Wiltshire Council services at Christmas - everything you need to know

Wiltshire Council services and opening times will vary over the Christmas and New Year period.

All council services and facilities will be closed on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January 2025.

Customer Services/council offices:

All customer service desks and council buildings will be closed on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January 2025.

Opening times on Friday 27 December, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December will be 9am to 5pm. Although the main reception desks will be staffed during this period, hub staffing is likely to be limited. Opening hours will return to normal from Thursday 2 January.

Waste collections:

Waste and recycling collections will be delayed over the Christmas period, with waste collection crews not working on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January 2025. Residents should check their online collection calendar which is updated with their revised collection dates at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling

Garden waste collections will cease for two weeks over Christmas from Wednesday 25 December. Waste collection crews will resume this service on Thursday 9 January, starting with collections which would normally have taken place on Wednesday 8 January. As a result, people’s normal collection day will be delayed by one day. Residents can check their online collection calendar which is updated with their revised collection dates at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling.

People who pay to have their garden waste collected can present a real Christmas tree, alongside their garden waste bin, on their first collection in January.

Trees over 5ft should be cut into manageable pieces and placed in the garden waste container or the crew may not be able to collect. Alternatively, residents can sign up to have their real Christmas tree collected by a local charity. Residents should check to see if the charity collects in your area before registering.

People can check their waste, recycling and garden waste collection days online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling.

More information on what to do with Christmas Waste can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/Christmas-waste-donations-and-collections

Household Recycling Centres:

Household Recycling Centres will be closed from 1pm on 24 December and all-day Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.  All other days will operate under normal opening hours on their specified opening days, which can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/household-recycling-centre-locations  

Leisure centres:

All council run leisure centres will close at 2pm on Tuesday 24 December and Tuesday 31 December.

All leisure centres will be closed on Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 December and on Wednesday 1 January.

For opening times for each individual leisure centre over the Christmas period, please visit the centre webpage: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure-leisure-and-sport-centres. Normal opening times will resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.

Libraries:

All libraries will close from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December or as usual if due to close earlier.

All libraries will be closed and mobile libraries will not be operating on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December 2024 and on Wednesday 1 January 2025. 

There will be no late-night opening between Christmas and New Year. Libraries will close at 5pm or as usual if due to close earlier. 

Opening times for each library can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries as some local variations to the above apply.

Normal opening times will resume from Thursday 2 January 2025.

Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre:

Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre will close at 1pm on Tuesday 24 December and will be closed on Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January.

The History Centre is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9.30am to 5pm, and on the first Saturday of the month.

Full details and normal operating hours can be found at www.wshc.org.uk(opens new window).  

Registration offices in Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge:

Registration offices in Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge will be closed Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December and on Wednesday 1 January 2025.

The offices will be open as usual on Friday 27, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December. No appointments will be available Saturday 28 December, but ceremonies will take place as scheduled.

Emergency contact numbers:

If anyone requires urgent council support during the Christmas and New Year period, they should please use our emergency contact numbers which can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/contact.