Christmas 2020

Update – 30th December

What’s happening around Torbay – Christmas 2020

The folks over at Torbay Food Alliance have pulled together a list of events happening December 2020 in Torbay, despite the current pandemic, with a variety of Christmas events which have all adapted accordingly.

This includes everyone from carolling you can listen to online, or take part in from your (literal) doorstep, to online church services courtesy of Riviera Life Church, cooking and craft workshops, musical and panto performances, and of course, the Torbay Christmas Trail.
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You can download the guide below as a PDF or as a Microsoft Word Document:

Torbay Community Helpline Christmas hours

From Monday 21st December 2020 to Sunday 3rd January 2021, the Torbay Community Helpline will be operating on reduced hours .

During this time, the helpline will be open Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm.

Regular hours will resume from Monday 4th January 2021.

To contact Torbay Community Helpline, call 01803 446022, or use the online form – bit.ly/torbayhelpline

Christmas COVID-19 information, guidance and updates

 

Update from Dr Caroline Dimond, Director of Public Health, Torbay Council – 17th December

Christmas opening times for services in Torbay

Below are the details of the Council’s service availability over the upcoming Christmas and New Year period. Other information on a wide range of services can also be accessed via the website at torbay.gov.uk.

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.

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:

  • Country Bus Devon  – 01626 833664
  • Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company (DSRRC) – 01803 555872
  • Stagecoach  – 01803 664500
  • Torbay Buses – 01803 644660
  • Torbay Community Development Trust (OurBus) – 01803 212638
  • Plan your Journey with Traveline South West  – 0871 200 2233

Children’s Services

Children’s Services will be open 9am to 4pm on Tuesday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, re-opening 9am to 5pm from 27 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.

Emergencies

If you need to report a serious incident to Highways or Community Safety, please call the 24-hour emergency service team on 01803 701310.

Harbours

Torquay Harbour

Torquay Harbour office will be open 8am to 1pm on Tuesday 24 December. The office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing day, re-opening 8am to 5pm from 27 December through to 31 December. The office will be closed on New Year’s Day. Normal services resume on Thursday 2 January 2019.

Paignton Harbour

Paignton Harbour office will be closed from Friday 20 December until Monday 6 January 2020 when normal service resumes.

Brixham Harbour

Brixham Harbour office will be closed from 12pm on Tuesday 24 December. The office will be open on Friday 27 December, Monday 30 December and New Year’s Eve from 9am to 5pm.  The office will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Saturday 28 December, Sunday 29 December and New Year’s Day. Normal services resume on Thursday 2 January 2019.

Please note the Brixham Security team will be on duty over the Christmas Period 24/7 and contactable outside of the listed office hours above via the usual Harbour Office contact details.

Housing

Arrangements are currently being made for the Housing Options and Homeless Service over the Christmas and New Year period.  The Emergency Duty Service will be available out of hours on 0300 4564876 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 of website as and when arrangements are confirmed for the Christmas period.

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 1st 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.

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.

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.

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 you 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.

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.

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 the 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.