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 remain closed until further notice in line with government guidance.
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.
For any coronavirus related support, residents can contact County Durham Together, the community hub. From Monday, 21 December to Wednesday, 23 December, the hub will be open from 9am to 5pm. It will be closed from 11am on Christmas Eve and will reopen from 10am to 2pm from Tuesday, 29 December to Thursday, 31 December. It will then close until Monday, 4 January. The hub can be contacted by calling 03000 260 260 or emailing communityhub@durham.gov.uk.
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 Monday, 4 January.
Register offices will close at 1pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Monday, 28 December 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 from 4pm on Christmas Eve until Tuesday, 29 December. They will also close at 4pm on New Year’s Eve and will reopen on Saturday, 2 January, except for Abbey Leisure Centre, which will reopen on Monday, 4 January.
The Riverside Sports Centre, Chester-le-Street will be closed from Monday, 23 December and will reopen on Monday, 4 January.
The Libraries pick and collect service will be closed over the Christmas period however, eBooks, eMagazines and eAudio can still be borrowed through Library online. Users should check closing dates with their local library. The pick and collect service will reopen at 10am on Monday, 4 January.
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 10am on Christmas Eve until Monday 28 December.
Family centres are working in new ways to provide support with all buildings closed. Users are advised to call 03000 261 111 for advice, support and guidance.
The council’s Welfare Assistance Service will be closed on Bank Holidays and weekends and will be open reduced hours, from 8.30am to 12pm on Christmas Eve, and from 9am to 3pm on Monday, 28 December to Wednesday, 30 December. It will also be open 9am to 12pm on New Year’s Eve. The service can be contacted on 03000 267 900.
Sevenhills DLI research and study centre, in Spennymoor, remains closed until further notice due to coronavirus restrictions.
Durham County Record Office also remains closed due to coronavirus restrictions. However, staff are responding to online enquiries up to 5pm on Wednesday, 23 December. This service will then resume on Monday, 4 January. Information is available at www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk
The Park and Ride service will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Monday, 28 December or New Year’s Day. It will operate as normal, from 7am to 7pm, on all other days except Sunday, 27 December and Sunday, 3 January. On Boxing Day, there will be free parking in all council on and off-street parking bays and parking continues to be free after 3pm up to 31 December.
Some cafes will open for takeaway only. Wharton Park café will be open from 11am to 3pm every day other than Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when the café will close. The café at Hardwick Park will open from 10am until 3pm throughout the festive period, closing for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The Dales Centre Tea Rooms will close from Wednesday, 23 December and reopen at 11am on Monday, 4 January. The Locomotion Café and Museum will be closed.
Please note that some information may be subject to change should there be further updates to local and national coronavirus restrictions. For the latest coronavirus information, please visit www.durham.gov.uk/coronavirus
Residents can also keep up-to-date with any changes to council services by following @durhamcouncil on twitter or /durhamcouncil on Facebook.
