The new leader of Greenwich Council has said developers should be “brought back around the table” over the controversial ‘toxic’ cruise port.

The No Toxic Cruise Port for London group is the most recent opposition to the plans for Enderby Wharf, claiming ships docked there powering themselves could emit the same toxic fumes as hundreds of lorries.

Council leader Danny Thorpe previously backed the scheme, which includes housing developments, and has now been met with a revised campaign to sink the port without on-shore power.

Pressure over the proposals, which were first agreed in 2012 and then revised in 2015, split the Labour party during the local elections.

MORE: Campaign resurfaces against port plans

Cllr Thorpe said: “I don’t think air quality was on the agenda in quite the same way as it is now, we didn’t have quite the same level of engagement.

“We certainly need to have a conversation about ways we can deliver not just a terminal which is potentially green, but the whole river.

“We need to bring developers back around the table, as we know the site is up for sale. We’ve had meetings with developers and we will continue to press the case.

“The developer has been a bit quiet about this, I think they should be doing more to engage with the problems and with people’s concerns.”

Sadiq Khan urged the new council to “do the right thing” with Enderby Wharf at a meeting last week, and admitted he had “concerns” over the project.

Cllr Thorpe said: “I think it’s bigger than one development. As an industry they have a job to engage with concerns.

“I’d like to see Sadiq get more power to clean up the rest of the river. If you look at the ships that are coming up and down it, working with the Port of London Authority, there needs to be more power to clean up the Thames.”

Cllr Thorpe will meet with the Mayor’s office to discuss issues in the borough, including the terminal and safety problems with a roundabout in Woolwich Road.

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What the development could look like

The argument about the cruise terminal has rumbled on for years, with one campaign going as far as the high court before being thrown out.

The latest campaign has a petition that has topped 6,800 signatures.

It’s expected that once complete, a cruise liner could boost the borough’s economy by £25m a year.

According to the council’s website, the developer has been asked to make a “comprehensive package” of financial contributions totalling more than £11m for the whole scheme.

A spokeswoman for the campaign group said it was excellent news the new leader wanted a greener solution and was meeting about the port so quickly.

She said: “We hope that means onshore power to achieve the greatest reduction in emissions.

“We agree there needs to be a wider industry approach and that all cruise ships coming to London need to plug in. We have raised this issue with the Government, the Mayor and the Port of London Authority and will keep up the pressure.

MORE: Sadiq Khan wants council to 'do the right thing'

“But for now, we need to fix the problem in our own back yard. We hope the community, which has had this development hanging over them for the past three years, will be involved and consulted in finding a solution for Enderby Wharf that puts their health first.”