Cumbria’s two councils have issued their annual reminder about their services over Christmas and new year.
Here’s your guide to what buildings are open, how your waste collection will operate over the festive period and when everything will reopen.
Cumberland Council
Household waste and recycling collections
People can check collection dates at https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleaning/waste-collections/find-your-bin-collection-day
There will be no waste and kerbside recycling collections on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December), and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January). Collections will take place on the following dates:
| Usual Collection Date | Collection Date |
| Tuesday 24 December 2024 | As normal |
| Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Friday 27 December 2024 |
| Thursday 26 December 2024 | Saturday 28 December 2024 |
| Friday 27 December 2024 | Sunday 29 December 2024 |
| Monday 30 December 2024 | As normal |
| Tuesday 31 December 2024 | As normal |
| Wednesday 1 January 2025 | Thursday 2 January 2025 |
| Thursday 2 January 2025 | Friday 3 January 2025 |
| Friday 3 January 2025 | Saturday 4 January 2025 |
Collections will return to their normal schedule on Monday 6 January 2025.
Household Waste Recycling Centres
All centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
For opening times and locations visit https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleaning/recycling/household-waste-recycling-centres-hwrcs
The permit helpline is closed on bank holidays and weekends.
For information on recycling centres, visit https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleaning/recycling/
Cumberland Highways
The Highways Hotline (0300 373 3736) will be unavailable on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January).
Duty highway managers will be on standby in case of emergencies over the bank holidays.
Calls will be diverted to an answer phone service with emergency contact information. Residents can report problems relating to potholes, road damage, flooding, drainage, traffic lights, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, trees, vegetation, bollards, manhole covers and more at https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/streets-roads-and-pavements
Health and Social Care
Residential and home care services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Adult Social Care offices will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January).Contact the social care out of hours emergency service (01228 526690), 24-hours a day, for adult social care emergencies. Further information is available at https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/health-and-social-care
Children’s Services (for children’s social care)
Children’s services offices will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January). The Emergency Duty Team (0333 240 1727) can be contacted 24 hours a day for children’s social care emergencies.
Archives, Libraries and Local Link offices
Cumberland libraries will continue to provide key services, including select and collect, online services and home delivery services.
Book browsing, borrowing and returns will be available in some locations – please check the Cumberland Council website for details of opening hours and available services at your local library. Other essential services can also be accessed at your library, including adult education courses and registrars.
The Archive Centres (Carlisle and Whitehaven) and all libraries will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December), New Year’s Eve (Tuesday 31 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January).
Carlisle Library will be open on the following days:
- Tuesday 24 December, 9am – 1pm
- Friday 27 December 2024, 9am – 5.30pm
- Saturday 28 December 2024, 9am – 4pm
- Monday 30 December 2024 9am – 5.30pm
- Tuesday 31 December 2024 9am – 1pm
Whitehaven Library will be open on the following days:
- Tuesday 24 December, 9am – 1pm
- Friday 27 December 2024, 9am – 5pm
- Saturday 28 December 2024, 10am – 2pm
- Monday 30 December 2024 9am – 5pm
- Tuesday 31 December 2024 9am – 1pm
Workington Library will be open on the following days:
- Tuesday 24 December, 9am -1 pm
- Friday 27 December 2024, 9am – 5pm
- Saturday 28 December 2024, 9am – 2pm
- Monday 30 December 2024 9am – 5pm
- Tuesday 31 December 2024 9am – 1pm
All other libraries will be closed for the duration of the Christmas period.
Normal hours resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.
For details of the opening times and services available, please visit https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives
Registration Services
The Registration Service will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January).
Trading Standards
Cumbria Trading Standards’ Consumer Direct helpline (08454 04 05 06) will be closed on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) and New Year’s Day (Wednesday 1 January).
Leisure centres
For leisure centre opening times and information, visit https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/cumberland
Building opening times
- Civic Centre, Carlisle: closed to the public from 4pm on Christmas Eve. Reopens at 9am on Thursday 2 January.
- Cumbria House, Carlisle: closed to the public from 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed on bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).
- Allerdale House, Workington: closed from 12noon on Tuesday 24 December. Reopens at 9am on Thursday 2 January.
- Market Hall, Whitehaven: closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December. Reopens at 9am on Thursday 2 January.
Online services will be available at www.cumberland.gov.uk
The main customer number (0300 373 3730) will be available until Tuesday 24 December but there will be a reduction in service from 12pm onwards.
It will reopen on Friday 27 December at 9am. Between Friday 27 December and Tuesday 31 December there will also be a reduction in service.
There will be a recorded message advising of the closure period and out of hours contact numbers for highways, homelessness, and adults and children’s social care, should anyone be calling in an emergency.
Westmorland & Furness Council
Some offices will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. Limited offices will be open on 27, 30 and 31 December.
The main switchboard number (0300 373 3300) will close at 5pm on 24 December and reopen from 27, 30-31 December with limited customer services. It will then close at 5pm on 31 December and reopen on 2 January 2025 at 9am.
There will be a recorded out-of-hours message advising of the closure period and contact numbers for Highways, Homelessness, Adults and Children’s Social Care should anyone be calling about an emergency. The Westmorland and Furness Council website will provide all these details too.
Household recycling and waste collections
If you live in the Eden, or South Lakeland areas and your usual collection day is:
- Monday 23 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 21 December (blue refuse bags in Eden);
- Tuesday 24 December, your collection will be made on Monday 23 December;
- Wednesday 25 December, your collection will be made on Tuesday 24 December;
- Thursday 26 December, your collection will be made on Friday 27 December;
- Friday 27 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 28 December.
Collections on Monday 30 December and Tuesday 31 December will be on the normal day.
From Wednesday, 1 January all collections through the week will then be one day later than normal.
From Monday 6 January collections will go back to the normal day.
If you live in the Barrow area and your usual collection day is:
- Tuesday, 24 December, your collection will be made on Tuesday, 24 December;
- Wednesday 25 December, your collection will be made on Friday 27 December;
- Thursday 26 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 28 December;
- Friday 27 December, your collection will be made on Monday 30 December.
Collections on Tuesday 31 December will be on the normal day.
From Wednesday 1 January all collections through the week will then be one day later than normal.
From Monday 6 January collections will be on the normal day.
Residents can check their waste collection dates on the Westmorland and Furness Council website
Recycling
Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open as usual throughout the festive season but they will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Opening hours are as follows:
- Ambleside: 8am – 6pm, Monday-Sunday
- Barrow: 8am to 11am – 12pm to 4.30pm, Monday-Sunday
- Penrith (Flusco): 8am – 6pm, Monday-Sunday
- Grange-over-Sands: 8am – 4pm, Thursday-Saturday
- Kendal: 8am – 4pm, Monday-Sunday
- Kirkby Stephen: 8am – 6pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
- Ulverston: 8am – 6pm, Monday-Sunday
- The HWRC permit helpline will be closed on bank holidays and weekends.
Centres open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will close at 4pm.
Health and Social Care
Residential and home care services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Adult Social Care offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
If you’re concerned about the welfare of an adult, please visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website or call 0300 373 3301.
When offices are closed, please use the out of hours number to report a safeguarding concern (01228 526 690) – this can be used 24-hours a day for adult social care emergencies.
Children’s Services (for children’s social care)
The children’s services offices will also be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
During closure periods, the Emergency Duty Team can be contacted 24 hours a day for children’s social care emergencies on 0300 373 2724.
For more information about what to do if you’re concerned for the welfare of a child, please visit the Cumbria Safeguarding Children website.
Homelessness
Young people or people providing support to young people who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless, should visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website for more information.
People who are at risk of eviction or homelessness or need support with housing, can find information and support by visiting westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.
Domestic abuse
Westmorland and Furness Council have a duty to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide services for victims in safe accommodation and to provide domestic abuse survivors with community in-reach services.
Visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website for more information on Domestic Abuse support.
Westmorland and Furness Highways
Between 5pm on Tuesday 24 December and 8.30am on Thursday 2 January, highways are operating a limited service prioritising reports of emergencies that cause immediate threat to life or property.
If you need to report a highways related emergency during this time, please call the Highways Hotline on 0300 373 3306.
To report general problems with potholes, road damage, flooding and drainage, traffic lights, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, trees, vegetation, bollards, manhole covers and more, complete the highways online reporting form.
Archives, Libraries and Local Link offices
The Archive Centres and all libraries will be closed on 25, 26 and 29 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.
Barrow, Kendal and Penrith libraries will be open on 27, 28, 30 and 31 December. All other libraries will be closed for the duration of the Christmas period. Normal hours resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.
Registration Services
The Registration Service will be closed on the usual Bank Holidays during the Christmas and New Year period.
Trading Standards
Trading Standards offices will be closed on the usual Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Residents should report any live incidents of cold callers or rogue traders to Cumbria police by telephoning 101 or emailing 101@cumbria.police.uk.
For guidance on a wide range of customer issues visit the Citizens Advice Consumer Service website.
Council housing repairs
The 24-hour service to report urgent Council housing repairs in the Barrow area will continue to be provided by calling 01229 833311.
Leisure centres
Some Westmorland and Furness Council leisure centres will be open over the festive season – but there may be some changes to normal opening hours.
To find out the opening times and activities on offer, please visit the leisure centres’ websites.
