Christmas means changes to the opening hours of many public services, so we’ve rounded up some of the useful things you need to know.
In particular, many public buildings are shut as Wirral Council staff take unpaid leave as part of budget saving measures.
Bin collections
Grey or green bin collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day will take place the weekend before.
If your waste would normally be collected on Wednesday 25 December, it will be emptied on Saturday 21 December.
If you bin would usually be emptied on Thursday 26 December, you need to put it out on Sunday 22 December.
If your bin is due for collection on Wednesday 1 January 2020, please put it out on Saturday 28 December.
There will be no bulky collections between Christmas Day and 2 January.
The garden waste collection service is suspended until 13 January.
Leisure centres
West Kirby Concourse leisure centre is open up to and including Tuesday 24 December, until 5pm and is then closed on Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 December
It will be open as usual on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December and closed on Monday 30, Tuesday 31 December and Wednesday 1 January 2020, reopening as normal on Thursday 2 January.
The Creche is closed from Monday 23 December and will not reopen until Monday 6 January.
Libraries/One Stop Shops
West Kirby and Hoylake libraries will close at their usual times on Monday 23 December and not reopen until 2 January.
West Kirby One Stop Shop will close at 5pm on Monday 23 December, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2020.
Wirral Sailing Centre
The Centre closes at 4pm Friday 20 December and reopens at 9am on Friday 3 January 2020
Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
The council’s general telephone services, including Council Tax and benefits support, will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 24 December, reopening on Thursday 2 January.
Chemists
Local pharmacies open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day:
Wednesday 25 December 2019
Manor Pharmacy, 13 Station Approach, Meols, CH47 8XA from 2pm – 4pm
Thursday 26 December 2019
Manor Pharmacy, 13 Station Approach, Meols, CH47 8XA from 2pm – 4pm
Morrisons Pharmacy, Dee Lane, West Kirby, CH48 0QA from 10am – 4pm
Wednesday 1 January 2020
Manor Pharmacy, 13 Station Approach, Meols, CH47 8XA from 2pm – 4pm
Morrisons Pharmacy, Dee Lane, West Kirby, CH48 0QA from 10am – 4pm
A full list of Wirral pharmacies that are open on these days can be found here.
Trains
There is an early finish for Merseyrail on Christmas Eve, with the last train departing for Liverpool at 20.01 and the last service for West Kirby leaving Moorfields at 20.31.
There will be no Merseyrail services on Christmas Day.
A limited stop service will run every half hour on Boxing Day, starting from West Kirby at 09.01 and calling at Leasowe, Birkenhead North, Conway Park, James Street and Liverpool Central, with the last train departing at 18.01. Return journeys start at 09.26 from Liverpool Central with the last service at 18.26.
On New Year’s Eve, there is an early finish for Merseyrail with the last train departing for Liverpool at 20.01 and the last service for West Kirby leaving Moorfields at 20.31.
On New Year’s Day, a Sunday service will be in operation.
For more information visit www.merseyrail.org/christmas
