New council to provide public services throughout Easter weekend

The Easter bank holiday will mean only minimal changes to services after a new council launches to cover the whole of North Yorkshire, residents have been assured.

There are some minor changes to waste collection services for residents due to the Easter bank holidays, however many other services will continue to operate as usual, including household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

Although phone lines and non-essential services will be closed on Good Friday, which falls on April 7 this year, and Bank Holiday Monday on April 10, emergency out of hours support for services such as emergency housing repairs or homelessness support remains available as usual.

The new North Yorkshire Council’s online services will be open and can be accessed 24 hours a day.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said: “Our teams have worked hard to minimise any disruption to residents.

“These arrangements ensure that all businesses and residents across North Yorkshire will continue to receive and access the services they need over the Easter holidays.”

The new North Yorkshire Council will provide services from April 1 which were previously delivered by the county council as well as district and borough authorities.  

The new council will be launched when North Yorkshire County Council and the existing seven district and borough authorities merge in the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974 to pave the way for a devolution deal.

North Yorkshire County Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, who is also the incoming leader of the new council, added: “Support, advice and services for our residents will continue to be delivered but from just one council instead of eight.

“These minor changes to our services, as a result of the Easter bank holidays, affect waste and recycling collections which may change for some of our residents. 

“As you’d expect, some services will be closed as usual on Good Friday and Easter Monday, however emergency support for those who need it out of the normal working hours will be in place as usual.

“And as ever, our household waste recycling centres will be open as usual to support those residents taking advantage of the long weekend to catch up on their DIY projects and who may need to dispose of their waste.”

Further information and a full breakdown of service changes can be found on North Yorkshire County Council’s website at www.northyorks.gov.uk/spring-holidays-service-changes including how to contact the new authority over the Easter weekend.