There is still a glimmer of hope for Buckfastleigh's threatened recycling centre.

Bulley Cleaves has been earmarked for closure under county council's cost cutting measures.

Contractor Julian Sanders runs the centre on its behalf.

County Cllr Stuart Barker has asked officers to explore all options and consult with the local communities and the contractor before making a decision.

'We need to see what alternatives are available,' said Cllr Barker.

'Locally the view is residents would like to see a gate fee, but this isn't allowed for just domestic waste.

'We need to explore whether the contractor would run the site on a commercial basis. With the right planning permission and licenses it could accept trade waste and charge a gate fee for domestic waste.

'Gardeners who work locally for example wouldn't then have to travel so far to dump their waste.

'I've spoken with the cabinet member and I am making sure we have looked at all ideas.

'The site was closed by the previous administration more than four years ago for the same reasons it could shut now. I was involved in getting it reopened then, but the difference now is we are in a different financial time and back then there were more resources available.

'I can confirm no decision has been made at the moment on the future of the site.'

Buck the Trend Environmental Group, which has been campaigning to save the site, is thrilled progress has been made.

'We are pleased that Cllr Barker is involved,' said Steve Bamford, secretary. 'Ideally we'd like a consultation or meeting.

'We are concerned that if the site closes there will be job losses and we'd lose a local employer.'

MP for Central Devon Mel Stride has written to the environmental group this week saying he has contacted the leader of Devon County Council asking that all possibilities are fully considered before a final decision is made on the centre.

Buckfastleigh and Ashburton town councils also want to see the site remain open.

'I feel really upbeat about it and I am confident things will pan out,' said Cllr Graham Squires, of Buckfastleigh Town Council, who spearheaded a petition to keep the centre open.

'Having spoken with people in the town they want the site to remain open and don't mind paying a small amount on the gate if they have to.'