More than 1,300 Buckfastleigh residents voted no last week to plans to store and process incinerated ash at a quarry on its outskirts.

Voting slips were issued to 1,445 residents – almost half the electorate (2,904) – at a parish poll organised at residents' request by Teignbridge Council.

The result came down heavily against the scheme by Gilpin Demolition and MVV Environmental to house the plant at Whitecleave Quarry.

An MVV spokesman said this week the company was disappointed at the outcome but not surprised.

Gilpin hopes to take ash from a proposed waste incinerator at Devonport and recycle it at the Buckfastleigh site.

It has maintained the process is safe but opponents – including residents, the town council and Dartmoor national Park Authority – fear the escape of 'toxic dust' and disruption caused by extra lorry movements.

MVV claims it is a safe process.

Fewer than 100 people backed the plans at the poll and five ballot papers were rejected.