Keeping in Touch over Christmas and New Year

EVEN though some services and buildings will close for the festive holiday just before Christmas Eve (December 24) the Tameside Council website – www.tameside.gov.uk – remains available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for residents to access information and help.

Details of the services and buildings that will be closing are as follows:

Libraries:

Ashton and Droylsden libraries will close at 5pm on Friday, 23 December.

Dukinfield and Hattersley libraries’ staffed hours cease at 5pm on Thursday, 22 December, but Open+ self-access remains available until 5pm on Friday, 23 December.

Denton, Hyde and Mossley libraries staffed hours cease at 1pm on Friday, 23 December, but Open+ self-access remains available until 5pm the same day.

Stalybridge Library staffed hours cease at 5pm on Wednesday, 21 December, but Open+ self-access remains available until 5pm on Friday 23 December.

All libraries will reopen within their specific arrangements from Tuesday, 3 January. 

Open+ self-access will not be available over Christmas and New Year. Full details of opening hours are at www.tameside.gov.uk/libraries or call 0161 342 2031 before 4pm on Friday, 23 December.

Call Centre and Customer Services:

Will close at 4pm on Friday, 23 December, and reopen at 8.30am on Tuesday, 3 January.

Portland Basin Museum, Ashton, will close at 4pm on Friday, 23 December, and reopen at 10am on Tuesday, 3 January.

The Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, Stalybridge, will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 21 December, and reopen at 9am on Tuesday, 3 January.

Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre will close at 5pm on Thursday, 22 December, and reopen at 10am on Tuesday, 3 January.

Mental health support is available even on Christmas Day. To access a directory of 24-hour helplines visit www.tameside.gov.uk/helpinghand/mentalheath

There will also be changes to waste and recycling collections over the holiday – see www.tameside.gov.uk/recycling  and follow @tmbc_waste on Twitter. Download the bin app for updates and alerts, and to set reminders and report missed/lost bins.

Real Christmas trees can be left out with your brown bin from Monday, 9 January, for recycling. Please make sure decorations are removed. Crews will also collect any additional recyclable waste left out with black or blue bins if it’s in a clear or labelled bag.

If you feel you must contact Tameside Council over Christmas call the emergency contact number on 0161 342 2222 but please remember this number is for genuine emergencies only.

Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Gerald Cooney said: “While some of our services and buildings close over Christmas and New Year, our website is always available with information and help. We also have lots of services that continue to run over this period – including health and social care, emergency on-call, garage mechanics, gritting, street cleaning, waste, bereavement, homelessness and CCTV to name just a few. My thanks goes to the staff providing these essential services to support local residents and businesses.

“Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Tameside Council – we look forward to continuing to work with the local community and our partners in 2023.”