Westmorland and Furness Council will continue to provide key services over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays but some of its offices will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2023 and 1 January 2024. Limited offices will be open on 27, 28 and 29 December.
Their main switchboard number (0300 373 3300) will close at 5pm on 22 December and reopen from 27 - 29 December with limited customer services. It will then close at 5pm on 29 December and reopen on 2 January 2024 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.
Here are details of opening times, out of hours contacts and other relevant information:
Household Recycling and Waste Collections
If you live in the Eden or South Lakeland areas and your usual waste collection day is Monday 25 December, your collection will be made on Saturday 23 December (blue refuse bags in Eden). From Tuesday 26 December all collections through the week will then be one day later than normal. From Monday 8 January collections will go back to the normal day.
If you live in the Barrow area, collections will be a day later than usual from Tuesday 26 December. From Monday 1 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 (HWRCs) 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 6pm, 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.
All HWRCs which open on Sundays, will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
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 check opening times and activities on offer, visit the Better website for more details.
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 0333 240 1727.
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 Friday 22 December and 8.30am on Tuesday 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, please complete the highways online reporting form.
Archives, Libraries and Local Links
The Archive Centres and all libraries will be closed on 25, 26, 31 December 2023 and 1 January 2024.
Barrow and Kendal libraries will be open on 27 to 30 December. Penrith Library will be open on 27, 29, 30 December. All other libraries will be closed for the duration of the Christmas period. Normal hours resume from Tuesday 2 January 2024.
Registration Services
The Registration Service will be closed on the usual Bank Holidays during the Christmas and New 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 Citizens Advice Consumer Service Website.