Council confirms arrangements for 2025/26 festive period

Residents across Bridgend County Borough are reminded that there will be changes to certain services offered by the council and its partners over the upcoming Christmas period.

The opening hours for Customer Services and Civic Offices will be as follows:

•    Monday 22 December: 8.30am - 5pm
•    Tuesday 23 December: 8.30am - 5pm
•    Christmas Eve: 8.30am - 4.30pm
•    Christmas Day: Closed
•    Boxing Day: Closed
•    Monday 29 December: 8.30am - 5pm
•    Tuesday 30 December: 8.30am - 5pm
•    New Year’s Eve: 8.30am - 4.30pm
•    New Year’s Day: Closed
•    Friday 2 January: Closed

On the closure days, residents are advised to visit the council’s website to find any information they are looking for. The My Account service will also be available for residents to report any issues to the council, so they can be resolved as soon as possible once normal services resume. 

Emergency out of hours support is also available through the council’s Customer and Community Support Unit (CCSU). To access this service, please phone the usual customer services phone number (01656 634634).
Waste and recycling collections will be carried out as normal on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but not on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. 

Collections that fall on Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) will be picked up on Saturday 27 December, while collections due on Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) will be picked up on Sunday 28 December. 

With no collections taking place on New Year’s Day, all waste and recycling due to be picked up on Thursday 1 January will be collected on Friday 2 January. As a result, residents whose usual collection day is a Friday, will have their collections made one day later on Saturday 3 January. After this, all waste and recycling collections will return to their regular schedule.

For the first collection after Christmas Day, each home will be able to put out an extra waste bag to help accommodate the additional rubbish that can accumulate over the festive season. Plan B will also have additional recycling vehicles out for collection, including extra vehicles to collect cardboard.  

All Community Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day but open as normal on all other days. Real Christmas trees can be recycled at all community recycling centres and can also be taken to Waterton Depot from 5 January. 

For anyone who would like to pay respects to loved ones, Coychurch Crematorium’s Chapel of Remembrance, Cloister and grounds will be open between 10.30am and 4pm on bank holidays and Sundays. On all other days, normal winter opening hours will be in operation (Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm) and (Friday-Saturday 9am-4pm). The entrance gates will be locked 10 minutes before the closing time.

Halo Leisure have also announced their festive opening hours and more information is available on their website. For details about library opening hours, visit Awen Cultural Trust’s website.

Sadly, for some families Christmas is not always a peaceful and joyous occasion. For those who have concerns about domestic abuse, a full list of emergency contact details and other guidance is available on the council’s website. Always call 999 in an emergency.

If you are worried about someone who may be sleeping rough, this can be reported by using the Street Link website. Doing so sends details through to the local authority or relevant outreach support, and attempts are then made to locate the rough sleeper and make sure they have access to a wide range of help.