Epsom & Ewell Borough Council launches cost of living campaign to support residents this winter
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) is raising awareness of the range of support available to residents struggling with the cost of living crisis.
The Council have created a dedicated page on the EEBC website, which pulls together information on what the Council and other local and national organisations can do to help in one place at: epsom-ewell.gov.uk/cost-of-living
Residents will find advice in a wide range of areas, including energy and housing payments, health costs, food, applying for benefits, employment support and local places to go to keep warm. There are also specific areas for families with children and older residents.
The Council will also be sharing information and money-saving tips through social media and other material out in the Borough to reach as many people as possible with the help available.
Councillor Alex Coley, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee, “We are aware of the significant effects rising costs in all areas are having on people’s everyday lives in the Borough. We want to ensure that those who need help are aware of what support is available and are able to access it.”
“This campaign is an opportunity for the residents, charities, the Council and Councillors to work together to help each other through the current crisis. If you are affected by the cost of living crisis, please visit the Council’s webpage, look out for and engage with the advice on its social media and across the Borough or contact your ward Councillor to share your concerns. We’re all here to help.’
Bin collections over the Christmas break
Your bin collection day may change over the Christmas and New Year period.
To find out your collection days, take a look here: epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/recycling-and-waste/christmas-and-new-year-collections
Christmas opening times for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council services
Some services will be closed at times during the festive period.
The majority of our services will operate as normal over the festive period, but there are some changes to take into account Bank Holidays.
You can contact us via our website and via our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor and Instagram) - these are monitored during normal Town Hall opening hours.
In emergencies, we can be contacted on 01372 732000 - this service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bourne Hall
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) - Closed
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) - Closed
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed
- Thursday 29 December – 9.30am-5pm
- Friday 30 December – 9.30am-5pm
- Saturday 31 December – 9.30am-5pm
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
Car parks
- Hook Road car park
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) - Closed
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) - Closed
- Wednesday 28 December – 6am–11pm
- Thursday 29 December – 6am–11pm
- Friday 30 December - 6am–11pm
- Saturday 31 December - 7am–8pm
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
- All other car parks will remain open during the festive period.
On Christmas Day, parking in all borough council car parks will be free of charge (except Hook Road which will be closed).
Community and Wellbeing Centre, including Wellbeing Daycare+
- Friday 23 December – Centre closing after lunch
- Saturday 24 December – Closed
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) – Closed
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed
- Thursday 29 December – Normal working hours
- Friday 30 December – Normal working hours
- Saturday 31 December - Closed
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
Epsom Cemetery, Ashley Road
The cemetery will be open as normal (9am – 4.30pm) for visitors over the Christmas/New Year period.
Harrier Centre
The Harrier Centre will be closed from Friday 23 December 2022 and reopens on Tuesday 3 January 2023.
Meals at home & Shopping Service
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) – Closed*
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) – Closed*
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed*
- Thursday 29 December – Normal service
- Friday 30 December - Normal service
- Saturday 31 December - Closed
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed*
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
*Note: Frozen meals and shopping deliveries can be provided in a week in advance for Boxing Day, Tuesday 27 December, Wednesday 28 December and Monday 2 January - these need to be booked in advance.
Nature reserves
Local nature reserves operate normal opening hours across the festive period.
Parks
Parks are open as normal across Christmas and the New Year.
Rubbish and recycling collections
Changes to the normal collection times over the Christmas and New Year period.
Telecare/Community Alarm
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) – Closed*
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) – Closed*
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed*
- Thursday 29 December – Normal service
- Friday 30 December - Normal service
- Saturday 31 December - Closed
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed*
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
*Note: Normal out of hours monitoring/equipment fault service available for Boxing Day, Tuesday 27 December, Wednesday 28 December and Monday 2 January.
Town Hall
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) - Closed
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) - Closed
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed
- Thursday 29 December – 9am-5pm
- Friday 30 December - 9am-5pm
- Saturday 31 December - Closed
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
Transport from home
- Sunday 25 December (Christmas Day) – Closed
- Monday 26 December (Boxing Day) – Closed
- Tuesday 27 December (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Wednesday 28 December – Closed
- Thursday 29 December – Normal working hours
- Friday 30 December - Normal working hours
- Saturday 31 December - Closed
- Sunday 1 January – Closed
- Monday 2 January (Bank Holiday) – Closed
- Normal operating hours from Tuesday 3 January
Details of opening times are here.
Own your impact this festive season
It’s easier than you think to do your bit for the planet this Christmas. Simply recycling more of the right things will make a huge difference to the environment and is cheaper for your local council to process than rubbish is.
One of the easiest things to do is avoid buying greeting cards with batteries and glitter and steer clear of wrapping paper with glitter or a lining made of foil or plastic. To stay in Green Santa’s good books this year, you can also:
- Recycle all your cardboard food packaging.
- Empty, rinse and dry all plastic food and drink packaging before it goes in your recycling bin – and place all items loose (not bagged).
- Recycle cardboard delivery and toy boxes and fold them down to make more room in your recycling bin.
- Place all paper cards, envelopes and wrapping (that are glitter, foil and plastic free) in your recycling bin. Keep bows and ribbons and reuse them on other gifts!
- Place unrecyclable items such as hard plastic storage boxes, polystyrene, bubble wrap, and flexible plastic film in your rubbish bin. If in doubt, look up items on the Surrey Recycles search tool or download the free app where you’ll also see information about local recycling schemes for some of the above items that you can’t recycle at home.
- Plan food shops and party food in advance and freeze any cooked or uncooked food you didn’t get around to eating. Have you ever tried a food shopping app?
- Get creative with your leftovers, try some of our delicious recipes.
- Put food that can’t be eaten, like bones, eggshells and peelings into your food caddy.
- Remember that if your gifts replace old items like clothes and small electricals and batteries, they need to be recycled separately, not placed in your recycling bin – in most areas they are collected weekly. Find out what you need to do in your area with the Surrey Recycles search tool or download the free app.
- Look for places where you can recycle your Christmas tree, or replant and reuse next year. If you subscribe to your garden waste collection service, you can cut up your tree and place in the garden waste bin.
Find out more: https://www.surreyep.org.uk/prefestive-and-festive
