Strikes to cripple services in Leamington area

They are among thousands of public sector employees across the area who are making a stand against the Government’s proposed changes to their pension arrangements.

Many have said they will turn out in solidarity at a cross-union rally at Market Square in Warwick from 10am to 11am, before heading to a region-wide event in Birmingham this afternoon.

As well as parents having to take a day off work or make alternative childcare arrangements, the disruption is expected to run far and wide.

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The doors of Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Castle Farm Recreation Centre in Kenilworth and St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre in Warwick will be closed, while Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre in Leamington is closing at 1.45pm.

Health workers are also taking part in the strike, meaning there will be no routine blood tests taking place at Warwick Hospital or University Hospital in Coventry. Other areas of healthcare are likely to be affected, although there has been an agreement with the unions that emergency care will continue as normal.

Patients are being advised to turn up for scheduled appointments and to inform the hospital or clinic immediately if they are not able to make it to open up a slot to someone else.

Striking employees at Warwick Hospital, which is run by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, are to form a picket line outside the hospital this morning.

Ian Ramsay, secretary of the trust’s Unison branch, said: “Our members did not cause this financial crisis and feel they should not be made to pay for it.

“Many feel if they do not make a stand now then the next area ministers will try to do is to change their terms and conditions, along with a complete privatisation of the NHS.”

All county council-run residential homes are operating as normal, as are home care and reablement services.

While the council’s day care services for older people are open, there may be limited transport arrangements and services for adults with learning disabilities are closed.

Meanwhile, waste and recycling collections in Warwick district are carrying on as normal today and libraries are expected to remain open.

The Pump Room gallery and museum, Leamington town hall and Spa Centre, all of which are run by Warwick District Council, are all open as usual and people wishing to contact the council are advised to do so online at www.warwickdc.gov.uk

For the latest information on school closures, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures or follow @wccschoolclosed on Twitter.