Observer column 26 December 2025

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, leader of Hastings Borough Council. 

I wanted to use the last column of the year to wish all residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and to let you know about the council’s services over the Christmas period. 

The offices will be closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday 24 December until Monday 5 January 2026. My Hastings will be open for anyone who needs to report any issues, and you will be able to see your council tax or benefits accounts over the break. 

You can also find answers to the most frequently asked questions on our website so please check online. 

Waste and recycling collections will change over the next two weeks – collections will be two working days later than usual from Wednesday 24 December. Collections will be back to normal from Monday 12 January. You can check your collection date using your postcode on our website.

Bulky waste and garden waste collections will be suspended from Thursday 25 December for two weeks. Garden waste collections will be back to normal from Thursday 8 January. Bulky waste collections will be back to normal from Friday 2 January.  

When you’re ready to get rid of your real Christmas tree, there are several ways you can do this. We have joined with St Michael's Hospice who will collect trees for a donation. You can remove the decorations and cut the tree into 4-inch pieces to put in your garden waste bin if you are signed up for collections. You can also take it to your nearest tip, check their opening hours on the East Sussex County Council website and remember to book your slot. 

Parking in our car parks will be free on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Some of the car parks will have different opening and closing times over Christmas, please check before you park. 

The Cemetery and Crematorium grounds and book of remembrance room will remain open from 9am to 4.30pm, except on 29, 30 and 31 December when they will open at 8.30am.

Our social media channels will have key messages and dates over the break, but they will not be monitored over the closure period. Any messages will be picked up from Monday 5 January. There will be officers on-call to deal with any emergencies over the closure period, please report these to 999 and the emergency services will be able to contact the appropriate officers.  

Full details of our services over Christmas are available on our special webpage.

For those who find Christmas and new year a difficult time, there is help and support available throughout the festive period through NHS Sussex.