Information and guidance on East Lothian Council office closures - Christmas 2023/New Year 2024
Local area offices
All local area offices will close at 4pm on Friday 22 December (payments desks will close at 12 noon) and reopen on Wednesday 3 January at 10am.
Libraries
Libraries not open on Saturdays will close at 5pm on Friday 22 December (East Linton 4pm). Those libraries open on Saturdays will close at 1pm on Saturday 23 December, excluding Musselburgh and Haddington who will close at 4pm. Normal opening hours will resume from Wednesday 3 January. Please note that Port Seton Library will not re-open until Tuesday 9 January as the Centre is closed until then.
Customer services
Customer Services within Brunton Hall, Musselburgh will be open 10am-4pm from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December.
Customer Services Reception within John Muir House will be open 10am-4pm from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December, please note that no payments will be accepted at John Muir House, Haddington during this time.
Waste Services
There are some changes to green bin and recycling collections over the festive period. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2 January are all on either a Monday or Tuesday.
If your collection is usually on a Monday or Tuesday, it will take place earlier than normal over weekends during the Christmas and New Year period.
Other collections take place on regular collection days.
Click here for further info and to and check your collection calendar.
Our Recycling Centres are usually open seven days a week, from 8:30am to 5:00pm. However they will not be open on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January, and will close at the earlier time of 2:00pm on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.
Real Christmas trees can be composted by taking them to a Recycling Centre or presenting them beside your brown bin on garden waste collection dates in January and the 1 and 2 of February.
Museums
Please check with individual museum, full details on website www.eastlothian.gov.uk/museums
Registration of births, deaths and marriages
John Muir House, Haddington
Friday 22 December: 9am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 December: Closed
Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 December: 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Friday 29 December: 9am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 January: Closed
Appointments necessary Tel No 01620 827308
Social Work emergencies
In cases of Social Work Emergencies contact Emergency Social Care Services on 01875 824309
Housing emergencies
Housing Repair Emergencies only – 01875 612818
Homeless Hotline – FREEPHONE 0800 169 1611
Scottish Welfare Fund
The Scottish Welfare Fund Team will close at 4pm on Friday 22 December and reopen on Wednesday 3 January at 10am. However, the team will be open from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December to deal with any crisis grant applications made during the office closure. Applications can be made online 24/7 at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/scottishwelfarefund and any claims received will be dealt with during office hours.
Road Services/Transportation
Please contact 01875 612818 for all Road and Transportation emergencies.
Brunton Theatre box office
Box office at The Brunton will be open on 27,28,29 and 30 December. Closed on 24, 25,26, 31 December and 1 and 2 January.
Bookings can still be made online at www.thebrunton.co.uk at this time.
Community Centres
Please check with individual centre. Full details available on council website: