Christmas and New Year holidays won’t stop Croydon Council providing vital public services to its residents.
An army of dedicated public servants will be ready to forego their turkey to deal with any of a range of issues that might crop up over the festive period.
As usual, round-the-clock help from the council’s social services emergency team will ensure that vulnerable or at-risk residents receive the help they need.
And the teams that maintain the roads, and grit them when snow or ice is forecast, will be ready to respond to any adverse weather conditions.
The council’s control room will be ensuring law and order prevails with on-duty officers providing 24-hour surveillance of the council’s CCTV cameras, located across the borough.
This year will see only two days on which there will be no household waste collection. Collections scheduled for Friday 25 December will take place on Sunday 27 December; those scheduled for Friday 1 January, will take place on Saturday 2 January.
Missed collections can be reported using the My Account service at https://my.croydon.gov.uk or by calling 020 8726 6200.
Among the recyclables that should not be placed in the domestic recycling boxes are electrical items. Many are made of valuable plastics and metals, so should be taken either to one of the council’s three household reuse and recycling centres, or to one of the seven waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling banks located around the borough (see below).
Any appliance that has a plug or uses a battery is classed as WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) and can be recycled, along with domestic batteries and energy-efficient light bulbs in these banks.
Larger electrical equipment, such as televisions, fridges and freezers, should be taken to a household reuse and recycling centre.
With almost one million Christmas trees thrown away each year in London alone, it is important to remember that the council will take and recycle real Christmas trees. They can be taken to one of the council’s designated recycling collection points (see below) with collections on Sundays 3 and 10 January.
Residents are asked not to leave trees at any of the collection points after Saturday 9 January. Trees needing to be disposed of after that date can be taken to one of the borough’s three reuse and recycling centres. Please remember to take the tree from its pot or stand, and to remove any decorations before offering for recycling.
Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader – Clean Green Croydon
“Our Don’t mess with Croydon campaign is continuing to be a hit with residents. We now have almost 270 Clean and Green Street Champions, and they’re doing a great job of helping keep our streets cleaner and improving the borough’s recycling figures.
“Of course, we in the council, want to see all that good work and commitment continue, and that means keeping on top of the task over the Christmas period.
“We’re doing all we can to make things as easy as possible for residents to recycle as much as possible, and to carry on the great work into 2016 and beyond.
“By pulling together we can all help make Croydon cleaner and greener.”
Services’ operating times
Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House
Thursday 24 December Open as normal
Friday 25 December Closed
Saturday 26 December Closed
Sunday 27 December Closed
Monday 28 December Closed
Tuesday 29 December Open as normal
Wednesday 30 December Open as normal
Thursday 31 December Open as normal
Friday 1 January Closed
Saturday 2 January Closed
Sunday 3 January Closed
Monday 4 January Open as normal
Croydon Council call centre
Thursday 24 December Open as normal
Friday 25 December Closed
Saturday 26 December Closed
Sunday 27 December Closed
Monday 28 December Closed
Tuesday 29 December Open as normal
Wednesday 30 December Open as normal
Thursday 31 December Open as normal
Friday 1 January Closed
Saturday 2 January Closed
Sunday 3 January Closed
Monday 4 January Open as normal
Croydon leisure centres
Thursday 24 December Closed
Friday 25 December Closed
Saturday 26 December Closed
Sunday 27 December Check local times
Monday 28 December Check local times
Tuesday 29 December Check local times
Wednesday 30 December Check local times
Thursday 31 December Check local times
Friday 1 January Closed
Saturday 2 January Open as normal
Sunday 3 January Open as normal
Monday 4 January Open as normal
For leisure centre details, go to www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/sports/spsc
Croydon libraries
Thursday 24 December Close 1pm
Friday 25 December Closed
Saturday 26 December Closed
Sunday 27 December Closed
Monday 28 December Closed
Tuesday 29 December Open as normal
Wednesday 30 December Open as normal
Thursday 31 December Close 4pm
Friday 1 January Closed
Saturday 2 January Open as normal
Sunday 3 January Closed
Monday 4 January Open as normal
For full details, go to www.croydonlibraries.com
Domestic waste and recycling collections
Normal collection date Revised collection date
Thursday 24 December No change
Friday 25 December Sunday 27 December
Friday 1 January Saturday 2 January
Missed collections can be reported via MyAccount at https://my.croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8726 6200.
Household reuse and recycling centres
• Factory Lane, Waddon CR0 3RL
• Purley Oaks, Brighton Road, Purley CR8 1DG
• Fishers Farm, North Downs Crescent, New Addington CR0 0LB
Please note that the three household reuse and recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
WEEE recycling banks
• Central Parade, New Addington CR9 1HS
• Co-op, Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead CR2 9DQ
• Forestdale car park, Selsdon Park Road, CR0 9AS
• Kenley station, Kenley Lane, CR8 5DF
• Lloyd Park Recreation Ground, Coombe Road CR0 5RB
• Tesco car park, Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2HA
• Waitrose car park, Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead CR2 9LE
Christmas tree collection points
Ashburton Ashburton Park, access from Tenterden Road
Coulsdon East Grange Park, Canon’s Hill
Fairfield Oaks Road/Coombe Road car park
Heathfield Addington Park car park, Gravel Hill
Kenley Kenley Residents’ Association, Oaks Road green
New Addington Central Parade car park
New Addington Fisher’s Farm reuse and recyc centre, North Downs Road
Norbury Granville Gardens car park
Purley Upper Woodcote Village RA, Woodcote Village green
Purley Purley Oaks reuse and recycling centre, Brighton Road
Sanderstead Occasionally Yours, Limpsfield Road
Selsdon Selsdon Rec Ground, access from Woodlands Gardens
Shirley Monks Orchard green
Shirley Shirley Park RA, Green Court Gardens green
South Norwood Whitehorse Meadow, Parry Road
Upper Norwood Secret Garden, Westow Street
Waddon Wyevale Garden Centre, Waddon Way
Waddon Factory Lane reuse and recycling centre, Factory Lane
It may be Christmas, but there is always the possibility that people will find themselves under the weather and in need of treatment. Should that prove the case, limited services will be open and available across the borough.
Where to get treatment and medicines in Croydon
• Call 111 when you need quick, non-emergency medical help.
• Edridge Road Community Health Centre – open from 8am to 8pm every day, with a GP surgery and pharmacy.
• Mayday Community Pharmacy, 514 London Road – open from 9am to 10pm every day.
• Your own GP – check surgery opening times.
• Pharmacy First – community pharmacists providing advice and medicines on a range of minor ailments.
• Minor injuries units – Parkway Health Centre, New Addington; and Purley War Memorial Hospital – open 2pm to 8pm.
• Urgent care centre and sexual health service – Croydon University Hospital.
• Urgent care centre – Purley War Memorial Hospital.
For more information, visit www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/choose-well.htm