Wakefield Council Services over Christmas

All non-essential Council services will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 24 December and re-open on 2 January while essential services will vary their opening times over the festive period.  

 

Plans are also in place to ensure the roads are gritted and kept clear, should the wintry weather take a turn for the worse, and staff are on standby in the event of an emergency.  

  

Staff will be working throughout the holiday to ensure our residents, who need care at home, in residential care or children’s social work, are supported over the holiday season.  

Here is a handy reference guide to the opening times:  

  

Wakefield One and Town Hall  

On Tuesday 24 December, the Customer Access Point at Wakefield One will open from 8.30am to 5pm. 

Reception at Town Hall is open from 8.30am to 5pm. Normal service resumes on Thursday 2 January.  

  

Bin Collections  

Each household will have received an updated collection calendar for the festive period and 2025; this information can also be seen on the Where I Live page.   

The Household Waste Recycling Centres will open as normal over the festive period except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day, when they will be closed. Centres can be exceptionally busy at this time of year and the advice is to avoid peak times between Christmas and the New Year, if possible. All the local bring bank sites across the district are available for excess Christmas Recycling throughout the festive period.  For details see: Our Bring Sites - Biffa Wakefield - Working In Partnership With Wakefield Council 

Trips to a Household Waste Recycling Centre can be made quicker and greener by sorting out recycling before visiting the centres. South Kirkby Centre is often less busy than Glasshoughton. Visitors are asked to avoid queuing on the road and visit on another occasion.   

 

Libraries, Museums and Pontefract Castle   

Featherstone Library closes on Monday 23 December at 6pm. All other libraries close on Tuesday 24 December at 2pm. They all reopen on Thursday 2 January. or on Friday 3 January. For details see: Christmas and New Year Opening Times 2024 / 25 - Wakefield Council   

Pontefract Castle grounds are open until 2pm on Tuesday 24 December, reopening on Thursday 2 January.    

Wakefield and Pontefract Museums close at 2pm on Tuesday 24 December and Castleford Museum at 1pm, reopening on Thursday 2 January.   

 

Leisure Facilities  

Any changes to opening times will be made available on the Council’s website and should be checked before planning a visit.    
   

Pugneys Country Park  

Pugneys cafe will close at 4pm on Monday 23 December and reopens on Friday 27 December. Pugneys cafe/toilets are also closed on New Years Day.  The car park will remain open.   

 

Anglers Country Park  

Anglers centre, cafe and toilets close at 4pm on Monday 23 December and reopen on Friday 27 December. The cafe and toilets are closed again on Tuesday 31 December, and the centre is closed on New Year’s Day.  

  

 

City of Wakefield Golf Club   

Closes at 2pm on Tuesday 24 December. Reopens on Thursday 26 December. Opening hours variable.  

 

Sun Lane Leisure Centre, Minsthorpe Leisure Centre, and Aspire @ The Park  

These close on Tuesday 24 December and re-open at 9am on Friday 27 December.  There are different operating hours between Friday 27 December and New Year’s Eve, when they close again, at 4pm.  They reopen fully on Thursday 2 January. Check here for opening hours 

 

Normanton Leisure, Thornes Park Stadium and Featherstone Sports Complex  

Closed on Tuesday 24 December and reopen on Thursday 2 January. Check here for opening hours 

 

Bereavement Services  

The main office at Normanton will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and reopen on Friday 27 December (Normal working hours). The office will be closed on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December. The office will be open normal hours on Monday 30 December and is open until 3pm on Tuesday 31st December. The office is closed on New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1 January. Normal office opening times resume from Thursday 2 January.   

   

Wakefield and Pontefract Crematoria will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December and reopen on Friday 27 December. The Crematoria are closed on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December. Both Crematoria are open Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December, closing at 3pm on New Year’s Eve. The Crematoria are closed on New Year's Day, Wednesday 1 January, and reopen again on Thursday 2 January 2025.   

   

The Crematoria grounds will remain open for visitors throughout the whole of the holiday period.    

   

The Book of Remembrance room at both Wakefield and Pontefract Crematoria will also be open every day during the holiday season. Times vary. This includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.   

  

Registration Services   

The Registration service closes at 3pm on Tuesday 24 December. It is open on Friday 27 December until 4pm, Saturday 28 December until 12.30pm, and on Tuesday 31 December until 3pm. Services reopen on Thursday 2 January.   

  

The copy certificate service will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December until 9am on Thursday 2 January.  During this time people can order a copy certificate directly from the General Register Office.  Please visit Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate - GOV.UK  

   

A service is available for anyone who needs to make urgent burial arrangements or who requires documentation to remove a body from England. It is available between 9am and 10am each Sunday and Bank Holiday excluding Christmas Day and can be accessed by contacting Wakefield Council Contact Centre on 0345 8 506 506.  

 

A service is available for urgent arrangements to be made for marriages or civil partnerships by Registrar General's Licence. The service can be accessed by contacting the Registration Service on 0345 4 852 888,  or, if outside normal opening hours, by telephoning Wakefield Council Contact Centre on 0345 8 506 506 between 8.30am and 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day. 

 
Markets  

All markets will be closed on Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 26 December, and Wednesday 1 January. For more information visit: Christmas and New Year Opening Times 2024 / 25 - Wakefield Council 

 

Customer Services  

Telephone lines remain open 24 hours daily on 0345 8 506 506. Residents are encouraged to report non-urgent matters via My Account at https://myaccount.wakefield.gov.uk/ 

  

Social Care Direct  

Remain available 24 hours daily on 0345 8 503 503.  

 All services fully reopen on 2 January 2025.