Council and partners confirm arrangements for Christmas 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.

Customer Services will be closed on bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day) but support will be available as usual on all other days. Monday-Thursday (8.30am-5pm) and Fridays (8.30am-4.30pm).

The My Account service will still be available throughout the festive period, which can used for a range of matters including housing benefits, council tax, highways, pest control, school admissions and more. Emergency out of hours support will be available through the council’s Customer and Community Support Unit (CCSU).

There will also be some changes to upcoming waste and recycling collections:

• Collections due the week commencing Monday 25 December 2023 (Christmas Day) will be collected two days later than usual.
• Collections due the week commencing Monday 1 January 2024 (New Years Day) will be collected one day later than usual.

Residents can also put out one extra waste bag for their first refuse collection after Christmas Day.

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 the Waterton Depot from 2 January.

For anyone who would like to pay respects to loved ones, Coychurch Crematorium 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.

Vehicle access gates to local cemeteries will be opened on Friday 22 December and will remain open until Wednesday 27 December. Outside of these times, pedestrian access gates will be open 24/7, as they are throughout the year.

There are also some changes to opening times for local swimming pools and life centres. Opening times vary from centre to centre and full details are available on Halo’s website. Awen have also confirmed arrangements for libraries throughout the Christmas period.

Support will once again be available for anyone who finds themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

If anyone is concerned about someone who may be sleeping rough, this can be reported by using the Street Link app or website to send an alert. Doing so sends details through to the local authority or The Wallich, and attempts are then made to locate the rough sleeper and make sure they have access to a wide range of support.