Calderdale Council is to allocate funding for a radical remodelling of the waste management site at Eastwood.

The site, situated between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, is currently used as a Household Waste Recycling Centre handling 5,500 tonnes of material a year. It is also used for transferring doorstep recycling collections from the Upper Valley onto larger vehicles.

Calderdale Council Cabinet (Monday, April 2) voted in favour of proposals which will make the site safer, easier to use, and reduce the problems caused by occasional queuing of traffic onto the busy A646 which adjoins the site.

Following extensive consultation over the last year the proposed plan will see demolition of the existing waste sheds with the site at Eastwood being used in future purely as a Household Waste Recycling Centre for the general public. The site will be re-ordered with clear separation of the general public and larger vehicles.

Re-cyclates collected at the doorstep in the Upper valley will be transferred to larger vehicles in Halifax, reducing the intensity of use at Eastwood.

Detailed planning consent will be sought with tenders worked up this year for a start on construction early in 2013.

Subject to identifying grant aid through the Landfill Tax Credits system, additional work involving improvement of the vehicular access to Victoria Terrace at Eastwood could be included in the project.

The decision, which follows extensive consultation, will lead to improved safety and recycling levels at Eastwood. At the same time it has the potential to improve local amenity, including the bus stop and access ways for local residents.