Changes to council services over Christmas and New Year

Details of Rochdale Borough Council’s opening times and service changes over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Most non-critical services will not be available from 4pm on Friday 24 December until Tuesday 4 January, although emergency phonelines will be in operation throughout. To contact the council urgently during the holidays the emergency 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.

Coronavirus vaccine clinics will be open during the holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
 

Read more: Local walk-in vaccination clinics in DecemberPublished: 16 December 2021

There are no changes to waste and recycling collection dates. The council will collect extra recycling waste only, extra bags of general waste should not be left out and will not be collected. 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 emptied and folded down to make them as manageable as possible. 

After Christmas you can recycle your real tree by putting it inside your brown bin. Remove the base and decorations and chop it down so it fits inside.  The trunk must be thinner than your wrist and the bin lid needs to close. Alternatively, you can take it to one of the recycling points located across the borough, or to one of the household waste and recycling centres. 

Christmas tree recycling points:

Rochdale

• Bentley Street, spare ground opposite Clarence Street, Rochdale OL12 6NE
• Bolton Road, Rochdale OL11 3NQ
• Caldershaw Road, Rochdale OL12 7LQ
• Castleton Community Centre Car Park, Manchester Road, Castleton OL11 3AF
• Norden Bus Terminus Play Area, Edenfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5TT
• Norden Road, Bamford, Rochdale OL11 5PW
• Wasp Avenue, Rochdale OL11 2AL

Middleton

• Alkrington Woods Car Park, Middleton M24 4EA
• Boarshaw Road, Middleton M24 2WQ
• Hollins Car Park, Nowell Road, Middleton M24 6FL
• Kirkway, just off Grimshaw Lane, Middleton M24 1EP

Heywood

• Bank Top – open space off Cherwell Avenue, Heywood OL10 4SY
• Higher Lomax Lane, Heywood OL10 4SL
• Hopwood Park, Manchester Road OL10 2PP
• Pennines
• Halifax Road, Smallbridge OL12 9AB
• Hare Hill Car Park, Littleborough OL15 9BG
• Milnrow Memorial Car Park OL16 4JF
• Wildhouse Lane lay-by area, Milnrow OL16 3JW

The council’s contact centre will be open from 8.30am to 4pm on Friday 24 December and then on 29, 30 and 31 December. On other dates until 4 January the emergency phone line will be staffed.

You can access many services online, get support and information, advice and report things 24 hours a day at www.rochdale.gov.uk

Libraries are open until 3pm on Friday 24 December then close until Tuesday 4 January. You can borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines 24 hours a day as well as accessing other library services online. 

Adult Care will deliver services for vulnerable people throughout. A team of staff will be working to deal with emergencies and ensure people are supported and cared for in an emergency.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are open as usual up to Friday 24 December  (please check timetables for the individual centres) and then closed - with the exception of well-baby clinics and pre-booked antenatal/post-natal appointments - until Tuesday 4 January 2022.

Children’s social care services will continue 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 Centre’s (Chichester Street, Rochdale and Spring Vale, Middleton) are open every day apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

There will be changes to the opening hours of Your Trust leisure centres – together with Touchstones Rochdale. For more details contact your local centre or visit www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk

Facilities at Hollingworth Lake, such as cafés or the Water Activity Centre, have their own individual opening times. Toilets are open every day, 9.30am-5pm, except Christmas Day.

Rochdale Register Office at Number One Riverside is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December, 28 December and New Year’s Day. On 29 and 30 December it will be open from 9am – 4.15pm and on 31 December from 9am – 3pm. If you require a Registrar urgently when the office is closed, phone 0300 303 8875. Normal service resumes on Tuesday 4 January.

Full details of service changes are available at www.rochdale.gov.uk/christmas