Christmas and New Year service changes

Rochdale Town Hall

Rochdale Borough Council has announced details of opening times over the Christmas and New Year period.

If you are telephoning the council about a none urgent enquiry, their contact centre closes at 5pm on Friday 24 December and reopens at 8am on 29 December. Lines close again at 8pm on 31 December, reopening on 4 January at 8am.

Most walk-in council customer service centre’s close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and re-open on Tuesday 4 January. Rochdale Customer Services will open on 29, 30 and 31 December. Milnrow Customer Services opens on 30 and 31 December. Littleborough and Langley Customer Service Centres close at 4.45pm on 23 December.

In Heywood, the reception at the Phoenix Centre closes at 3pm on Christmas Eve, but will be open on 29, 30 and 31 December.

If you urgently need to contact the council during the holidays there are some emergency telephone numbers you can call:

• Social care services - 0845 1212975
• Council house repairs - 0845 076 3636
• Any other services - 0845 121 2975

Libraries are closed from Christmas Day until 28 December and on New Year's Day. Darnhill Library will also be closed on Christmas Eve. On Wednesday 29 December - Heywood, Middleton and Wheatsheaf libraries will be open, but other libraries are closed. On Thursday 30 December all libraries will be open. On Friday 31 December, Darnhill Library and the Junction Community Library in Middleton are closed – all other libraries are open, but close early at 4pm. The mobile library finishes at 3pm. On Monday 3 January - libraries are also closed, and all re-open on 4 January.
The Municipal Offices in Rochdale will be closed on 25 - 28 December and 3 January.

Surestart Children’s Centres are closed from 25 – 28 December. Most are also closed on 29 December, although Sandbrook, Littleborough, Langley, Woodland, Meanwood CC, Moorhouse, Newbold, Castleton and Deeplish Centres will open.

On Thursday 30 December the following children’s centres are open - Sandbrook, Littleborough, Belfield, Langley, Derby Street, Kirkway, Moorhouse, Heybrook/Hamer and Castlemere. On New Years Eve - Boarshaw, Castlemere and Belfield children’s centres are open.

All main Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) offices are closed over the festive season – from 24 December to 3 January inclusive, but a 24 hour emergency callout service will be in operation - 0845 076 3636.

Sheltered Housing Wardens and Domestics will be on duty on the 29 and 30 of December during normal office hours. And throughout the Christmas season there will be a mobile warden on duty 24 hours a day.

The Vision for Kirkholt, Kirkholt housing office will be closed from 23 December and re-open on 4 January. The West Street Area Renewal Office will close on Christmas Eve and reopen on Tuesday 4 January.

There will be a Christmas market on Lower Yorkshire Street in Rochdale from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 December.

Main Link4Life leisure centres at Heywood Sports Village, Middleton Arena and Rochdale Central Leisure – together with Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre in Rochdale will open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day although on some days opening hours will be reduced. Littleborough Sports Centre will also close for one extra day on 27 December. Marland Golf Course will be open every day except Christmas Day. For more details contact your local centre or visit www.link4life.org
Hollingworth Lake Visitors Centre is open every day apart from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

There will be pantomime performances at Middleton Arena on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and the final day of the show – Monday, 27 December. Heywood Civic Centre will also be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for festive celebrations.
For full details of opening hours over the holiday and other council service changes visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/christmas

Paul Young, Head of Customers and Communications at Rochdale Borough Council said: “A number of our services will be closed, or running at a reduced level over the holidays, but we have emergency numbers available throughout the holiday period if people need to contact us urgently. I know some residents like to plan ahead so we are announcing our Christmas opening hours now, and full details are also available on our website www.rochdale.gov.uk/christmas.”