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 Thursday 24 December at 1pm (12pm for Churston Library) and re-open on Thursday 31 December. They will close again on Friday 1 January before opening on Monday 4 January 2021. This will include access to the Connections Self Service Zone provisions within the buildings of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham library.

Benefits, Council Tax, Business Rates, Highways, Community Protections and Electoral Services

The call centre will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 24 December and will re-open on Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December between 9am and 5pm. It will be closed on New Year’s Day but will re-open again from 9am on Monday 4 January 2021.

Harbours

Torquay Harbour

Torquay Harbour office will be open 8am to 1pm on Thursday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Monday 28 December, re-opening 8am to 5pm from 29 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Years Day. 

Normal services resume on Monday 4 January 2021.

Paignton Harbour

Paignton Harbour office will be open 8am to 1pm on Thursday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Monday 28 December, re-opening 8am to 5pm from 29 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Years Day. 

Normal services resume on Monday 4 January 2021.

Brixham Harbour

Brixham Harbour office will be open 8am to 1pm on Thursday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Monday 28 December, re-opening 8am to 5pm from 29 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Years Day. 

Normal services resume on Monday 4 January 2021.

Paignton Beaches Office

Paignton Beaches office will be open 8am to 1pm on Thursday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and Monday 28 December, re-opening 8am to 5pm from 29 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Years Day. 

Normal services resume on Monday 4 January 2021.

Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey will be closed for Christmas from Sunday 20 December.

To keep up to date with latest opening times and more information about Torre Abbey visit their website.

Public Toilets

Opening times may vary over the Christmas and New Year period, to find out more go to the Christmas public toilets opening hours page.

Further information relating to the festive period can be found on the Christmas page.

Waste and recycling services over Christmas

Details of refuse and recycling collections to properties around Torbay can be found on the Christmas recycling page.

This includes details of Christmas tree recycling. If you would like advice on what paper and card can be recycled visit our recycling card and paper webpage.

Household waste enquiries can be submitted quickly and easily to SWISCo via the recycling pages.

If you need to speak to SWISCo about household waste, please call them directly on 01803 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.

Additional SWISCo Services

SWISCo can also assist with the following services over the holiday period including issues with dogs,  flyposting, graffiti and flytipping and can be contacted on 01803 701318.

Christmas parking information

We are offering a range of special offers for nominated council owned car parks to help you shop local throughout December.

You can find out about the Christmas parking offers available on our Christmas parking webpage.

Bus services in Torbay over Christmas

Details of the Christmas bus services operating in Torbay are shown on our Christmas bus services webpage. You can also download the complete list of changes. For further information or enquiries please contact the relevant operator.

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.

Registrars

Registrar services are closed from 5pm on Thursday 24 December, but will be open on Tuesday 29 December to register a birth or register a death.

A registration appointment can be made by calling 01803 207130 or can visit the Registrars pages.

If you need to contact a Registrar in an emergency, please call the out of office hours control centre on 01803 701310. Normal services resume from 9am on Monday 4 January 2021.

Children’s Services

Children’s Services will be open 9am to 4pm on Thursday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, re-opening 9am to 5pm from Tuesday 29 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Normal services resume on Thursday 2 January 2019.

The Children’s Services ‘out of office hours’ emergency telephone number is 01803 524519. More information is on our Children’s Services web pages.

Housing Options

Arrangements are currently being made for our Housing Options and Homeless Service over the Christmas and New Year period.

The Emergency Duty Service will be available out of hours on 0300 4564 876 or on the days when there is normal opening Housing Options can be contacted on 01803 208723.

The general contact number for the Crisis Support Service is 0800 9176832. Any applications received when the service is closed will be reviewed as soon as possible once the service re-opens. Crisis Support information and applications are available on the crisis support page.

Up to date information will be posted on the Housing pages as and when arrangements are confirmed for the Christmas period.

News archive

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014