Folkestone & Hythe District Council would like to wish all residents a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Changes to services over the festive period are outlined below and are also featured on the dedicated Christmas section of our website.
Information can also be found in the latest edition of Your District Today, either in print or online.
Christmas and new year household waste collections 2024
There will be some changes to your household waste and recycling collection dates over Christmas and the new year. They are as follows:
|
Original collection date |
Revised collection date |
|
Monday 23 December |
No change |
|
Tuesday 24 December |
No change |
|
Wednesday 25 December |
Friday 27 December |
|
Thursday 26 December |
Saturday 28 December |
|
Friday 27 December |
Monday 30 December |
|
Monday 30 December |
Tuesday 31 December |
|
Tuesday 31 December |
Wednesday 1 January |
|
Wednesday 1 January |
Thursday 2 January |
|
Thursday 2 January |
Friday 3 January |
|
Friday 3 January |
Saturday 4 January |
Garden waste collections are taking their usual break for Christmas. The last collection will be on Friday 22 December 2023 and the service will resume on Monday 8 January 2024.
Christmas and new year opening hours 2024
We will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2024 and then reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025, but most council services can be accessed 24/7 by visiting folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.
If you need to contact us in an emergency, please call 0300 003 0247. Please only phone if there's an emergency causing a threat to health and safety. This might include:
- if you're homeless and have nowhere to stay for the night
- an incident that puts people in immediate danger, such as severe flooding, a collapsing building or an explosion.
Free Christmas parking 2024
We've got a huge range of independent traders, as well as big brands, making it ideal for finding that perfect present and getting your Christmas shopping done.
Charges in district council car parks and on-street pay and display bays are once again being waived on the three Saturdays leading up to the big day:
- Saturday 7 December
- Saturday 14 December
- Saturday 21 December
Limited waiting (free) and controlled parking zone restrictions are still in place on the days listed above. This is to ensure people are able to park close to their homes and allow for a sufficient turnover of spaces.
Hythe Swimming Pool at Christmas 2024
Information about the opening hours for Hythe Swimming Pool over the Christmas 2024 break can be found below.
More information about the facility can be found on the sports and leisure section of our website.
| 20 December - 23 December |
Open as per the school holiday timetable, |
| 24 December |
7am-9am: Lengths only (main pool); 9am-midday: Both pools open (last tickets sold 45 minutes before close) |
| 25 December - 1 January | Closed |
| 2 January - 5 January | Open as per the school term timetable (pool will close at 4pm on 2 January) |
| 6 January | Open as per the school term timetable |
Free real Christmas tree collection
If you are a garden waste customer you can leave your real Christmas tree next to your brown lidded bin when collections resume on Monday 6 January 2025.
If you are not a garden waste customer please visit this page on Thursday 2 January 2025 for more details about how to request a real Christmas tree collection for free.