Basildon Council will continue to offer its key services to residents over the festive period.

The Basildon Centre, in St Martin’s Square, will be open to the public between Christmas and New Year to ensure residents can make face-to-face and telephone enquiries.

During this time residents will be able to access services including payments, business rates, council tax and benefits support, housing, planning and building control. Our Environmental Health safety advisors will also be working as usual.

The Basildon Centre will close at 4pm on Friday 22 December. It will be open between 9am and 1pm on Saturday 23 December for payments and assisted self-service before closing until Wednesday 27 December, when normal service will resume.

The Basildon Centre will then close again at 4pm on Friday 29 December. It will be open between 9am and 1pm on Saturday 30 December for payments and assisted self-service before closing until Tuesday 2 January, when normal opening times will return.

Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Basildon Council’s Chairman of the Policy and Resources committee, said: “We believe in getting the basics right so it is important to us that we can deal with residents’ enquiries and continue to offer our key services throughout the festive season.

“I wish all of our residents a happy Christmas.”

Basildon Council’s emergency out-of-hours team will be on call throughout the Christmas period as usual on 01268 533333.

The Place, in Pitsea, will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The Towngate Theatre will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For more information about opening times visit www.basildon.gov.uk/christmasopening

Wat Tyler Country Park is open daily from 9am until 5pm, including on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.