Listed below are changes to Council Services during the Festive Period from December 2025 to January 2026, including closure dates and any planned changes to Services over Christmas and New Year. If you are uncertain about any changes to a specific service, please contact them directly.
NHS Shetland has details of Festive Opening Times for local health and care services, including pharmacies, dentists, opticians and patient travel. If you need urgent care or mental health support, please call NHS24 on 111. If you have a serious illness or injury, please call 999.
Local contact details and opening hours of Third Sector care and support organisations are available on the website of Voluntary Action Shetland
Council Offices
Most Council premises, including
- Lerwick Town Hall
- Hayfield House
- 8 North Ness
- Solarhus
- Gremista
- Grantfield
- Sella Ness
will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025 and will reopen again on the morning of Monday 5th January 2026.
Specific Council services are listed below.
Roads - Winter maintenance 2025/26
Holiday arrangements for treatment of Ice and Snow
The treatment of ice and snow is a daytime service only, starting at 6am. No routine treatment is provided in the evenings or overnight. Roads will be treated throughout the festive period as per the normal winter service.
A gritting service will be provided on Christmas Day and New Year’s day public holidays, with gritting of the Priority One roads in the morning only, and with increased application of salt so that this is retained on the road surface into the afternoon. There will be no treatment on days where the fitting of snow ploughs would be required to clear snow, as this requires double manning and could not be operationally delivered with the number of staff likely to be available
A gritter crew in each area will be on standby in the evenings and on Christmas and New Year’s Days to respond to “blue light” emergencies, Police call-outs and severe weather conditions.
If you must drive in snowy conditions and require a road condition report please contact:
- Roads - 01595 744866 - office hours, extended during bad snow conditions
- Visit our roads winter treatment pages for more information
Gremista Waste Management Facility and Recycling Centre
Opening hours for the Gremista Waste Management Facility in Lerwick can be found here (PDF, 580Kb)
Please note that the Gremista site will be CLOSED on
- Thursday 25th, Friday 26th & Saturday 27th December 2025
- and Thursday 1st, Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd January 2026
The site will also close early on Wednesday 24th December and on Wednesday 31st December 2025.
The site will open as normal from Monday 5th January 2026.
Refuse Collections
Household collection dates for the Christmas and New Year period can be found here (PDF, 630kB)
- There will be NO collections on Thursday 25th or Friday 26th 2025; or on Thursday 1st or Friday 2nd January 2026.
- Please place your refuse or recycling bins out for collection at 7.30am on the appropriate day.
- Normal household collections will resume from Monday 5th January 2026
Ferries
- The Festive Period timetable for the Council's Inter-Island Ferries is available on our Ferries webpage (PDF)
- Current Ferry Status information is also available online and via the telephone Voicebanks
Ferry Bookings
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Ferry sailings on 25th & 26th December, and 1st & 2nd January must be booked in advance. Bookings can be made online up to 30 minutes before published sailing times at ferry.shetland.gov.uk/.
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The Ferries Booking Office at Ulsta (01595 745804) will close at 1500hrs on the 24th and 31st December 2025; and will reopen again at 0800hrs on 27th December and 3rd January respectively.
- Northlink Ferries have details of sailings between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick over the Festive period on their website.
Buses and inter-island flights
There will be NO public bus services running in Shetland on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th December 2025; and Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd January 2026.
The ZetTrans website has full details of changes to Bus Services during the Festive period.
In the event of service disruption, updates can be obtained by calling the Bus Service Voicebank on 01595 745744.
An interactive webpage with full details of bus, flight and ferry timetables on routes throughout Shetland is available at: https://travel.shetland.org/
Tingwall Airport will be CLOSED on:
- Thursday 25th and Friday 26th December 2025
- & Thursday 1st and Friday 2rd January 2026
Details of inter-island flight timetables can be found on the Airtask website.
Anchor for Families
The Anchor for Families Project is now part of the Shetland Family Centre - please see details below
Adult Services (Learning Disability and Autism)
- Day Services and Lunch Clubs – Individual service users will be informed of the arrangements at their day service.
- Supported Living and Outreach and ACT Service – Supported accommodation services will operate as normal. If tenants’ plans change they should contact their keyworker or care co-ordinator to discuss.
- Short Break and Respite Services (Newcraigielea) – Individual families will be informed of the arrangements.
- Supported Vocational Activity (Eric Gray@Seafield) – Individual service users will be informed of the arrangements.
Building Maintenance
Emergency repairs to schools, offices and public buildings - including public toilets and burial grounds - should be reported to the Out of Office Hours number - 01595 744150.
All other repairs can be reported by calling Buildings Helpdesk on 01595 744183 when the office re-opens on Monday 5th January 2026 or repairs can be reported by e-mail to buildings.helpdesk@shetland.gov.uk.
Tenants in Council properties with requests for Emergency repairs should look under the 'Housing' section below.
Burial Services
There will be no interment bookings taken for Thursday 25th December 2025 and Thursday 1st January 2026. Burial Services will be closed on these dates.
For any urgent enquiries outwith these dates and during normal working hours, please contact Burial Services by email on burials@shetland.gov.uk or by telephone: 07552 287941.
Emergency repairs to burial grounds that require attention outside normal working hours should be reported on 01595 744150.
Full administrative services will resume on Monday 5th January 2026. Please contact us by telephone on 01595 744853 or by email on burials@shetland.gov.uk to arrange an appointment in advance.
Childrens Services
- Short Breaks for Children - Families will be informed of individual arrangements over the Festive period.
- Residential childcare services will be open as usual.
- See also Schools below
Community Care Resources
Residential and care at home services will run as usual during the Festive Period. Service users and their families will be informed of any alternative arrangements.
Criminal Justice & Community Care Fieldwork
- The Out of Hours service will be available as normal 01595 695611 when the office is closed. This is the general out of hours service which covers Children and Families, Community Care and Criminal Justice - for emergencies only.
Finance
The Council's Finance section, including Payments, Payroll and Pensions, at 8 North Ness will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025 and will reopen again at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.
Payments for items such as Council tax, invoices, and non-domestic rates can still be paid online during this time.
For Crisis Grants, a telephone service on 01595 744632 and an online service will be available on the following days:
- Monday 29th December 2025 from 10am to 2pm
- Tuesday 30th December from 10am to 2pm
- Wednesday 31st December from 10am to 2pm
Human Resources
The Council's HR Service at 8 North Ness will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025 and will reopen again at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.
If you have any queries please contact HumanResources@shetland.gov.uk – e-mails will be responded to when staff return to work in January 2026
Please note that if you are having difficulties with your recruitment application form or account, you may find a solution on the myjobscotland support page
Housing
The Council's Housing Service at 8 North Ness will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025 and will reopen again at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.
Repairs
- During this time, any Council tenants needing Emergency repairs to properties should contact the Out of Office Hours number - 01595 693972
- All other repairs can be reported by calling Housing Repairs on 01595 744399 when the office re-opens on Monday 5th January 2026 or you can report your repair by e-mail – housingrepairs@shetland.gov.uk providing all relevant details.
Homeless
Anyone with nowhere to stay or is at risk of homelessness between these dates and times can call the Duty Housing Officer on 01595 695611 for assistance and advice on homelessness and temporary accommodation.
- All other housing application enquiries can be made when the office re-opens on on Monday 5th January 2026. Housing information and advice can be found on our Housing Service webpage.
Islesburgh Community Centre & Hostel
Islesburgh Community Centre
- Closes at 4pm on Tuesday 23rd December 2025
- Re-opens at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026
Islesburgh House Hostel
- Will be closed from Monday 1st December 2025, and will reopen on Monday 19th January 2026
www.shetland.gov.uk/islesburgh/
Living Well Hubs
The Living Well Hubs will close for the Festive period. Details below -
- Brae – The last day open for the Living Well Hub in Brae will be Friday 19th December 2025, re-opening on Friday 9th January 2026, from 10am – 2pm.
- Cullivoe – The last day open for the Living Well Hub in Cullivoe will be Tuesday 25th November, reopening on Tuesday 27th January 2026, from 12 noon – 2pm.
- Scalloway – Will remain closed at this time, under review in the New Year
- Bressay – Will remain closed at this time, under review in the New Year
Occupational Therapy
The hours for the Community Occupational Therapy service over the Festive period 2025/26 will be:
- Wednesday 24th December 2025 - Open
- Thursday 25th December - CLOSED
- Friday 26th December - CLOSED
- Monday 29th December - Open
- Tuesday 30th December - Open
- Wednesday 31st December - Open
- Thursday 1st January 2026 - CLOSED
- Friday 2rd January – CLOSED
Calls can be made to 01595 744319 and a message left, or by email to OT.Duty@shetland.gov.uk. Messages and emails will be answered on the next working day.
The Community Occupational Therapy Service will be open as normal from Monday 5th January 2026.
Public Toilets
The public toilets at Harbour House and the Knab in Lerwick will be CLOSED on Thu 25th and Fri 26th December 2025, and also on Thu 1st January and Fri 2nd January 2026.
On other dates between Wed 24th December and Sat 3rd January, the Harbour House and Knab toilets will be open reduced hours, from 0800hrs to 1730hrs. On Saturday 27th December, these toilets will be open until 2100hrs, as normal.
Normal opening hours will resume from Saturday 3rd January 2026.
Registrar's Office - Lerwick
The Registrar's Office will be CLOSED from 2pm on Wednesday 24th December 2025.
However, the Registrar's Office will be open for telephone enquiries and appointments ONLY on:
- Monday 29th December 2025 from 10am to 2pm
- Tuesday 30th December 2025 from 10am to 2pm
- and Wednesday 31st December 2025 from 10am to 2pm
A registrar will be available for urgent enquiries by telephone only on 01595 744562 on Sunday 28th December 2025 and Sunday 4th January 2026 from 10am - 11am only.
Normal service will resume on Monday 5th January 2026.
Schools Information
All schools in Shetland will close for the Christmas holidays from the end of the school day on Friday 19th December 2025 and reopen to pupils on the morning of Monday 5th January 2026. Full details of the school calendar can be found on the Term Dates page
Please contact schools directly with any queries.
School and Community Games Halls
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The last bookings for the Council managed games halls at Brae, Sandwick and Scalloway Schools, the Gilbertson Park Hall and the Clickimin North Loch 3G synthetic pitch will be on Sunday 21st December 2025. The first bookings in the New Year will be from Monday 5th January 2026.
- Shetland Recreational Trust has details of Festive Opening Times for local swimming pools and leisure centres.
Shetland Family Centre
The Shetland Family Centre will close on Friday 19th December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5th January 2026.
Shetland Library
Opening Hours can also be found on our Shetland Library webpages
- Wednesday 24 December 2025, 10am – 5pm
- Thursday 25 December - CLOSED
- Friday 26 December CLOSED
- Saturday 27 December - CLOSED
- Monday 29 December, 10am – 8pm
- Tuesday 30 December, 10am – 5pm
- Wednesday 31 December, 10am – 5pm
- Thursday 01 January 2026 - CLOSED
- Friday 02 January - CLOSED
- Saturday 03 January, 10am – 5pm
Normal opening hours will apply from Saturday 3rd January 2026, when the libary will reopen from 10am.
Books can be returned anytime at the 24-hour returns point outside the Library door.
Library Van Information
There's also schedules for the Mobile Library Van
Social Work
Social Work will be closed on Thursday 25th & Friday 26th December 2025, and Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd January 2026. The Duty Social Worker can be contacted out of hours on 01595 695611. This out of hours service covers Social Work, Adult and Child Protection, Children and Families, Community Care and Criminal Justice.
Youth and Employability Services
The offices of the Council's Youth and Employability Services at 66 Commercial Road will close on Wednesday 24th December 2025 at 5pm and reopen on Monday 5th January 2026.