Below are the details for our service availability over the upcoming Christmas and New Year period. Information on a wide range of services can also be accessed via this website during this time.
Libraries
All Torbay libraries will close on Saturday 22 December and re-open on Saturday 29 December. They will close again on New Year’s Day before opening again on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
This will include access to the Connections Self Service Zone provisions within the buildings of Torquay and Brixham library.
Paignton Connections Office
Paignton Connections will be closed from 5pm on Friday 21 December and will re-open on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December between 9am and 5pm, before re-opening again from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
TOR2
Household waste and recycling collections
Details of refuse and recycling collections to properties around Torbay can be found on the www.torbay.gov.uk/mts-torbay page. This includes details of Christmas tree recycling at Lymington Road Coach Station Car Park, Torquay and Brixham College, Ranscombe Road, Brixham. You can also find out more about recycling wrapping paper and cards.
Household waste enquiries can be submitted quickly and easily to TOR2 via the main recycling pages.
If you need to speak to TOR2 about household waste, please call them direct on 01813 701316. Please be aware that lines will be very busy during the holiday period. We would advise customers to make enquiries online where possible to avoid call queuing time.
Other services
TOR2 can also assist with the following services over the holiday period:
Harbours
Torquay
Torquay Harbour office will be open 8am to 1pm on 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing day, re-opening 7am to 9pm from 27 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Years day.
Normal services resume from 7am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Paignton
Paignton Harbour office will be closed from 12pm on Monday 24 December until New Years Day.
Normal services resume from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Brixham
Brixham Harbour office will be closed from 12pm on Monday 24 December until 30 December and also on New Years Day. The office will be open on New Years Eve from 9am to 5pm.
Normal services resume from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Torre Abbey Museum
Torre Abbey Museum will be closed from Monday 24 December reopening on Wednesday 2 January. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm).
Additional Services
Benefits, Council Tax, Business Rates, Highways, Community Protections and Electoral Services
The call centre will be closed from 5pm on Friday 21 December and will re-open on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December between 9 am and 5pm. It will re-open again from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Emergencies
If you need to report a serious incident to Highways or Community Safety, please call our 24 hour emergency service team on 01803 701310 or 01803 701318.
Registrars
Registrar Services are closed from 5pm on Friday 21 December, but will be open on 27 and 28 December to book a birth or death registration appointment on 01803 207130. Alternatively, customers can visit the Registrars page to book an appointment.
If you need to contact a Registrar in an emergency, please call the out of office hours control centre on tel. Normal services resume from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Children's Services
Children’s Services and the Family Information Service team will not be available on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. The service will close from 5 pm on Friday 21 December, re-opening on Thursday 27 December 9am to 5pm, before closing from 5pm on Friday 28 December. Normal business will resume after New Year from Wednesday 2 January 2019 at 9am.
For enquiries please call 01803 208100 or walk-in arrangements will be available via the Children’s Services reception. The Children’s Services ‘out of office hours’ emergency telephone number is 01803 524519.
Housing Options
Housing Options and Homeless service will be closed from 5pm on Friday 21 December. The Emergency Duty Service will then be available on 0300 4564 876 until the Housing Options service re-opens on 27 and 28 December between 9am and 5pm. They can be contacted on 01803 208723 to receive reports of homelessness and enquiries that require urgent assistance or online on the get help if you're homeless page.
The Emergency Duty Service will again be available from 5pm on 28 December through to Wednesday 2 January when the Housing Options will resume normal business hours from 9am.
Crisis Support
The Crisis Support service on 0800 9176832 will close from 1pm on Friday 21 December and will re-open on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 December between 9 am and 1pm. The service will then be closed before re-open again from 9am on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Applications received will be reviewed when the service re-opens. Support information and applications are available on the crisis support page.

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