Christmas and New Year opening hours - Adur & Worthing Councils

Changes to bin collection days:

Opening hours for offices and other council services:

Parking:

Leisure:

Schools:

Also:

Main council offices

Note: During the Christmas and New Year break payments can still be made online or via telephone.

Back to top

Portland House, 44 Richmond Road, Worthing

(there is no cash office at Portland House - please see making payments)

Main Council offices opening/closing times:

Bold text shows days closed or with different hours to normal:

Monday, 21st December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 24th December 2020: Christmas Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day: Closed

Saturday, 26th December 2020: Boxing Day - Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: Closed (weekend)

Monday, 28th December 2020: Bank Holiday: Closed
Tuesday, 29th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 30th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 31st December 2020: New Year's Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 1st January 2021: New Year's Day: Closed

Saturday, 2nd January 2021: Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 3rd January 2021: Closed (weekend)

Back to normal hours on Monday, 4th January 2021: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Please note:

the Registrar's office (WSCC) in Portland House will be open as normal as per the opening times above
See also: Worthing Registrar's office - on the WSCC website

Making payments

Please note:

You can make payments using your barcoded bill or invoice at the Post Office or any PayPoint outlet
Alternatively you can use Direct Debit, or pay online on our website, or by phone on 0300 123 6002

Back to main council offices or Back to top

The Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5WU

(there is no cash office at The Shoreham Centre - please see making payments)

Adur & Worthing Councils' services at The Shoreham Centre:

Bold text shows days closed or with different hours to normal:

Monday, 21st December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 24th December 2020: Christmas Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day: Closed

Saturday, 26th December 2020: Boxing Day - Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: Closed (weekend)

Closed until further notice because of Tier 4 restrictions

Shoreham Centre's normal community events and functions:

For full details of their opening please see the Shoreham Centre's website

CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) at the Shoreham Centre :

For full details of their opening please see the CAB at the Shoreham Centre - on the CAB website

Back to main council offices or Back to top

Worthing Town Hall, Chapel Road, Worthing

(there is no cash office at Worthing Town Hall - please see making payments)

Worthing Town Hall Council offices:

Bold text shows days closed or with different hours to normal:

Monday, 21st December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 24th December 2020: Christmas Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day: Closed

Saturday, 26th December 2020: Boxing Day - Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: Closed (weekend)

Monday, 28th December 2020: Bank Holiday: Closed
Tuesday, 29th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 30th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 31st December 2020: New Year's Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 1st January 2021: New Year's Day: Closed

Saturday, 2nd January 2021: Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 3rd January 2021: Closed (weekend)

Back to normal hours on Monday, 4th January 2021: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Worthing Town Hall:

For opening times see: Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) at Worthing Town Hall - on the CAB website

Community Works, Worthing Town Hall:

For opening times see: Community Works website

Turning Tides, Worthing Town Hall:

For opening times see: Turning Tides website

Back to main council offices or Back to top

Telephone contact centre

Main Council offices opening/closing times:

Bold text shows days closed or with different hours to normal:

Monday, 21st December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 24th December 2020: Christmas Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day: Closed

Saturday, 26th December 2020: Boxing Day - Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: Closed (weekend)

Monday, 28th December 2020: Bank Holiday: Closed
Tuesday, 29th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Wednesday, 30th December 2020: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Thursday, 31st December 2020: New Year's Eve: 9:00am to 5:00pm (normal hours)
Friday, 1st January 2021: New Year's Day: Closed

Saturday, 2nd January 2021: Closed (weekend)
Sunday, 3rd January 2021: Closed (weekend)

Back to normal hours on Monday, 4th January 2021: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Out of hours - emergencies

The emergency phone number(s) are for use during evenings, weekends, bank holidays, etc ONLY when the offices are closed

These number(s) are for out of office hours emergencies only - if it is not an emergency situation then please wait until the offices are next open and use the office hours numbers shown in the contact details (at the end of the page) (right).

Adur and Worthing - emergencies only: 07713 889 128

Use of this out of hours service:

It will connect you to a duty supervisor who will be able to assist you further
Do not use the emergency phone number(s) during office hours - please use the office hours number in the contact details (at the end of the page) (right).

Back to top

Recycling and waste collections

Question: Why do I have to wait longer for my recycling and waste collections at this time of year?

Answer: The Councils have adopted a 'rollover day system' as waste facilities are not open for tipping or processing on bank/public holidays. Moving collection days to compensate for bank/public holidays ensures that a single group of residents are not always inconvenienced.

For more information see:

Recycling and waste collections

Recycling and waste collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period.

We collect all additional recycling that is outside of your recycling wheelie bin or box at any time of year. If you are regularly doing this every fortnight, have you considered an additional recycling bin?

There will be no recycling and waste collections on:

Christmas Day: Friday, 25th December 2020
Boxing Day / bank holiday: Monday, 28th December 2020
New Year's Day: Friday, 1st January 2021
or at weekends
Your normal collection day will then slip on to the next day (after each of the days above)

Note: To check your refuse and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period to ensure you place the correct bin out for collection please check carefully your recently issued calendar or use the bin day look up tool below:

Check your bin day and download a collection calendar

Town Centre collections:

Monday, 21st December 2020: collections unchanged
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: collections unchanged
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: collections unchanged
Thursday, 24th December 2020: Christmas Eve: collections unchanged
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day:
collections to be made on Thursday, 24th December 2020

Saturday, 26th December 2020: no collections (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: no collections (weekend)

Monday, 28th December 2020: bank holiday:
collections to be made on Tuesday, 29th December 2020
Tuesday, 29th December 2020: collections unchanged
Wednesday, 30th December 2020: collections unchanged
Thursday, 31st December 2020: New Year's Eve: collections unchanged
Friday, 1st January 2021: New Year's Day:
collections to be made on Thursday, 31st December 2020

Saturday, 2nd January 2021: no collections (weekend)
Sunday, 3rd January 2021: no collections (weekend)

Back to normal collections on Monday, 4th January 2021

Questions:

What happens if I have excess waste (side waste) over the festive period?
We will be taking all excess waste up to, and including, Wednesday, 13th January 2021.
- Food waste: Ideally black sacks containing food waste should be placed in the bins if possible to deter vermin.
- Non-food waste: Other non-food excess waste can be placed in bags or black sacks on the ground next to the bins.
- In all cases: Please ensure anything placed out for collection is as secure as possible to ensure it doesn't get wet and blow around.
Can I recycle cards and wrapping paper?
Yes, but please remove sellotape, plastic bows and any other non-paper decorations where possible.
Do you recycle shiny wrapping paper?
We only take shiny wrapping for recycling if it is actually paper (some shiny wrap is plastic). Unfortunately non-paper shiny wrap will have to go in with your other general household waste.
I have too much paper and card to go in my recycling bin, what do I do?
Please try to securely contain paper and card for recycling wherever possible to ensure it doesn't get wet and blow around, put it in a larger cardboard box or a tied sack (marked for recycling) if possible.
Can I recycle foil baking trays?
Yes, please ensure they are clean, dry and loose.
Can I recycle Christmas pudding bowls and cream pots?
Yes, please ensure they are clean, dry and loose.
Can I recycle my biscuit tin or plastic and metal sweet containers, etc?
Yes, cardboard, metal and plastic biscuit or sweet 'tins' can all be recycled, please ensure they are clean, dry and loose.

For more details on what we can recycle please see our:

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Garden waste collections

The last last garden waste collections at Christmas will take place on:

Tuesday, 29th December 2020

Collections will then resume as normal from:

Monday, 14th January 2021

Note: To check your refuse and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period to ensure you place the correct bin out for collection please check carefully your recently issued calendar or use the bin day look up tool below:

Check your bin day and download a collection calendar

See also real Christmas trees information in the section below.

Have you got a garden waste bin?

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Real Christmas tree collections

Real Christmas trees will be collected from:

Thursday 14th January 2021
Trees should be placed out next to your wheelie bins ready for collection by 6:30am on the morning of your next bin collection day (either recycling or refuse) after this date
Please cut big trees into smaller pieces if possible
Please remember to remove all decorations, baubles, tinsel and the lights before putting your trees out for collection
If you live in a flat and have a communal bin area then please put your Christmas tree out at the end of your entrance path near to, but not on, the pavement in a visible location so that they can be collected. Please do not put them in a location that will cause an obstruction or leave them in your communal bin area.
If your real Christmas tree still has its roots then why not try planting it out in your garden to enjoy all year round?

Artificial Christmas trees:

If you have an artificial tree then please package it away carefully and save it for re-use next Christmas along with all your decorations, tinsel and lights

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Clinical waste collections

Most clinical waste collections will remain the same except for the few changes as follows over the Christmas and New Year period:

No collections on:

Christmas Day: Friday, 25th December 2020
Boxing Day: Saturday, 26th December 2020
Bank Holiday: Monday, 28th December 2020
New Year's Day: Friday, 1st January 2020

Changed collection dates:

Monday, 21st December 2020: collections unchanged
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: collections unchanged
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: collections unchanged
Thursday, 24th December 2020: collections unchanged
Friday, 25th December 2020: Christmas Day
collections to be made on Thursday, 24th December 2020

Saturday, 26th December 2020: Boxing Day: no collections (weekend)
Sunday, 27th December 2020: no collections (weekend)

Monday, 28th December 2020: Bank Holiday
collections to be made on Tuesday, 29th 2020
Tuesday, 29th December 2020 collections unchanged
Wednesday, 30th December 2020 collections unchanged
Thursday, 31st December 2020: New Year's Eve collections unchanged
Friday, 1st January 2021: New Year's Day
collections to be made on Thursday, 31st December 2020

Saturday, 2nd January 2021: no collections (weekend)
Sunday, 3rd January 2021: no collections (weekend)

Monday, 4th January 2021 normal collections resume

In all cases: Please ensure your waste bag is available from 6:30am on the revised collection days above and is securely tied to avoid non-collection.

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Bulky waste collections

Bulky waste collections will be suspended between Christmas and New Year.

Last collection will be: Thursday, 24th December 2020.

Collections will resume on: Monday, 4th January 2021 and will be by appointment only.

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Commercial/trade waste collections

The commercial waste service will operate on all non-bank holiday days and individual businesses will be contacted about any changes to their service.

No collections on:

Christmas Day: Friday, 25th December 2020
New Year's Day: Friday, 1st January 2021

Collection dates:

Monday, 21st December 2020: collections unchanged
Tuesday, 22nd December 2020: collections unchanged
Wednesday, 23rd December 2020: collections unchanged
Thursday, 24th December 2020: collections unchanged

Tuesday, 29th December 2020: collections unchanged
Wednesday, 30th December 2020: collections unchanged
Thursday, 31st December 2020: collections unchanged

For all other collection days please contact the commercial waste department who can inform you of when your collection day will be

Normal collections will resume from Monday, 4th January 2021

For enquiries please contact 01273 263050.

Back to Recycling and waste collections or Back to top

Emergency recycling and waste collection updates

Emergency recycling and waste collection updates (eg in the event of snow and ice) will be posted on our:

Rubbish dumps/tips - Household Waste Recycling Sites

Household Waste Recycling Sites are run by West Sussex County Council (WSCC), not Adur & Worthing Councils.

For opening times and more information and details about the Christmas and New Year period please refer to their website using the relevant link below:

For those in the west of the district the household waste recycling site at Littlehampton may be more convenient:

Littlehampton tip (HWRS) - on the WSCC website

Leisure centres

Select the leisure centre you are interested in from the list below which will take you to their external website where you can find details of their opening times and information about their services:

Adur leisure centres - these are currently closed - see Adur Community Leisure: Statement from Leader of Adur District Council:
- Lancing Manor Leisure Centre
- Southwick Leisure Centre
- Wadurs swimming pool

Worthing leisure centres - opening times are available on the South Downs Leisure website - includes:
- Splashpoint Leisure Centre and swimming pool
- Worthing Leisure Centre
- Field Place
- Davison Leisure Centre
- Worthing College Fitness Centre

Back to top

Libraries

Libraries are run by West Sussex County Council (WSCC).

You can select the library you are interested in by using the link below to take you to the WSCC website:

Find opening hours for specific libraries on the WSCC website

Other useful information ...

The following webpages or external websites may also give other information or advice that may be of use or interest to you as well.

On our website:

On external websites:

Back to top

Personal security tips over Christmas and New Year

The Christmas and New year holiday period is the time for festivities, the work's do, family parties and general good cheer.

Pubs and clubs are busy and most of us tend to drink more than we usually do and sometimes far more than we should!

It is the time of the year to see colleagues, friends and relatives, enjoy ourselves and let our hair down.

However, whilst we want to enjoy ourselves, there are a few simple precautions that anyone can take to stay safe and minimise personal risk:

General advice

Leave the car at home if you are going to have any contact with alcohol. Do not drink and drive!
- see Drink driving penalties on the GOV.UK website

Keep your mobile phone handy - with credit and a full battery charge!

If possible plan your evening and make sure friends and/or a loved one knows where you're going and who you are with.

At a pub, club or party do not leave drinks unattended and do not leave, or let a friend leave, alone or with strangers. If you find yourself alone in a pub, club or party and you are receiving unwanted attention from a stranger, or strangers, do not be frightened to talk to the licensee, bar staff or door staff. They are well aware of the perils and will assist you. If approached in the street and being coerced you must draw attention to your predicament. There are extra police on duty in the town centres in the evenings, there are door staff outside most town centre venues, marshals at the Worthing town centre taxi rank, lots of licensed taxi drivers, other late night workers, Worthing Street Pastors and other members of the public about. Make someone aware you are in distress!

The obvious advice to anyone partying and enjoying themselves is to try not to drink too much and don't get separated from your friends. It is important to have your wits about you, not to leave yourself vulnerable and to make sure none of your friends are left in such a predicament.

Back to personal security tips or Back to top

Getting a cab

Do not accept lifts from strangers or anyone you suspect has been drinking. Over the Christmas festivities anyone partying, if not using a designated driver from among their group of friends or getting a friend or relative to pick them up, will likely need a taxi to get home afterwards.

Official registered taxis offer the public a safe and convenient means of transport and are particularly useful vital the festivities when 'Christmas cheer' is so abundant. Whilst a very rare occurrence in Adur or Worthing, a number of people over the years, have been attacked by 'cab drivers'. Nationally, the vast majority of these attacks have been associated with unlicensed drivers, in unlicensed vehicles.

Its common sense and vital that the public, particularly those considered vulnerable - such as single lone females, only use a licensed taxi or a licensed private hire operator. Licensed taxi & private hire drivers have passed a criminal record check, a health check and passed an exam. Licensed vehicles have undergone stringent safety checks and have valid insurance. There are obviously no such guarantees with unlicensed cars and drivers. Unlicensed drivers sometimes have ulterior motives!

Here are a number of simple steps to assure yourself that the vehicle you are entering is licensed. These precautions will help to ensure your safety when using taxis and private hire vehicles:

If in Worthing town centre do not try and flag cars down. Go to the taxi rank. In South Street Square SIA registered Taxi Marshals are deployed from midnight until 5:00am to look after the public and ensure their safety.
If possible book your taxi or private hire vehicle well in advance from a reputable firm particularly during the busy 'holiday nights'. You do not want to be left waiting in the street. Many venue staff will book a vehicle for you if you ask nicely.
If booking in advance, ask for your driver's name and what sort of car he will be driving, then when the car arrives, make sure it is your car by confirming the driver's name or making sure he/she confirms yours.
It is vital to make sure the vehicle is licensed. All licensed taxis and private hire vehicles should have a licence plate at the top left corner of the windscreen with the vehicle's details, and another on the back of the vehicle.
Do not approach a 'likely' car and ask "Can you take me to ...?" This is inviting serious problems at any time but this is particularly so if you are on your own!
When you are happy that the vehicle is licensed, make sure the driver is licensed as well. He will be wearing a photo ID badge around his neck, matching the plate on the car, issued by Adur District Council or Worthing Borough Council. If your vehicle is a taxi, or a Private Hire Vehicle using a meter, make sure that the meter is not already clocking up a fare. (But remember the driver is entitled to charge you if you have kept him waiting).
Do not sit in the front unless absolutely necessary and try not to engage the driver in too much conversation - he does not need the distraction.
Please do not phone for half-a-dozen cars and take the first one to arrive. This hurts drivers' ability to make a living and other people will have to wait longer for a car. Furthermore, many companies now have caller ID on their phone systems, and will automatically block a call from a 'time-waster'. You may not find this out until you need a car urgently and cannot get one.
Do not take a private hire car booked by someone else. If the driver takes you without a proper booking he may not have insurance. That means that you will not be covered while a passenger in his car. If you are injured in an accident, it is too late to get insurance cover. No-one needs insurance until they really need it, and by then it is far, far too late.
Finally, pay the driver. He has done you a service and should be paid for it. If you do not pay, you could end up in Court!