Public services try to ensure 'business as usual'

Despite the strike action across West Berkshire and north Hampshire, public services are trying to continue as normal

PUBLIC services across West Berkshire and north Hampshire are trying to ensure it is ‘business as usual' today (Wednesday) despite thousands of workers rallying against changes to public sector pensions.

Several picket lines are in operation across West Berkshire, while 59 West Berkshire schools and several schools in north Hampshire are closed or partially closed today as a result of the action, leaving the roads of Newbury and the surrounding areas much quieter than normal during the morning rush hour.

Many youngsters could be spotted tagging alongside adults in Northbrook Street in Newbury this morning, while one father, who was on his way to a funeral, said he had been forced to take his two young daughters with him following the closure of Speenhamland School in Pelican Lane.

Several other public services are facing disruption, with only a trial court in session at West Berkshire Magistrates' Court today (Wednesday), while members of staff from both Thames Valley Police and the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) are expected to take part in the industrial action.

The SCAS has said it is working closely with unions to ensure that critical care is not compromised, while the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading has said that services are running as usual, adding that unless patients have been contacted directly, appointments will continue as normal.

Meanwhile, acting chief executive and director of nursing at Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, Donna Green, said: “No operations have been cancelled and no wards are closed.

“Staff have worked as part of a team to ensure business as usual.”

Thames Valley Police have also said that they do not anticipate any impact on the service provided to communities or the force's ability to respond to 999 calls, adding that in the event of a major incident, arrangements are in place, which have been agreed by public service union UNISON, to recall staff to duty if required.

Some picket lines are in operation across West Berkshire though, with a boisterous crowd of around 40 civil servants outside two West Berkshire Council offices in Newbury this morning.

Members of UNISON lined up outside the Market Street and West Street offices from around 8am, and branch secretary Rosemary Culmer said the anger felt at the Government's actions was the driving force for many of those present.

The offices are open though and West Berkshire Council has said it will maintain designated critical services as much as possible despite the strike action, with no impact on refuse or recycling collections or the council's libraries and children's centres.

Picket lines were also in operation outside Newbury College and the West Berkshire Community Hospital this morning and one of the protesters at the hospital, who asked not to be named, said: “We do a good job and we don't want to be penalised for it.”

Another, who also asked not to be named, said: “This is a last resort. No one is taking this lightly.”

A large county wide march is also expected to take place through the centre of Reading later today as part of the largest single mass walkout in the UK since the General Strike of 1926, which could be attended by more than 1,000 union members.

Thames Valley Police has said a policing plan is in place to enable peaceful protests in the Thames Valley region.

The force has said it will be providing a visible policing presence to facilitate peaceful protest and ensure the safety of those people participating, along with the general public and local businesses.

Assistant chief constable, John Campbell, Gold Commander leading the operation, said: “The role of the police during this day of action is to help balance the rights of people to take industrial action and protest peacefully with the rights of the public and local businesses to go about their daily business.”