HBC Press Release - Strike Action 10th July

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HARTLEPOOL COUNCIL
PRESS RELEASE



Strike action will hit Council services in Hartlepool

HARTLEPOOL Council is warning that its services will be disrupted on Thursday 10 July due to the national public sector strike action.

The Civic Centre will be closed to the public, but some staff will be available to deal with telephone calls and urgent queries.

People who were planning to pay their Council Tax bill at the Civic Centre cash office on Thursday can instead use the telephone self-service on 0300 1230 703 or can pay at post offices or Pay Point outlets. Those wishing to cash cheques are advised that the Civic Centre cash office will re-open at 9am on Friday 11 July.

A number of other Council buildings will be closed to the public including Sir William Gray House, Warren Road Day Centre, Havelock Centre for Independent Living, Burbank Community Centre, Masefield Road Community Centre and all libraries.

The Borough Hall will be closed during the day but will open on the evening for the English Martyrs School concert.

Bin collections will also be affected on Thursday as there will be no green bin and brown bin collections taking place. There will be no catch-up collections – residents will have to wait until their next normal collection (two weeks) before their green bin and brown bin is emptied.

However, recycling collections are not affected on Thursday so residents who normally have their grey bin and blue box emptied on a Thursday should put it out as normal.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre in Burn Road will be closed but will re-open at 8am on Friday 11 July should residents wish to take household waste/recyclable materials.

In terms of leisure facilities, the only facilities to close are Mill House Leisure Centre and Headland Sports Hall. Also, some GP referral sessions will not take place due to the closure of facilities.

The Dog Warden service will also not operate on Thursday. Stray dogs can, however, be taken to Stray Aid Kennels, Coxhoe but people should phone 0300 999 4247 in advance.

Another facility to be hit by the strike action is the Outdoor Market in the town centre which will not operate.

The situation varies for schools and the latest information is as follows:

Closed – Fens Primary School, Golden Flatts Primary School, Grange Primary School, Greatham Primary School, Kingsley Primary School; Rift House Primary School, Rossmere Primary School, St Aidan's Primary School, St Helen's Primary School, Ward Jackson Primary School, West Park Primary School, West View Primary School.

Open – Barnard Grove Primary School, Brougham Primary School, Catcote School, High Tunstall College of Science, Holy Trinity Primary School, Lynnfield Primary School, Owton Manor Primary School, Springwell School, Stranton Primary School, St Bega's, St Cuthbert's Primary School, Throston Primary School.

Partially Open – Clavering Primary School, Hart Primary School, Eldon Grove Primary School, English Martyrs School & 6th Form College, Jesmond Gardens Primary School, Manor College of Technology, Pupil Referral Unit, St Hild's School, St Joseph's Primary School, St Peter's Elwick Primary School, St Teresa's Primary School.

Further information should be obtained from individual schools.

Adult Education courses are expected to operate as normal apart from a drop-in session at Owton Manor Community Centre which is cancelled. Meanwhile, Throston Youth Project and Rossmere Youth Centre will be both closed.

Chatham Children's Centre, Miers Children's Centre, St Helen's Children Centre and The Link in Lealholme Road will all be closed. Although Hindpool Children's Centre and Rift House Children's Centre will not be open for children's centre services, Kiddikins day care and Footprints day care will continue to be provided from these venues.

Dave Stubbs, Hartlepool Council's Chief Executive, said: "Clearly, the national strike on Thursday is going to cause some disruption to Council services and inconvenience to residents.

"Nevertheless, we expect to maintain a level of service for the public in some areas and will have measures in place to protect residents who are most at risk and to deal with any with emergency situations should they arise."

For urgent enquiries during the strike action day regarding children, young people, families and vulnerable adults, call 01429 284284 (office hours 8.30am-5pm) or 08702 402994 (out of office hours). For other emergencies call 01429 266522 (office hours) or 01429 869424 (out of hours)

Some Council employees – particularly those who are not in trades unions – may still come in for work so there may some departments which can be contacted by telephone or email. The Council's main switchboard number 01429 266522 will be in operation.

For further updates visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk or follow the Council on Twitter (@HpoolCouncil) or Facebook (/hartlepoolcouncil).

Press release PR16524    8 July 2014.
Issued by Alastair Rae, Public Relations Manager, on 01429 523510.

Regards

Alastair Rae
Public Relations Manager
(01429) 523510

[WhatsHappeningNow]

I would have thought the bins would get emptied on friday. why is the council not doing the job the tax payer is paying for.

I understand the strike action but isnt it the councils job to catch up on the bin collection instead of me having to wait for the bin to be emptied a month after the last collection?

[marky]

yea like they lose a days pay on Thursday and then get paid time and a half to make up the backlog - I don't think so, matey. They'd be striking every other week.

[Inspector Knacker]

I came home to be informed that because of the strike our bin would not be collectted...... might I ask if there were no collections of any kind on the day of the strike from residential properties.....?