Christmas and New Year arrangements

We will close for the festive season at 5pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025, and reopen at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.

A telephone service will be available via the Customer Service Centre for the following services on Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st December from 9am to 12 noon -

Council Tax Enquiries - 01546 605511
Benefit Enquiries (including the Scottish Welfare Fund) - 01546 605512
Roads & Amenity Services - 01546 605514
Payments – 01546 605515 (automated line open 24/7)

Our Social Work service will be available from 9am to 5pm on the 29th, 30th and 31st December- you can contact them by telephone on:

Social Work – 01546 605517

The Homelessness Team can be contacted on their out of hours service number:

Homelessness Team - 0345 056 5457

For out of hours emergencies, the normal arrangements apply and contact details can be found at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/emergency-contact-numbers

Regulatory Services (Environmental Health, Animal Health and Building Standards ) will respond only to emergency situations where there is a risk to public health and will not provide any other service over the Christmas Period. Public health emergencies can be notified by contacting Police Scotland by calling 101. All other matters will be dealt after the 5th January 2026 and enquiries can be made by emailing envhealth@argyll-bute.gov.uk

If you need to contact the council by telephone during the holiday period and are not sure what number to use, the switchboard/general enquiries line – 01546 605522 – has recorded information to help you find what you are looking for.

The council’s website can be used as normal for reporting issues, making payments and sending enquiries. However, no action may be taken on some matters, like validation of planning applications and the processing of certain applications or enquiries, until council offices fully reopen on Monday 5th January 2026.

Bin collections and recycling centres

There will be some changes to scheduled bin collection dates over the Christmas and New Year period - Check for any changes to bin collections in your area here. Some collections are being made earlier than scheduled, so make sure you check collections in your area.

Check your bin collection dates for 2025 and 2026 here

All the household rubbish and recycling centres will be closed on 25th and 26th December 2025 and 1st and 2nd January 2026.

Ferry sailing times

There are some changes to our council-run ferry services over the Christmas and New Year period:

For all other transport providers please check their websites for more information.

Service disruptions

Our service disruptions page gives the latest information on any unplanned changes to services such as bin collections, and updates on any road closures and restrictions

Registration services

The Registration Service will close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and re-open at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.

During this time to arrange a death registration appointment for Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Lochgilphead, Oban, Rothesay, Islay and Colonsay, you can request an appointment through our website using our online form.

Or if you wish to speak to a registrar you can call during the following times and dates by telephoning the alternative contact numbers which will be available here from 24th December:

Between 10am and 11am on Sunday 28 December 2025
Between 9am and 12.30pm on Tuesday 30 December 2025 please call your local Registrar (contact numbers for each area will be available from 24th December)
Between 10am and 11am on Saturday 3 January 2026

Or contact us online here and we will respond on our return (5th January 2026).

Local Undertakers may assist arranging appointments out with these times.

Emergency registration arrangements for Mull and Tiree will be displayed on local Service Point notice boards. For Coll and Jura please contact your local Registrar.