Highland Council Service Arrangements Over Festive Period 2021/2022

31st December 2021

The Highland Council advises its service users and customers of its opening hours and service arrangement over the festive period.

The Service Centre will close at 4pm on 24 December, re-opening on 29, 30 and 31 December (opening times 10am to 4pm). It will be closed on 1, 2, 3 and 4 January 2022 and open 8am to 5pm from 5 January 2022.

Service Points will close at 4pm on 24 December, operating their current part time hours 29, 30 and 31 December. They are closed 1, 2, 3 and 4 January 2022 and open on 5 January 2022. Opening hours differ depending on location. Find the details for your local Service Point at this link (external link) on our website.

Inverness Registration Office will close at 4pm on 24 December. Staff will be available by appointment only on 29, 30 and 31 December (10am to 4pm). It will be closed 1, 2, 3 and 4 January and will reopen for appointments from 9am on 5 January 2022.

Urgent death registration appointments will also be available on 29, 30 and 31 December at various offices across Highland, please contact your local Funeral Director who will advise.

Coronavirus Helpline

Call 0300 303 1362 for support including emergency food for those in crisis including those who must self-isolate and have no other way of getting food supplies.

Online services

Contact the Council anytime online to report a problem, ask for something or make a payment:

www.highland.gov.uk/report
www.highland.gov.uk/request
www.highland.gov.uk/pay
Recycling Centres and Bin Collections

There are no changes to household and business waste collection dates during the Christmas and New Year holidays. All household waste recycling centres will be closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.

For info on recycling centres visit www.highland.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

For 2022 bin calendars visit www.highland.gov.uk/bincalendars

Handy numbers in the event of an emergency

In an emergency dial 999 for the police, fire and ambulance service.

For non-emergencies, you can contact the police on 101 and the fire service on 01382 835804.
Highland Council emergency out of hours phone numbers

Health and social care - 08457 697284
Roads, parks, flooding and street lighting - 01349 886690
Housing, homelessness, and public buildings - 01349 886691
Registration - 07818 588 203
Trunk road maintenance

BEAR Scotland - 0800 587 1107
Other numbers

Gas Freephone - 0800 111 999
NHS 24 - Call free on 111 if you are ill and it can't wait until your regular NHS service reopens
Police Scotland – 101 (for all services)
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - 01382 835804 (24 hours)
Scottish and Southern Electric Freephone - 0800 300 999
Scottish Water - 0800 0778 778 (24 hours)
SEPA Floodline - 0345 988 1188
SEPA Pollution hotline – 0800 807060 (24 hours)

The Highland Council and NHS Highland are reminding Highland residents of the importance of reaching out for help if this is needed over the festive period. If someone is concerned about their own or someone else's mental health, then it is important to contact their GP or to call NHS 24 on 111. If there is a concern someone is in immediate danger then emergency services should be called on 999.

There is also a range of other helpline support in place for people needing to speak with someone:

Samaritans - 116 123 (calls are free and do not show on a phone bill)
Breathing Space - 0800 83 85 87
Mikey’s Line - 07786 207755 (textline)
Ewen’s Room - 07537 431637 (textline)
National Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0800 027 1234
LGBT Helpline Scotland 0300 123 2523
Childline - 0800 1111
CRUSE Bereavement Care Scotland – 0808 802 6161
Should you be concerned about a vulnerable adult, whether for care, welfare or mental health reasons, you can contact the following numbers:

​Adult Protection Concern helpline – 0800 902 0042 in office hours; and
out of office hours or during holiday periods – 0845 769 7284.