Council confirm Christmas service arrangements

DERRY City and Strabane District Council has published details of service arrangements for the Christmas and New Year period.

The council’s Civic Offices on Strand Road and Derry Road, Strabane, will close from Wednesday, December 24 reopening on Monday, December 29.

Offices will also be closed on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1.

To accommodate the festive holidays, there will be some changes will be made to household bin collections:

- Blue and brown bins scheduled for Christmas Day will instead be collected on Saturday, December 20.

- Blue and brown bins scheduled for Boxing Day will be collected on Saturday, December 27.

- Black and Brown bins due on New Year’s Daywill be collected on Saturday, January. 3

All Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, Pennyburn, Strahan’s Road, Strathfoyle will close at 4pm

All other sites will close at 2pm

On all other days throughout the festive period, recycling centres will operate as normal.

A council spokesperson said: "We kindly ask the public to remain patient and considerate, as staffing levels may be reduced over the Christmas holidays.

"Staff will not tolerate abusive or discourteous behaviour."

All council-managed cemeteries and parks will operate as normal throughout the festive season.

The Registration of Births and Deaths office in the city will close on Wednesday, December 24 and reopen on Friday, January 2.

Strabane Registry Offices will close on December 24 and reopen on Monday, January 5.

"Please note that the Derry office will be opened for emergency death registration appointments only on December 29, 30 and 31 from 10am to 12.30pm," the spokesperson added.

The Guildhall and Tower Museum will operate adjusted opening hours throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

From Monday, December 22 to Tuesday 23, the Tower Museum will welcome visitors until its last entry at 4pm, while the Guildhall will remain open until 5pm.

Both venues will then close from Wednesday, December 24 to Friday 26 for the Christmas holidays.

They will reopen from Saturday 27 to Wednesday, December 31, with the Tower Museum again offering last entry at 4pm and the Guildhall at 5pm.

On Thursday, January 1, both buildings will close for New Year’s Day before reopening from Friday, January 2 to Sunday 4 under the same festive hours. Normal opening times for both venues will resume on Monday 5 January.

The Guildhall offers free admission year-round, with guided tours available to book in advance for £3 per person.

Admission to the Tower Museum is £6 for adults, £4 for concessions, £3 for children, or £16 for families (two adults and up to four children). Although the museum operates primarily as a self-guided experience, guided tours can also be arranged in advance for £3 per person.

Tickets for the Tower Museum can be booked online at www.towermuseumcollections.com.

Both venues accept credit and debit card payments.

All leisure centres across the council area will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

On New Year’s Eve, Brooke Park, Foyle Arena, Templemore SC, Riversdale LC, Melvin SC and Derg Valley LC will all be open. The rest of council sites will be closed.

On Saturday, December 27, Foyle Arena, Templemore SC, Riversdale LC, Melvin SC and Derg Valley LC will open, while Bishops Field, Daisyfield Sports Centre, Waterside Shared Village, Brandywell, Brooke Park and City Baths will be closed.

On Sunday, December 28, Brooke Park, Foyle Arena, Templemore SC, Riversdale LC, Melvin SC and Derg Valley LC will be open, with Bishops Field, Daisyfield Sports Centre, Waterside Shared Village and Brandywell closed.

On Monday, December 29, Daisyfield Sports Centre, Brandywell, Brooke Park, Foyle Arena, Templemore SC, Riversdale LC, Melvin SC and Derg Valley LC will open while Bishops Field, Waterside Shared Village and City Baths will close.

On Tuesday, December 30, Daisyfield Sports Centre, Brandywell, Brooke Park, Foyle Arena, Templemore SC, Riversdale LC, Melvin SC and Derg Valley LC are open, but Bishops Field, Waterside Shared Village and City Baths are closed.

The council will continue to provide its Out of Hours Service for ongoing dog attacks on persons or animals throughout the Christmas period.

If you require this service, contact 07734128096.

The spokesperson added: "Whilst there is no obligation to respond to other serious matters outside normal hours, the dog warden may do so following an assessment of any voicemail messages left."

Mayor’s message

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, councillor Ruairí McHugh, shared his Christmas wishes with residents and encouraged everyone to check the updated service schedules over the festive period.

“Most of our services will be running as normal, with just a few small changes to give our staff some well-deserved time with their families," he said.

"We’d really appreciate everyone’s help by putting bins out on time and being patient at our recycling centres, which are always a bit busier over Christmas.

"I want to thank our hard-working staff for everything they do throughout the year, and I hope everyone across the district enjoys a peaceful and relaxing Christmas break.

“As we all take time to slow down and spend it with the people who matter most, I want to wish everyone good health, plenty of happiness, and a really enjoyable Christmas and New Year.”

The public are encouraged to download the updated Derry Strabane Recycling App for the latest service updates over the festive period.

For full Christmas and New Year opening hours, visit: www.derrystrabane.com/opening-hours