HAMPSHIRE County Council has been assessing the likely extent of disruption ahead of a possible national strike on Wednesday, and is putting in place contingency arrangements to ensure that it can continue to provide essential frontline services.

Advice has been offered to the county's 530 schools on the implications of the potential action and the steps they need to take in the event that they do not have enough staff to operate their schools, including the procedures for emergency school closures.

This dispute is not with the county council. A number of public sector unions have balloted members over strike action in protest against the Government's proposals in respect of the local government and teachers' pension schemes.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.