Wakefield Council: From bin collections to libraries this is when services will be closed over Christmas

Plans are also in place to ensure the roads are gritted and kept clear, should the wintry weather take a turn for the worse, and staff are on standby in the event of an emergency.

Staff will be working throughout the holiday to ensure our residents, who need care at home, in residential care or children’s social work, are supported over the holiday season.

Andrew Balchin, Interim Chief Executive at Wakefield Council said: “We will have staff available in the event of any emergencies or severe weather who can be contacted 24/7 through customer services, as we have in previous years. Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.”

Here is a handy reference guide to the opening times

Town Hall, County Hall and Wakefield One

Closed from 5pm Christmas Eve and reopens at 9am on January 4.

Bin Collections

Each household will have received an updated collection calendar for the festive period and 2021. If you’re still uncertain, check the Where I Live page.

The Household Waste Recycling centres are open as normal over the festive period, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, when they will be closed.

People are advised to only go to the Household Waste Recycling Centres if it is essential.

Centres are exceptionally busy at the moment so please try and avoid peak times between Christmas and the New Year if possible. Please consider using the South Kirkby recycling facility which is less busy and we ask if it is busy to please not wait or queue on the road.

Libraries, Pontefract Castle

All libraries close on Christmas Eve at noon (or their Tuesday/Wednesday closing time if they don’t open on a Thursday) and reopen on Monday, January 4 or their next opening time after January 4.

Pontefract Castle closes at noon on Christmas Eve and reopens on Saturday, January 2.

The Café is open Wednesday – Sunday for takeaways only, it closes for Christmas at the end of the day on Sunday 20 December 2020, reopening Wednesday, January 6.

Leisure Facilities

Pugneys Country Park:

Pugneys centre (including the toilets and boat house café) will close at 3pm on December 24, and reopen on December 27. They are closed on New Year’s Day, and reopen on January 2.

Car park and park - open as usual - from 7.30am to 7pm.

However, to help maintain social distancing due to COVID-19 – please consider visiting your local park.

City of Wakefield Golf Club - closed Christmas Day. Opening hours variable.

Sun Lane Leisure Centre and Minsthorpe Leisure Centre – closed from 2pm on Christmas Eve. They re-open on December 28 until December 31 with different operating hours. They will be closed again on New Year’s Day before fully re-opening on 2 January.

Normanton, Featherstone, and Pontefract Swimming Pool closed from 2pm on Christmas Eve and reopen January 2.

Bereavement Services

Closing at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day, Bank Holiday Monday, December 28 and New Year’s Day. Open normal hours on 29, 30, with the office closing at 3pm on December 31.

Wakefield and Pontefract Crematoria are closed on Christmas Day, Bank Holiday Monday, December 28 and New Year’s Day but the Crematoria grounds will remain open throughout the holiday period. The Chapels of Remembrance at both Wakefield and Pontefract Crematoria are currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions but the Books of Remembrance can be viewed online.

Registration Services

Closes at 3pm on Christmas Eve and will also be closed on Christmas Day, Saturday, December 26 and Monday, December 28.

Closes at 3pm on New Year’s Eve and will be closed on New Year’s Day.

An on-call team is available between 9am-10am for emergency burials on Saturday, December 26, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Normal working hours apply for all other dates.

Markets

All our market sites will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

There will be extra markets throughout December.

Customer Services

Telephone lines remain open 24 hours daily on 0345 8506 506. We would encourage residents to report non-urgent matters via My Account at https://myaccount.wakefield.gov.uk/

Social Care Direct

Remain available 24 hours daily on 0345 8 503 503.

All services fully open on January 4.