A man has been charged with criminal damage after allegedly going on a JCB rampage at a council run rubbish tip.
Calderdale Council said the Eastwood Recycling Centre would now be closed until November following the incident, which saw extensive damage caused by a JCB digger and a cabin set on fire.
Police were called to the site on Saturday morning and arrested a 50-year-old man at the scene.
The man – believed to be a member of staff – will appear before Calderdale Magistrates on Wednesday.
Chief Insp Viv Cutbill, of Calderdale Police, said: ‘Police were called to an address in Halifax Road, Todmorden at 7.44am on Saturday to reports of a cabin on fire and damage caused by a JCB.
‘Officers attended and the road was closed for a short time.’
Calderdale Council tweeted pictures of the devastation later that day.
The town hall’s cabinet member for economy and environment, Cllr Barry Collins, said the town hall was ‘doing all we can to get Eastwood back up and running as quickly as possible’.
‘November is the estimated reopening date because it will take time to carry out the repairs to the best possible standard, and to get hold of the required equipment and materials,’ Cllr Collins said.
The incident came just seven months after major renovations were completed at the recycling centre.
