RESIDENTS in Buckfastleigh go to the polls today (Thurs) to say 'yes' or 'no' to an incinerator bottom ash processing plant in Whitecleave Quarry, which some fear could become a toxic dump.

Eye catching posters drawing attention to the poll are attached to virtually every lamp post and available space calling for people to vote on the town's most controversial issue for years.

MVV Environment Ltd has won permission for an energy from waste combined heat and power facility at Devonport's North Yard. It hopes to truck the ash to the Sam Gilpin Demolition Ltd quarry where it would be processed for embankments and underneath new roads in civil engineering schemes.

On Tuesday Buckfastleigh Community Forum called a press conference in the town hall to voice its latest concerns after months of sifting through the planning application documents.

Simon Rines, who chaired the meeting, said the processing plant would damage the tourist economy, the rural and farming economy, bring road safety dangers, cause health problems and have an effect on wildlife. He also believed it was creating a toxic legacy for future generations.

'Two local estate agents have declared that the plans will wipe between £10,000 and £20,000 from the value of houses in the town. It is estimated that £10 million plus will be wiped off the town's assets, mainly property prices, and that is a conservative estimate,' said Mr Rines.

One of the forum's main worries is the number of lorries travelling to and from the quarry and the dangers they bring.

Neil Smith said the company, in its applications, had said some 90 lorries daily would be going to the site, but that was an average for the year. Due to the potential demand of the waste, that figure could be between 200-400 at peak times in three week blocks. During those peak times the likely estimate was 250.

'We also do not know whether the lorries would be coming off the A38 at Dean Prior or at Dart Bridge, Buckfastleigh,' added Mr Smith.

He pointed out that MVV's other plants operating in the UK were based in industrial areas and not in residential areas.

Sustainable community development expert Charlie McConnell said the community had worked hard to build the town up, but it was a fragile local economy, and the plant could only have a negative effect.

Some 93 businesses, most in Fore Street, had signed a petition opposing the plant, and the forum also revealed that it was still looking at legal challenges to the site.

Mr Rines said if people voted 'no' it would send a clear message to the county's planners.

A joint statement by Paul Carey, managing director of MVV Environment Devonport Ltd, and Georgina Gilpin, finance manager, of Sam Gilpin Demolition Ltd, said: 'We noted comments made by Buckfastleigh Community Forum in relation to the parish poll. Unfortunately their flyer and letter to residents contain a number of misleading and inaccurate statements. Similar erroneous claims made in a number of newspaper advertisements last year are currently being investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

'The decision on the planning application for a recycling centre at Whitecleave Quarry will be made by the county's planning committee in due course, taking into account all the facts and responses from statutory consultees.

'No doubt they will consider all representations made to them. We shall continue to work with the local community to inform people in Buckfastleigh about our intentions. We also work closely with the council, and have recently been requested to submit further information which we shall be providing this week.

'The council will then consult further on that information and make its decision based on the facts.'

Later Mrs Gilpin said that blasting trials had been held on February 15 to see how the vibrations would impact on the surrounding area, while ongoing ecology surveys were being carried out month to month, and a health impact assessment had been conducted with Devon County and Teignbridge Councils, the NHS Trust and the community forum was involved.

Thursday's poll, which is not legally binding and organised by Teignbridge Council is being held between 4pm-9pm and no poll cards are required.