Christmas and New Year arrangements

Published Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Merry Christmas

THE following opening times during the Christmas and New Year period have been announced by the Borough Council, together with the arrangements that have been made for various council services:

Council office closing times

Borough Council services at the Hinckley Hub will close at 5.00pm on Tuesday 24 December and re-open at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January 2025. 

In an emergency call 01455 251137.

Refuse and recycling arrangements

Alternate arrangements for refuse (black bin) and recycling (blue-lid bin) collections due on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025 are as follows: 

  • Refuse due on Wednesday 25 December will be collected on Monday 23 December
  • Recycling (blue-lid) due on Wednesday 25 December will be collected on Friday 27 December
  • Refuse due on Thursday 26 December will be collected on Tuesday 24 December
  • Recycling (blue-lid) due on Thursday 26 December will be collected on Monday 30 December
  • Refuse due on Wednesday 1 January will be collected on Thursday 2 January
  • Recycling (blue-lid) due on Wednesday 1 January will be collected on Tuesday 31 December

For residents living in rural west areas of the borough who usually have garden and refuse bins collected on the same day, collection arrangements are as follows: 

  • Refuse due on Wednesday 25 December will be collected on Tuesday 24 December
  • Refuse due on Thursday 26 December will be collected on Friday 27 December
  • Recycling (blue-lid) due on Wednesday 1 January will be collected on Tuesday 31 December

All other refuse and recycling collections will continue on their usual days during the Christmas and New Year period.  

The garden waste (brown bin) collection service will be suspended for two weeks during the Christmas and New Year period (last collection Friday 20 December and collections starting again Monday 6 January 2025).

Residents can find full details of collection dates

Free parking on Saturdays in Hinckley

Christmas shoppers in Hinckley will once again be able to enjoy free car parking in selected town centre car parks on Saturdays this festive season. 

Shoppers can park for free from 9am in the Lower Bond Street, Trinity West and Castle car parks on Saturday 30 November and 7, 14 and 21 December as well as North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College car park (LE10 1QQ).

The Borough Council has agreed to repeat the popular offer again this year in order to thank shoppers for their loyalty and to increase trade for shops and businesses. 

Shoppers are reminded that parking is free in all council run car parks on Sundays throughout the year.

Christmas music

Shoppers and visitors can also enjoy festive music from the Salvation Army and MIND Brass Quartet on 7, 14, 21 December 10.30am to 12 noon and 1pm to 2.30pm.

Hinckley Market at Christmas

There will be markets in Hinckley on Friday 20 December, Saturday 21 December and Monday 23 December, plus Friday 27, Saturday 28 December and Monday 30 December. 

Hinckley Christmas lights car tour

The annual Hinckley’s Christmas lights car tour elderly and disabled people will be held on Wednesday 4 December. Castle Street will be open to traffic from 6pm to 8pm to allow the public to drive down with their elderly or disabled family and friends, allowing them to view the Christmas lights along Castle Street. There will be street entertainment and music from Hinckley All Age Community Choir along the route. Supported by the Hinckley United Reformed Church.

Carols around the tree

Wrap up warm and enjoy singing well known carols around the tree on Friday 13 December, 4.15pm to 5pm in partnership with Churches Together, Hinckley town centre.

Festive Feast and Craft Market

A Sunday food and craft market offering a selection of hot and cold food plus crafts, collectibles and gifts will be in Market Place, Hinckley on Sunday 15 December from 10am until 4pm.  

There will be 45+ stallholders including street foods, warming mulled wine and cider, crafts, gifts, collectibles and more plus live music, Santa on Stilts and entertainment from Fosse 107. Check our social media channels for more information.

Hinckley Cemetery

Hinckley Cemetery main gates will be open Christmas Eve 7.30am to 4pm and Christmas Day through to New Year’s Day 9am to 4pm.  Pedestrian access is open 24 hours every day.

Hinckley Leisure Centre

Hinckley Leisure Centre will close at 12 noon on 24 December and remain closed on 25 and 26 December. The centre’s opening hours on 27 December will be 8am to 6pm, 28 December 8am to 8pm, 29 December 8am to 6pm, 30 December 8am to 6pm and 31 December 7am to 3pm and remain closed on 1 January 2025. The centre will revert to normal opening hours from Thursday 2 January. For further information including the swim and class timetable see the leisure centre’s website (placesleisure.org) 

The community houses

Barwell, Earl Shilton and Wykin Community Houses close on Friday 13 December and re-open on Thursday 2 January 2025.

For road closures over the festive period (one.nework)