A RECYCLING centre that has promoted sustainable community living for nearly 20 years could close because of a row with the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Proper Job in Chagford is a community reuse and recycling centre that takes good, clean recyclable materials or items which can be reused or composted. It has carried out its work for 20 years, but now Dartmoor National Park Authority says it needs planning permission for the building it uses.

Proper Job's retrospective application to site portable cabins for storage and retail at its site at Crannafords Industrial Estate, came before the Park development management committee last Friday.

It was recommended for refusal but the committee decided to defer the decision for 28 days to enable a site visit to take place.

The reasons for refusal, as recommended by officers are that the proposed change of use and portable cabins, by reason of their visual impact, would have a detrimental effect upon the character and appearance of this part of Dartmoor National Park.

They believe the visual harm caused by the development is not outweighed by the duty to have regard to the socio-economic impact of the development. The authority supports the scheme in principle but officers said the retail element of the facility has grown somewhat in recent years.

Angharad Barlow, director of Proper Job Ltd, said: 'I think it's good they will be doing a site visit; we want them to come and see it and see how it works. They can't really understand the practicalities of what needs to be done unless they see how we work. We hope they'll understand that particularly retail is essential for how we function.'

The initial project was set up by a group of allotment holders in 1993, wanting to recycle green waste and create a recycling facility for other items. The group initially focused on the rural skip service, salvaging green waste that could be re-used.

Proper Job Ltd was established in 1995, describing itself as a community business committed to the principles of sustainability and helping to create jobs. It now employs eight people on a full or part-time basis.