Christmas and New Year information 2022-23

Customer services

Our contact centre will be closed for general enquiries from 5pm on Friday 23 December to 9am on Tuesday 3 January.

If you are homeless tonight, have an urgent safeguarding concern, or need to report an issue causing an immediate danger to life or property damage, our emergency team are available 24/7 on 01752 668000.

All Council departments can be contacted via this website. 

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Rubbish and recycling

Household waste collections

Because Christmas falls on a weekend this year, collections from Monday 26 December will at least be one day later than normal.

Household waste recycling centres              

Chelson Meadow will be open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Weston Mill usually opens every Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Both Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill will close at 3.30pm on Christmas Eve. There will be no other changes to opening hours.

Christmas trees

We are not running Christmas tree collection points this year.

In previous years they have not been very well used so we've decided to put the resource into other services that are valued by residents.

You can still take your tree to either of our recycling centres at Chelson Meadow or Weston Mill.

Alternatively, if you fancy doing something creative, here are some tips for reusing your tree from the Royal Horticultural Society. 

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Libraries

Estover Library’s last day is Friday 16 December.

All other libraries will open as usual on the week commencing Monday 19 December.

Central Library will open between Christmas and New Year from:

• Wednesday 28 December 9am to 5pm
• Thursday 29 December
• Friday 30 December
• Saturday 31 December 10am to 4pm.

All of our libraries will return to their normal opening hours from Tuesday 3 January. Find a library and opening hours | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK

Many of our library services can be found online, including access to eBooks and audiobooks, magazines and newspapers.

Follow our libraries page on Facebook and Twitter for updates on the service.

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Register Office

Plymouth Register Office opening times:

• Saturday 24 December (Christmas Eve) Closed
• Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed
• Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed
• Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) Closed
• Wednesday 28 December 9am to 3.30pm
• Thursday 29 December 9am to 3.30pm
• Friday 30 December 9am to 3.30pm
• Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) Closed
• Tuesday 3 January Normal hours and services resume.

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School term dates

Schools will return on different dates so please check with your child's school directly.

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Transport

Local bus companies run special timetables over Christmas and the New Year and don't usually run on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day. Plan your bus journey to check when your local buses are running.

Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry

The bridge and ferry don't charge a toll from midnight on 24 December to midnight on 25 December.

The Torpoint Ferry timetable changes over Christmas and the New Year but the ferry runs every day including Christmas Day.

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Leisure centres and swimming pools

Find out the Christmas opening times on the websites below.

• The Life Centre 
• Brickfields Sports Centre
• Plympton Swimming Pool

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The Box

• Open until 23 December 10am to 5pm
• Closed from 24 to 27 December
• Open 28 to 30 December 10am to 5pm
• Closed 31 December to 2 January
• Open as usual from 3 January.

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm: Opening hours | The Box Plymouth

Admission is free and there’s no need to book.

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Public toilets

The following will be closed from 25 to 27 December, open from 28 to 31 December, then closed on 1 and 2 January before opening as normal from 3 January:

• Armada Way 
• Barbican
• Elphinstone
• Hoe Promenade
• West Hoe
• Cremyll
• Jennycliffe
• Mount Batten
• Coypool
• Central Park