Council office closures and updates

Christmas and New Year office closures and updates

We'll update this page when we have further information relating to the changes for the 2024 festive period.

Contact Centre over the festive period

If you're phoning us about a non-urgent enquiry, our contact centre will be open:

  • Thursday, 21 December 2023, 8.30am–5.30pm
  • Friday, 22 December 2023, 8.30am–4pm
  • Saturday, 23 December 2023 - Tuesday, 26 December 2023, emergencies only
  • Wednesday, 27 December 2023 - Friday, 29 December 2023, 8.30am–4pm
  • Saturday, 30 December 2023 - Monday, 1 January 2024, emergencies only
  • Tuesday, 2 January 2024, the contact centre will open as usual at 8.30am

Get in touch with the Contact Centre:


Number One Riverside over the festive period

There will be some changes to the opening hours for Number One Riverside over the Christmas and New Year period, as follows:

  • Open 10am-1pm on Saturday, 23 December 2023 for library services only and then closed to the public until Tuesday, 2 January 2024. 
  • Some services may close earlier; please check with the individual service for more information.

Libraries and customer service centres over the festive period

Customer service centres will close at 5pm on Friday, 22 December 2023 and reopen on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

All libraries will be open between 10am-1pm on Saturday, 23 December 2023 and will then reopen on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

You can still borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers 24 hours a day as well as access other library online services.


Adult Social Care Services over the festive period

If you need help on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day, please ring our emergency number.

Service will continue as usual on other days and if you need assistance, please ring our non-emergency number between 8.45am-4.45pm.


Bin collections over the festive period

Bin collections over the Christmas and New Year period will be as follows:

  • Monday, 25 December 2023 (Christmas Day) – there are no scheduled bin collections on Mondays
  • Tuesday, 26 December 2023 (Boxing Day) – if your bin collection is scheduled on this date, please put your bins out on Saturday, 30 December 2023
  • Wednesday, 27 December 2023 – collections as normal
  • Thursday, 28 December 2023 – collections as normal
  • Friday, 29 December 2023 – collections as normal
  • Saturday, 30 December 2023 – we will collect on this day if your scheduled bin collection was due on Tuesday, 26 December 2023 
  • Monday, 1 January 2024 (New Year's Day) – there are no scheduled bin collections on Mondays
  • Tuesday, 2 January 2024 – from this date, bin collections will operate as usual.

Along with your bin collection, we'll collect any extra recycling. We will not collect extra bags of general waste. You can take your general waste to one of our recycling centres.

Both recycling centres (tips) at Chichester Street in Rochdale and Spring Vale in Middleton are open every day apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.​


Coroners Office over the festive period

There will be some changes to the opening hours for the Coroners Office over the Christmas and New Year period, as follows:

  • Friday, 22 December 2023 – closed from 3pm
  • Monday, 25 December 2023 – closed
  • Tuesday, 26 December 2023 – closed
  • Wednesday, 27 December 2023 – regular opening time
  • Thursday, 28 December 2023 – regular opening times
  • Friday, 29 December 2023 – closed from 3.30pm
  • Monday, 1 January 2024 - closed
  • Tuesday, 2 January 2024 - regular opening hours

More information about the Coroners Office


Children's Social Care services over the festive period

Children’s Social Care services will continue to operate throughout the Christmas and New Year period:

  • Contact Children's Social Care - call 0300 303 0440
  • Outside of working hours, weekends or on bank holidays - contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 303 8875
  • If it’s an emergency - dial 999 and ask for the police

Council Tax Direct Debits over the festive period

The dates for the collection of Council Tax Direct Debits will change slightly during Christmas and New Year.

Direct Debit due Instalment will be taken
Friday, 22 December 2023 Friday, 22 December 2023
Monday, 25 December 2023 Wednesday, 27 December 2023
Friday, 29 December 2023 Friday, 29 December 2023
Monday, 1 January 2024 Tuesday, 2 January 2024

Housing benefit payments over the festive period

BACS payments and cheques due to be paid on bank holidays will be paid the day before the bank holiday.

There are no other changes to Housing Benefit payments.


Hollingworth Lake over the festive period

Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre is closed.

Hollingworth Lake cafe​ and toilets are open every day, 9.30am-5pm, except Christmas Day.


Leisure facilities over the festive period

There will be some changes to the opening hours of Your Trust leisure centres and venues, including Heywood Sports Village, Middleton Arena, Rochdale Leisure Centre and Touchstones Rochdale Arts and Heritage Resource Centre.


Public toilets over the festive period

Public toilets are closed on 25 December (Christmas Day).

They're open every other day (including New Year's Day) as usual.​


Register Office over the festive period

Rochdale Register Office will be open for ceremonies by prior arrangement.

  • Friday 22 December 2023, open 9am-3pm
  • Saturday 23 December 2023–Tuesday 26 December 2023, closed
  • Wednesday 27 December 2023–Thursday 28 December 2023, open 9am–4.15pm
  • Friday, 29 December 2023, open 9am–3pm
  • Saturday, 30 December 2023–Monday 1 January 2024, closed
  • Tuesday, 2 January 2024, open 9am–4.15pm

If you require a Registrar urgently when the office is closed, please contact 0300 303 8875


School holidays and closures

Each school will get in contact with parents and pupils about school closures.


Warm Welcome Spaces over the festive period

There may be some changes to the opening hours of our Warm Welcome Spaces over the Christmas and New Year period.

We recommend you contact each organisation before attending.