Council Services Christmas Information
READING Council’s non-essential services will close over the Christmas and New Year period.
Civic Offices
The Civic Offices, Bridge Street, will be closed to the public from 5pm on Thursday 23 December 2021 and will re-open again at 9am on Tuesday 4 January 2022 by appointment only. The Call Centre will also be closed during the same period. If members of the public need to contact the Council outside of opening hours, they can call the normal out of hours number for any emergencies on 0118 937 3737.
Adult Social Care
Adult Social Care Teams will be operating an emergency duty service over Christmas in order to support vulnerable adults who require urgent assistance between 9 am - 5 pm on 24, 29, 30 and 31 December, with normal service in place from 4 January 2022. Residents with an urgent enquiry can call 0118 937 3747. 01344 351999
For weekends, bank holidays and out of hours emergencies please contact the Out of Hours Team on 01344 351999.
Brighter Futures for Children
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which provides children’s social care, early help and education services in Reading, will be running a reduced service over the Christmas period. In order to support children, young people and their families who require urgent assistance, essential services will operate during normal hours on 24, 29, 30 and 31 December.
For any urgent matters outside normal office hours, weekends or bank holidays, call (0118) 937 3641. All BFfC services will resume from Tuesday 4 January 2022. Visit https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/ for more information.
Family Information Service/SEND Local Offer
Reading Family Information Service has set up a dedicated page in the Reading Services Guide for parent carers to easily find out about local services and support available throughout the Christmas holidays. The page will be updated daily with updates from services and partner agencies.
Leisure Centres
|
Day |
Date |
South Reading |
Palmer Park |
Meadway |
Rivermead |
|
|
December |
Thursday |
23 |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
|
December |
Friday |
24 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
07:30-14:30 |
06:30-14:00 |
|
December |
Saturday |
25 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
|
December |
Sunday |
26 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
|
December |
Monday |
27 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
07:00-16:00 |
|
December |
Tuesday |
28 |
08:00-16:00 |
08:00-15:00 |
07:30-14:30 |
07:00-16:00 |
|
December |
Wednesday |
29 |
08:00-16:00 |
08:00-15:00 |
07:30-14:30 |
07:00-16:00 |
|
December |
Thursday |
30 |
08:00-16:00 |
08:00-15:00 |
07:30-14:30 |
07:00-16:00 |
|
December |
Friday |
31 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
06:30-14:00 |
|
January |
Saturday |
1 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
|
January |
Sunday |
2 |
CLOSED |
CLOSED |
07:30-14:30 |
07:00-16:00 |
|
January |
Monday |
3 |
08:00-16:00 |
08:00-15:00 |
07:30-14:30 |
07:00-16:00 |
Reading Libraries
Reading’s libraries will open as normal on Thursday 23 December 2021
All libraries will be closed from Friday 24 December 2021 until Monday 3 January 2022, reopening as normal from 4 January 2022. All Library book drops will also close except Reading Central.
Online library services including eBooks, eAudio and eMagazines are always available at www.reading.gov.uk/elibrary
Reading Museum and Town Hall
Reading Museum will be closed from 4 pm on Thursday 23 December and re-open with normal hours from Tuesday 4 January 2022.
The Registration Service
The Registration Service will be open at the Civic Offices by appointment only on 24, 29, 30 and 31 December 2021.
Appointments will be restricted to urgent matters only during this period.
Customers are kindly requested to call back in the New Year for birth registrations, citizenships or marriage/civil partnership enquiries.
Appointments can be booked online at http://www.reading.gov.uk/life-events, or by calling 0118 937 3533 during council office hours.
If you need to arrange a funeral quickly for urgent religious reasons, the funeral director or a council approved Licensee will normally liaise with the Register Office and Henley Road Cemetery outside of normal working hours.
The Berkshire Records Office
The Berkshire Records Office will be closed from 24 December 2021 to 3 January 2022 inclusive. If you plan to visit the week of 4 to 7 January 2022, bookings will need to be made by 3.30 pm on 23 December 2021.
Henley Road Cemetery and Crematorium office and chapels
The cemetery grounds will be open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, however, the office and chapels will open for cremation and burial services as follows:
27 & 28 December: Closed
29 December: 9.00 - 5.00pm
30 December: 9.00 - 5.00pm
31 December: 9.00 - 3.00pm
3 January 2022: Closed
Bins, Recycling and Christmas Trees
The Recycling Centre on Island Road will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Plan ahead and book your visit on other days using the Click&Tip service: https://re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/click-tip-services/
Remember you can now cancel your slot up to 3 hours ahead of your visit, so your slot can be taken by someone else.
As usual, bin collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period. To find the collection date for your household, please visit: www.reading.gov.uk/bindates
On the first collection after Christmas people can leave out an extra bag of rubbish next to their grey bin, and any extra recycling can be left in a cardboard box next to their red bin or box. Residents are asked to please try to keep any extra recycling put out dry, it helps the Council recycle it more easily.
Food Waste
Reduce the amount of food waste that is wasted and make sure that any waste is recycled. Plan meals, freeze leftovers and find more tips on the Love Food Hate Waste on the re3 website.
One extra caddy liner of food waste will be collected over Christmas. Residents are politely reminded to only put bags out on the collection day to avoid issues with animals.
Christmas Tree Recycling
Christmas Tree recycling sites open on 4 January 2022 until 23 January at the following locations:
- Mapledurham Playing Fields
- Clayfield Copse
- Hills Meadow
- Rivermead Leisure Complex
- Kensington Road Recreation Ground
- Prospect Park
- Meadway Recreation Ground
- Tilehurst allotments, Armour Hill
- Palmer Park Sports Stadium
- Whitley Wood Recreation Ground
- South Reading Leisure Centre
The trees will be chipped by the Council and used in a range of landscaping schemes across the Borough. Residents are being advised not to be alarmed if they see piles of trees as it takes a few days to get around to each location.