Three schools stay open on strike day

ONLY three schools in Warrington will be fully open tomorrow (Wednesday) when public sector workers stage a national, one-day strike.
Ironically, the only high school to open will be Woolston High – which is due to close its doors for the last time next year.
Also opening fully will be Croft Primary School and Twiss Green Primary School at Culcheth.
The following primary schools have indicated they will be partially open: Alderman Bolton, Bewsey Lodge, Bruche, Cherry Tree, Christ Church CE, Culcheth, Newchurch, St James’ CE, St Monica’s RC and Sycamore Lane.
All other schools in the borough expect to be closed.
The borough council says the refuse collection will be disrupted, with no bins emptied tomorrow.
This will affect all areas where bins are normally collected on a Wednesday – Higher/ Lower Walton, Appleton/ Appleton Thorne, Wilderspool, Stockton Heath, Hillcliffe, Dudlows Green, Pewterspear, Stretton/ Lower Stretton, Wrights Green, Grappenhall, Thelwall, Statham, Lymm, Rush Green, Oughtrington and Heatley.
Black and green bins will also not be collected on Wednesday but will instead be collected the following week. Blue bins will be picked up on the next scheduled date.
The following council buildings will be closed to the public all day: New Town House, Quattro, the Customer Contact Centre and Warrington Market.
There will be pedestrian access only to Walton Lea Crematorium and no services will be taking place all day.
Nine unions have informed the council they will be taking part in the stoppage.
Pickets are expected to be on duty at various council buildings across the borough and union members are to march across the town to the Town Hall following a rally at the GMB offices in Town Hill around 12 noon.
POLICE in Cheshire have set contingency plans in place to ensure that the impact of the strike is minimised.
In order to maintain key areas of service during a period of reduced staffing, the Constabulary has prioritised areas of business, including responding to 999 calls, the investigation of serious crime, dealing with road collisions involving injury, and meeting the needs of vulnerable people.
In key areas, such as call handling, police officers from other departments will be drafted in to fill any gaps and the public should be re-assured communities will continue to receive a local policing service.
Each day Cheshire Police record more than 1,000 incidents and around 300 of the calls are 999 calls – many of which need not be.
Tomorrow, the public is being asked to only use 999 for genuine emergencies when life or property is at risk, risk to a vulnerable person, or when a crime is taking place.
Members of the public are also asked to use the non emergency number 101 wisely as these will be prioritised.
Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick (pictured) said “Police staff are crucial to the day to day delivery of key policing functions and the Constabulary recognises the right of police staff to take industrial action.
“The public can assist by postponing non urgent business to another day.”
HEALTH chiefs say although there may be an impact on some planned services, such as outpatients clinics, NHS services will be available for patients who need urgent and emergency care. Unless told otherwise, patients with appointments should attend as normal.
But it is crucial that emergency services are only used for immediately life-threatening illnesses or emergency health problems.
Dr Maureen Swanson, medical director for NHS Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral said: “It is crucial that hospital staff are free to deal with genuine emergencies. Many A and E attendances are for more minor ailments which could be treated much closer to home.”
Alternative NHS services available to Warrington residents: Self-care – the best choice to treat common illnesses and complaints such as coughs, colds, sore throats, upset stomachs and aches and pains, all of which can often be treated with a well-stocked medicine cabinet and plenty of rest. See NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk
NHS Direct: 0845 4647 – for advice and assistance 24 hours a day http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
GP and GP out-of-hours – GP practices and out of hours services will be open for business. Patients can call their GP practice at any time of the day or night if they need urgent medical advice or treatment. Outside normal surgery hours, the GP out of hour’s service in is staffed by experienced, local health professionals who can give useful advice over the phone.
Warrington GP out-of-hours 01925 650999.
Pharmacy – local pharmacists are qualified to treat common, everyday illnesses. Advice is free and many chemists now have private consultation rooms.
Send a text to 647456 to find out the three nearest pharmacies.
For further information about the health services available visit your local NHS website at: http://www.warrington-pct.nhs.uk/