Derry Christmas: Council confirm service arrangements for festive season

Derry City and Strabane District Council have issued information relating to its services over the Christmas and New Year period.

Civic offices - The Council’s Civic Offices on Strand Road, Derry, and Derry Road, Strabane, will be closed to the public from Tuesday, December 24 to Monday, December 30 2024 and also on New Year’s Day, January 1 2025.

Bin Collection services - To facilitate Christmas holidays some changes have been made to bin collection services. Blue and Brown bin collections due to take place on Christmas Day will be lifted on Saturday, December 21 - Blue and Brown bin collections due to take place on Boxing Day will be lifted on Sunday, December 22, while Black and Brown bin collections due to take place on New Year’s Day will be lifted on Saturday, December 28.

There will also be some changes to Recycling Centre opening times with all sites closing on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

The following arrangements are in place over the festive period for Recycling Centres - Tuesday, December 24 2024 (Christmas Eve): Pennyburn, Strahan’s Road, Strathfoyle will all close at 4.00pm. Glendermott Road, Eglinton, Claudy, Park, Donemana, Plumbridge, Newtownstewart, Spamont, will close at 2.00pm.

The sites at Pennyburn, Strahan’s Road, Strathfoyle, Glendermott Road, Claudy, Donemana, Newtownstewart will operate as normal from Friday, December 27 to Monday, December 30. Eglinton, Park, Plumbridge, Spamont, will operate as normal on Friday, December 27 and on Monday, December 30 but will remain closed as per normal over the weekend on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December. 

On New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31 2024, Pennyburn, Strahan’s Road, Strathfoyle will close at 4.00pm while Glendermott Road, Eglinton, Claudy, Park, Donemana, Plumbridge, Newtownstewart, Spamont will close at 2.00pm.

Council Street Cleansing staff will continue to work over the festive period and will be operating in the city centre right through the holiday period, including Christmas morning from 5.00am to 9.00am.

All Council Cemeteries and Parks will be opened and closed as normal over the Christmas period while the Registration of Births and Deaths office will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

The Guildhall and Tower Museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The facilities will open as normal from Friday, December 27 to Tuesday, December 31.

The Alley Theatre Strabane will close at 2.00pm on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day as well as Friday and Saturday, December 27 and 28. It will reopen on Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) from 10.00am to 4.30pm but will be closed on New Year’s Day, reopening as normal on Thursday, January 2.

Some Leisure services will also be affected over the holiday period. All Leisure Centres across the city and district will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.  All leisure facilities with the exception of Bishop’s Field will open as normal on New Year’s Eve with an early afternoon closing, while Waterside Shared Village will close from December 23 until January 2 inclusive and the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium will be opened only to facilitate a match by Institute FC on Boxing Day.

All Council owned community centres will close from Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3 with the exception of Lincoln Courts Community Centre which will close from Wednesday, December 18 to Monday, January 6; Top of the Hill CC (Hillcrest) from Wednesday, December 25 to Monday, January 6 and Springhill Community Facility from Wednesday, December 25 to Friday, January 3.

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Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr encouraged the public to familiarise themselves with the schedule to ensure they leave their bins out for collection on the correct day over the Christmas period. She said most council services were operating with just a few minor amendments, and she hoped everyone would get a well-deserved Christmas break.

“We are all very grateful to out front-line service staff and would appeal to the public to ensure they leave their bins out on time. The festive period can be a very busy time for our recycling centres, and we would really appreciate it if everyone using these services is respectful of staff when availing of the services.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thank you to the Council staff for their services throughout the year and to extend my best wishes to everyone to enjoy the Christmas break.”

The public are urged to download the newly updated Derry Strabane Recycling App to keep up to date with all recycling services over the festive season.

For more information on the opening hours for Christmas, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/opening-hours