FENLAND: Residents warned of disruptions as Unison staff threaten strike

FENLAND resident face an array of disruptions next week as council staff look set to strike over pay. Council chiefs warned tonight there will be problems expected in a number of services from bin collections and the contact centres and that public toilet

FENLAND resident face an array of disruptions next week as council staff look set to strike over pay.

Council chiefs warned tonight there will be problems expected in a number of services from bin collections and the contact centres and that public toilets will also be closed.

The two-day national Unison, union strike will be on Wednesday and Thursday.

Fenland District council said it wants to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Approximately 20 per cent of Fenland staff are members of Unison and so some disruption to a variety services is anticipated.

Early indications of the level of disruption show that there may be a reduced service from the Contact Centre, but every effort will be made to keep all four shops open. Refuse collection will be affected over the two days and it may not be possible to collect from all properties.

Priority will be given to collecting from green and brown bins, which will result in recycling collections being suspended during the strike and possibly into the following week.

Disruption to cleansing services is also anticipated.

It will, therefore, not be possible to provide the popular Rapid Response service for fly tipping.

A spokesman said: "However, any dangerous litter such as needles and broken glass will be dealt with without delay.

"Public toilets will be closed during the two-day action. However, there is no disruption anticipated at any of the council's leisure centres, which will be running normally.