Maesydre to defy strike action

28/11/2011 @ 02:37

The true extent of Wednesday’s day of a strike action by the public services sector is becoming clearer after Ardwyn, Oldford, Berriew, Castle Caereinion and Guilsfield Infants and Primary Schools confirmed they will close along with Welshpool, Llanfair Caereinion and Llanfyllin High Schools.

While many services will be affected by the strike against pension reform, the education sector will be hardest hit, but Maesydre Primary School will be open as usual at the moment and Gungrog will be partially open. Primary schools in Llanfair, Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid will also shut.

Schools are unable to set extra work for pupils under terms of the strike action, and it could create a high street bonanza with many parents and children we have spoken to saying they are off Christmas shopping!

Elsewhere, Welshpool library and the Flash are expected to remain open but users are advised to check first before visiting on Wednesday.

Powys County Council has indicated that they are determined to keep the roads open should bad weather strike and will also try to carry out refuse collection but service will be limited.

Below, mywelshpool has collated a latest ‘state of play’ for Powys but we must point out this is changing by the day.

Customer Services

The intention is that reception desks at County Hall, the Gwalia and Neuadd Maldwyn will remain open as will the cash offices. Powys will be closing or limiting services in the Customer Service Points (or not offering appointments on that day) and concentrating on the phones. All lines will be open but with limited staffing levels, so delays are envisaged. Any 'walk ins' will be dealt with accordingly, providing they are an emergency.

Day centres

Ystradgynlais Day Centre is the only centre in Powys that will be closed. Service users and their carers have been informed and alternative arrangements have been put into place to meet their service needs.

All other day centres are currently open next week but this could change over the coming 48 hours.

Highways and refuse collection

Powys says it will continue to respond to winter conditions to ensure roads are treated to maintain the safety of the travelling public.

Householders can put their rubbish out as normal for collection. If it has not been collected by the end of Wednesday, householders should take their recyclables back in and put them out for collection the following week.

If the black bin bags/purple sacks/wheeled bin have not been collected by the end of Thursday, householders should take them back in and put them out for collection the following week.

Householders can take their recyclables or rubbished placed in the black bin bags/purple sacks/wheeled bin to one of the six Household Waste and Recycling Centres in the county, details of which can be found by visiting http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=2137&L=0

Leisure centres, libraries and museums

It is highly likely that Ystradgynlais Sports Centre will be closed on the day of the strike. It is possible that other leisure centres will also face disruption and there could be limited activities / reduced opening hours. Powys will not know for sure until the day of the strike.

Customers are advised to ring the centre to check.

Brecon Library and Brecon Mobile Library are expected to be closed. Other libraries are expected to be open as usual except in exceptional circumstances where staff have to stay at home because of child care responsibilities if their school is closed.

Museums in Montgomeryshire are closed on Wednesdays anyway.

Schools

Currently, 43 primary schools, 10 high schools and all three special schools are closed. Six primary schools and one high school are partially open.

A number of schools have informed the education department that they will be closed but have not put this information on the council’s school alerts system.

Primary Schools closed

Archdeacon Griffiths C. in W. (A) School

Abercrave

Ardwyn Nursery & Infants School

Berriew

Bronllys

Caehopkin

Castle Caereinion

Crickhowell

Dolafon

Franksbridge

Glanrhyd