Residents are being reminded of the amended opening times and service changes of Braintree District Council services and venues over the Christmas and New Year period.
The council’s main offices at Causeway House will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December and will re-open at 9am on Monday 30 December 2024, with usual opening hours on that day. On Tuesday 31 December offices will close at 3pm, and will re-open Thursday 2 January 2025. These opening hours also apply to the customer services department.
Residents are still able to use the councils online services and access information, such as paying their council tax, ordering recycling sacks or checking their waste collection dates by visiting www.braintree.gov.uk 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Recycling and refuse collections
There will be some changes to recycling and refuse collection days over the festive period this year due to the Christmas and New Years Day Bank Holidays.
Collections will differ from usual, and residents can look at the collection changes on the Braintree District Council website at https://www.braintree.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/service-updates/2.
All collections will resume as normal from Monday 13 January 2025.
To check collection dates, residents should refer to their collection calendar or check online: www.braintree.gov.uk/collectioncalendar.
Residents are encouraged to put their recycling and refuse out by 7am on their revised collection day. Any residents who need to check what to put into their clear recycling sacks can visit the Love Essex website: www.loveessex.org/recycling-at-home/braintree.
Information about Essex County Council’s Braintree and Witham Recycling Centres opening times and items accepted can be found on the Love Essex website at www.loveessex.org/find-your-nearest-recycling-centre.
Similar to last year, Farleigh Hospice will be running their Christmas tree door to door collections from properties in postcodes CM0, CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4 9, CM6 3, CM7, CM77, CM8, CM9, CO9 3, CO9 4 and from some postcodes within CO5 9, CO6 1, CO6 2, CO9 1 & CO9 2. Collections need to be registered by 4pm on 8 January 2025, and they will take place on 10, 11 and 12 January 2025. More information can be found at https://www.farleighhospice.org/events/trees-2025.
Leisure centres
From 23 December 2024, reduced opening hours will operate at all leisure centres across the district, run by Fusion Lifestyle, and they will be closed on 25 December, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.
Normal opening hours will resume from 2 January 2025, but opening hours will vary between different sites.
More information is available on www.fusion-lifestyle.com. Residents are encouraged to check before they visit.
Braintree and Witham markets
Braintree and Witham markets will run as usual on Saturday 21 December and Saturday 28 December 2024. There will be further markets on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December but there will be no market on Wednesday 25 December, Wednesday 1 January or Saturday 4 January 2025. Usual market dates will resume on 8 January 2025.
More information about Braintree markets can be found at www.facebook.com/braintreemarkets.
Council owned car parks
Free car parking will be available in council-owned pay and display car parks in Braintree and Witham on the Bank Holidays.
George Yard multi-storey car park in Braintree will be closed on 25 December 2024 and will be open on all other days.
More information can be found at https://www.braintree.gov.uk/streets-transport-parking.
Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, said: “Our key services will continue to be available over the festive period and we will ensure our residents are supported.
"I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff for their tireless efforts in providing essential services to our community. Despite another challenging year, they have consistently delivered exceptional service. I wish all our residents and businesses a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.”