COLCHESTER Council has announced revised opening times for its services and venues over the Christmas period.

Here is what you need to know:

Council offices at Rowan House

Whilst all key services will continue operating over Christmas and New Year, the authority's offices at Rowan House, in Sheepen Road, will be closed on Christmas Ever and remain closed until Wednesday, December 30.

The offices will also be closed on New Year's Day before reopening again from Monday, January 4.

To find out more, visit www.colchester.gov.uk.

Online services

Residents wishing to access council services via their online account will be able to do so 24-hours a day over Christmas at www.colchester.gov.uk/online.

This is the place to set up a Direct Debit quickly and easily, check Council Tax, apply for a Single Person Discount and switch to e-billing.

Housing Benefit recipients can also view their entitlement, check correspondence and the income on a claim.

Recycling and rubbish collections

Recycling and rubbish collection days are changing slightly over the Christmas and New Year period and residents are advised to check their recycling calendars.

For residents who receive a collection on a Friday, which both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on this year, recycling and rubbish collections will be collected the following Monday, on December 28 and January 4.

Collections on all other days will remain the same.

Collections days will return to normal on Tuesday 5 January.

Christmas tree recycling

Residents looking to recycle their old Christmas tree after the festive period can ask St Helena Hospice to take it away for a small donation.

This year, they will be collecting trees from properties in the CO1-CO9, CO11, CO15 and CO16 postcodes on January 9.

Collections needs to be booked by midday on January 8.

More information can be found here.

Helpline

The emergency alarm, response and monitoring service, Helpline, will operate 24 hours-a-day, as normal, during the Christmas and New Year period.

Helpline users can contact the service on 01206 769779.

Visit www.helplineplus.co.uk.

Leisure World

Residents looking to burn off the extra calories consumed over Christmas, de-stress in the spa or who want to make the most of the school holidays will find plenty to do at Leisure World Colchester, Tiptree, Highwoods and Aqua Springs.

The Colchester leisure centre and spa will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but open every other day over the festive period.

Hours and capacity are restricted hours due to coronavirus.

All visitor must book online before visiting the centres.

Leisure World Tiptree will close from December 23 and Leisure World Highwoods will close from December 21.

Normal opening hours will resume for all centres on Saturday, January 2.

More information can be found at: www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk.

Colchester Castle

Colchester Castle will be closed over the Christmas period from Christmas Eve to December 27.

It will be open as usual from December 28 but will close again for the day on New Year's Day.

More information can be found here.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum will be closed from December 24 to December 27.

The museum will be open as usual from December 29 and will close again for the day on New Year's Day.

Visit colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/visit/natural-history-museum.

Visitor Information Centre

The visitor information centre will be closed between December 24 and 27 but open again on December 28 before closing on New Year's Day.

Hollytrees Museum remains closed until further notice.

Parks and open spaces

Castle Park, High Woods Country Park and nature reserves across the borough will be open throughout the festive period.

High Woods Country Park visitor centre is open every weekend, except 26/27 December, between 10am and 4pm.

You can take part in two self-led trails over the weekend of the 19/20 December, 10.30am-3.30pm. These are a Christmas Wordsearch Trail for four to eight year-olds and a 12 Days of Christmas Quiz Trail for 7 to 11 year-olds.

Grab your trail sheet from the visitor centre for £1.

There's no need to book, but please bring your own pen or pencil to complete.

Colchester Cemetery

The cemetary grounds will remain open but the Book of Remembrance and Prayer rooms will be closed.

There will be restricted cremations and burials between Christmas and New Year.

More information can be found here.

Colchester Market

Colchester Market will take place seven-days a week on Culver St East and West until Christmas Eve, and for late night shopping every Wednesday from 10am to 9pm, up to and including December 23.

The High Street Market will continue to operate every Friday and Saturday, except for Christmas Day.

A pop-up Christmas Market is at Firstsite, open now until December 23.

Parking

St John’s Car Park will be closed from 7pm on December 24 until 5.30am on December 26 and vehicles will not be able to enter or exit the car park during this period.

Details of alternative nearby car parks, including Britannia, Priory Street and Vineyard Street, are available at the council's website.

All other car parks remain open and will be operating as usual over the festive period and customers are encouraged to use MiPermit to make contactless payments.

For further information about parking and travel in Colchester, visit www.colchester.gov.uk/parking.

Colchester Borough Homes

The firm's office opening times are as follows:

• 24-29 December: Closed

• 30-31 December: Open

• 1 January Closed

• 4 January Open

Customer Services: 01206 282514

For emergency repairs, please call 01206 282514

Thanks to council staff

Mark Cory, the leader of Colchester Council, said: “While most residents will be celebrating the festive season, we will be ensuring the key services people need and rely upon are available – just as they have been throughout this extremely challenging year.

“I’m immensely grateful to council staff for the work they do all year round to deliver frontline services on behalf of residents and businesses across the borough.

"It’s during the Christmas and New Year period when their commitment and dedication can often be seen and appreciated the most.

“On behalf of the council, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishes for a safe and brighter year to come.”