Monday 21 December 2015

Council services over the Christmas period

We have received a circular today which sets out details of how council services will continue to operate over the festive period.

It also includes details of contact numbers to be used in the event of an emergency so we have reproduced the circular in full below (for more information on bin collections please see the post dated Tuesday 15 December 2015 on this site):

During the festive period Durham County Council’s customer access points and most council buildings will be closed.

The closures will begin on Christmas Eve and buildings will re-open on Monday 4 January.

Anyone who needs to contact the council in an emergency can do so by calling 03000 26 0000, or by reporting issues online at www.durham.gov.uk.

 Also, people can use the 24/7 automated payments line on 03000 456 2771.

Customer access points will close at 12.45pm on Christmas Eve and will re-open at 8.30am on Monday 4 January 2016.

Leisure centres, libraries and children centres opening times will vary over the festive period so people are advised to contact their local leisure centre, library or children’s centre before Christmas, to check their opening times.

Day centres for adults will remain open over Christmas, except on bank holidays.

Register offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day and will close at 12.45pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Bishop Auckland, Aykley Heads (Durham), Barnard Castle and Chester-le-Street register offices will be open between Christmas and New Year but will operate on an appointments basis only.  To make an appointment, people can phone 03000 266 000.

As part of the Travel Response Centre, the pre-bookable transport service to hospital appointments will remain open for telephone bookings. Other booking services are closed from 12.00pm on Christmas Eve until 8.30am Monday 4 January. For more information, contact 03000 269 999.

Household waste recycling centres (tips) will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

There will also be some changes to those bin collections which normally take place on Fridays. 

Collections which would have been due on Friday 25 December will instead take place on Monday 28 December. And collections due on Friday 1 January will be carried out on Monday 4 January.

All other collections, including those due on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, will not be affected.

Durham Park and Ride will be closed on 25, 26, 27 December and 1 January.