BRACKNELL Forest Council has announced its timetable to provide a number of services over the Christmas and New Year period but several changes will be in place, including: Council offices Easthampstead House and Time Square offices will be open as normal from 8.30am to 5pm to the public on Christmas Eve, December 27, 30 and 31. They will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Housing and benefits team The housing benefit team will be in the office as usual on Christmas Eve to help with enquiries.

However, in order for applications to be processed that day, you must come in to our Time Square offices by 3pm so the necessary work can be carried out. The earlier you come in the better the chance we have to get you what you need. The team will continue to give advice until 5pm.

Leisure centres If you want to relax with the family at one of the council’s leisure sites, or fancy burning a few calories after overindulging this Christmas, make sure you check out what’s open and when.

Bracknell Leisure Centre • Christmas Eve – 6.30am to 4pm • Christmas Day – closed • Boxing Day – closed • December 27 – 7am to 4pm • December 28 – 8am to 6pm • December 29 – 8am to 6pm • December 30 – 7am to 7pm • New Year’s Eve – 7am to 4pm • New Year’s Day – closed • January 2 – 6.30am to 11pm Sandhurst Sports Centre Closed from Christmas Eve until January 1, then open normal hours from January 2.

Edgbarrow Sports Centre • Christmas Eve - 7am to 6pm • Christmas Day - closed • Boxing Day - closed • December 27 - noon to 8pm • December 28 - 10am to 6pm • December 29 - 10am to 6pm • December 30 - noon to 8pm • December 31 - Open for panto only • January 1 - Closed • January 2 - Open from 5pm • January 3 - Back to normal opening hours (7am to 11.30pm) Downshire Golf Course Closed Christmas Day only (reduced hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).

The Look Out Discovery Centre Christmas Eve to Boxing Day – closed Coral Reef • Closed until December 27 for annual maintenance • December 27 – 10.30am to 5.45pm • December 28 – 9am to 5.45pm • December 29 – 9am to 5.45pm • December 30 – 9.30am to 5.45pm • New Year’s Eve – 9.30am to 4pm • New Year’s Day – 11am to 5.45pm • January 2 – 9.30am to 8.45pm Libraries • All libraries are closed between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day • December 27 – all libraries open as normal • December 28 – all libraries open as normal • December 30 – all libraries open as normal • New Year’s Eve - Birch Hill and Harmans Water close at 12.30pm; Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurstand Whitegrove will close at 1pm; • Ascot Heath, Binfield and Great Hollands will be closed all day.

• New Year’s Day - all libraries closed • January 2 - all libraries open as normal Waste and recycling collections Normal collections will take place on December 23 and 24.

• Collections due on Christmas Day will be collected on Friday December 27.

• Collections due on Boxing Day will be collected on Saturday December 28.

• Collections due on Friday, December 27, will be collected on Monday, December 30.

• Collections due on Monday, December 30, will be collected on Tuesday, December 31.

• Collections due on Tuesday, December 31, will be collected on Thursday, January 2.

• Collections due on New Year's Day will be collected on Friday, January 3.

• Collections due on Thursday, January 2, will be collected on Saturday, January 4.

• Collections due on Friday, January 3, will be collected on Monday, January 6.

• Collections due on Monday , January 6, will be collected on Tuesday, January 7 • Collections due on Tuesday, January 7, will be collected on Wednesday, January 8.

• Collections due on Wednesday, January 8, will be collected on Thursday, January 9.

• Collections due on Thursday, January 9, will be collected on Friday, January 10.

• Collections due on Friday, January 10, will be collected on Saturday, January 11.