Sefton Council observes Christmas Shutdown: All You Need to Know

Restricted services will be in place during Christmas and New Year as most Sefton Council staff are required to take unpaid leave.

Like previous years, residents can still access a range of information and transactions via the council website – sefton.gov.uk.

This includes checking bin collections, applying for licences, reporting environmental issues or paying Council Tax and business rates.

Because of the unpaid leave to be taken on December 24, 27, 30 and 31, most council buildings will be closed.

Services that will continue to operate include critical social care services for adults and children, a limited street cleaning service, Registrars, domestic and commercial waste collections and urgent highways issues, including gritting.

Residents are also being encouraged to recycle as much waste as possible and use the household waste recycling centres across the borough.

Similar to other years, the green wheelie bin collection for garden waste has now been suspended and will return in March 2020.

Some Sefton Council-run leisure centres will be open at varying times during these dates and users are advised to check sefton.gov.uk for opening times.

A list of social care emergency phone numbers is attached below (see below).

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Over the course of the financial year, our hard-working staff have their pay reduced in order to take four days unpaid leave.

“Other savings from the closure period come from the reduced need for heating, lighting and running buildings, equipment and vehicles.

“While reduced services are being operated, we will still maintain key services for some of the most vulnerable residents in our communities.

To access a range of service and transactions online, visit sefton.gov.uk. An automated phone service will be in place between December 24, 2019 and January 1, 2020 (inclusive) on 0345 140 0845 and most service requests will only be actioned beyond January.

Emergency contacts on December 24, 27, 30, and 31 between 9.00am-5.30pm:

Children’s Social Care: 0151 934 3114

Adult Social Care: 01704 704389 (North)

Adult Social Care: 0151 529 3761 (South)

For Social Care emergencies at all other times call the Emergency Duty Team 0151 934 3555