an unsustainable option.

Anne-Marie Rance, a member of SOS and a Scientific advisor explained that the Lobby Group was preparing a sluicing protocol for the operation of the sluice gates.

"The reintroduction of sluicing is one of our main goals, so this is very good news. If and when it is up and running it would be the most unique sluice in the UK and the only sluice that would work in the way they used to work when they were first created in Britain," she explained.

"It will be quite spectacular having the sirens going again. It would reflect our Hayle heritage," she added.

ING spokesman Gary Cartmell said: "We believe that the harbour defines Hayle, and the future operation of the harbour is one of the most critical issues we are wrestling with at the moment."

"We see sluicing as a key component in the future viability of the harbour."

"For many people Hayle is identified by the harbour and we are putting in place a plan that will underpin the future operations of the port."

Rob Lello Chairman of Hayle Harbour Users' group said his group was 100 per cent behind the reintroduction of sluicing.

He said: "This is of paramount importance and if the price to pay for sluicing is for a development to be put on the quay our members have not got a problem with that."