Changes to council services over Christmas and New Year

Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed details of opening times and service changes over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

A number of non-critical services will not be available from 5pm on Monday 24 December until Wednesday 2 January, although emergency phonelines will be in operation throughout.

If you need to contact the council urgently during the holidays, the emergency telephone number is 0300 303 8875.

Plans are in place to ensure roads are gritted and kept clear, should the wintry weather take a turn for the worse, and staff will be on standby in the event of an emergency.

Full details of the changes are available at www.rochdale.gov.uk/Christmas

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Waste and recycling collection dates will change

If your usual bin collection date is Tuesday 25 December they will be collected on Monday 24 December. Bins normally collected on Wednesday 26 December will be collected on Thursday 27 December.

Bins normally collected on Thursday 27 December will be collected on Friday 28 December and if your usual collection date should have been Friday 28 December it has moved to Saturday 29 December.

Bin collection days from Tuesday 1 January until Friday 4 January have also moved to the following day, so put your bin out a day later than usual.

Normal service resumes from Tuesday 8 January.

The council will collect any extra recycling but please ensure paper and cardboard are flattened and secured next to your bin and that mixed recycling (glass, plastic bottles and cans) are in a clear container next to the bin. Large items such as cardboard boxes should be folded down to make them as manageable as possible. 

After Christmas you can recycle your real tree by putting it inside or by your brown bin.  You can also take it to one of 25 recycling points located across the borough. Check www.rochdale.gov.uk/Christmas for the locations.

If you're phoning about a non-urgent enquiry, the council contact centre will be open 8.30am-4pm on Monday 24 December, Thursday 27 December, Friday 28 December and Monday 31 December. For all times between these dates you can contact their emergency phone line for emergency calls only.

You can report a wide range of different issues at www.rochdale.gov.uk/forms

Libraries and customer service points open until 4pm on Monday 24 December then close until Wednesday 2 January.

Adult Care will continue to deliver services for vulnerable people throughout.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are open as usual up to Monday 24 December  (please check timetables for the individual centres) and then closed - with the exception of well-baby clinics and  pre-booked ante-natal/post-natal appointments - until Wednesday 2 January 2019.

Children’s Social Care Services will continue to operate throughout and can be contacted on 0300 303 0440. To report a concern about a child or adult outside of working hours, at weekends or during Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 303 8875. If it’s an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Police.

Household Waste Centres (Chichester Street, Rochdale and Spring Vale, Middleton) are open every day, apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Rochdale Town Hall and the Clock Tower Dining Room are closed to the public until Wednesday 2 January 2019.

Main Link4Life leisure centres including Heywood Sports Village, Middleton Arena and Rochdale Central Leisure – together with Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre in Rochdale, open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day although on some days opening hours will be reduced.

Marland Golf Course will be open every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

For more details contact your local centre or visit www.link4life.org

Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre, café and toilets are open every day except Christmas day, 9.30am to 5pm.

Rochdale Register Office is closed from Monday 24 December until Wednesday, 26 December.  It opens on Thursday 27 December, Friday 28 December and Monday 31 December, 9am – 4.15pm, closes on Tuesday 1 January and then open from Wednesday 2 January as normal.

Council Leader Allen Brett said: “As always we will continue to provide essential services for people who need them most but there will be changes for many other services. Details are available online so do check our website and of course we’ll update the website if there are any last minute changes.

"Some services have amended opening times but, as always, we have emergency numbers available throughout the holidays so you can contact us if it’s urgent.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone all the very best for Christmas and the new year.”

Full details of service changes are available at

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/christmas