Cumberland Council have issued a reminder about changes to their services over the Christmas and New Year period.

While buildings will be closing there are ways to contact the council if you still need help as their online services are available on the Cumberland Council website.

The main customer number (0300 373 3730) will close at 5pm on Friday, December 22, and will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, at 9am.

There will be a recorded message advising of the closure period and out of hours contact numbers for highways, homelessness, and adults and children’s social care, should anyone be calling in an emergency.

Other opening times, out of hours arrangements, and relevant information, is as follows:

Building opening times:

• Civic Centre, Carlisle: closed from Monday, December 25, and reopens at 9am on Tuesday, January 2.
• Cumbria House, Carlisle: closed on bank holidays (Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 December, plus Monday 1 January).
• Allerdale House, Workington: closed from 12 noon on Friday, December 22 and reopens at 9am on Tuesday, January 2.
• Market Hall, Whitehaven: closed from 1pm on Friday, December 22, and reopens at 9am on Tuesday, January 2.

Household waste and recycling collections
Residents can check collection dates on our refuse and recycling webpage.

In all areas of Cumberland, there will be no collections on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, and Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26.

Collections will take place two days later than normal.

Including a Saturday collection for those normally collected on Thursday and a Sunday collection for those normally collected on a Friday.

There will be no collections on Monday, January 1, with collections taking place one day later than normal, including a Saturday collection for those normally collected on Friday.

Household Waste Recycling Centres

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

All sites that open on Sundays, will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

For opening times and locations visit our HWRC webpage.

The permit helpline is closed on bank holidays and weekends.

Cumberland Highways
The Highways Hotline – 0300 373 3736 – will be unavailable on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, and Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26, and New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1.

You can report a problem online too.

Calls will be diverted to an answer phone service with emergency contact information. Residents can report problems relating to potholes, road damage, flooding, drainage, traffic lights, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, trees, vegetation, bollards, manhole covers and more on our street, roads and pavements webpage. 

Health and Social Care
Residential and home care services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Adult Social Care offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, and Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26 along with New Year’s Day, Monday, January 1.

Contact the social care out of hours emergency service (01228 526690), 24-hours a day, for adult social care emergencies. Further information is available on our health and social care webpage.

Children’s Services (for children’s social care)
Children’s services offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, Boxing Day December 26 and New Year’s Day January 1.

The Emergency Duty Team (0333 240 1727) can be contacted 24 hours a day for children’s social care emergencies.

Further information is available on our children’s services webpage. 

Archives, Libraries and Local Link offices

Cumberland libraries will continue to provide key services, including select and collect, online services and home delivery services.

Book Browsing, borrowing and returns will be available in some locations – please check the Cumberland Council website for details of opening hours and available services at your local library.

Other essential services can also be accessed at your library, including adult education courses and registrars.

The Archive Centres (Carlisle and Whitehaven) and all libraries will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, Boxing Day, December 26, New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31, and New Year’s Day, January 1.

For details of the opening times and services available, please visit our libraries and archives webpage.

Registration Services
The Registration Service will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, Boxing Day, December 26, and New Year’s Day, January 1.

Trading Standards
Cumbria Trading Standards’ Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline – 0808 223 1133 – will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, Boxing Day, December 26, and New Year’s Day, January 1.

You can also visit the Citizens Advice website.