Residents in County Durham are being reminded that Customer Access Points and most other county council buildings will be closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Customer Access Points will close at 12.45pm on Tuesday, 24 December and reopen at 8.30am on Thursday, 2 January 2020.
In the event of an emergency, residents can still contact the council on 03000 26 0000 or use the 24/7 automated payments line on 0300 456 2771.
If you are concerned about someone who is vulnerable or at risk, you should contact Social Care Direct on 03000 267 979. The service will be open across the Christmas and New Year period.
Online services will still be accessible over the festive period but requests may not be processed until council offices reopen on Thursday, 2 January.
Register offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Bishop Auckland and Durham register offices will be open between these dates for appointments only. To make an appointment call 03000 26 6000.
Leisure centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. They will also close early at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, except for Abbey Leisure Centre, which will close early at 11.30am on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, and will also be closed on Sunday, 29 December. The Riverside Sports Centre, Chester-le-Street will be closed from Monday, 23 December and will reopen on Thursday, 2 December.
Libraries will operate normal opening times on Monday, 23 December but will be closed from then on until Thursday, 2 January, when normal opening times will resume.
Pathways day centres for adults will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Hawthorn House short-break service will be closed from Monday 23 December until Friday 27 December.
Family centres will close or have restricted opening times over the Christmas period. Users are advised to contact their local centre before Christmas to check when it will be open.
The council’s Welfare Assistance Service will be closed on Bank Holidays and weekends and will be open reduced hours, from 8.30am to 12noon on Christmas Eve, and from 9am to 3pm on Friday, 27 December, Monday, 30 December and Tuesday, 31 December. They can be contacted on 03000 267 900.
Sevenhills DLI research and study centre, in Spennymoor has now closed to visitors and will reopen at 10am on Thursday, 2 January.
Durham County Record Office has now closed to visitors, for collections management to take place, and will reopen at 8.45am on Monday, 6 January. Email and telephone enquiries can still be answered on weekdays before Tuesday, 24 December and from Thursday, 2 January.
The Park and Ride service will not operate during any of the bank holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. It will operate as normal, from 7am to 7pm, on all other days except Sunday 29 December.
Visit www.durham.gov.uk/festive for more information and updates on Durham County Council services during the festive period.
Residents can also keep up-to-date with any changes to council services by following @durhamcouncil on twitter or /durhamcouncil on Facebook.
