How Derry strike is affecting Council services this week

The industrial action by workers who are demanding improved pay will continue until Sunday.

A spokesperson for DC&SDC said: "Council fully respects the right of staff to take industrial action following an official ballot and to date we are experiencing considerable disruption to a number of services such as refuse collection, street cleansing, recycling centres and a number of other services. The level of impact will be variable across all services and is subject to change as the week progresses."

Below are full details of how you may be affected by the industrial dispute.

REFUSE COLLECTION

Refuse collections across the Council area are severely impacted. All routine Blue bin and Brown bin collection services will not operate this week. It is therefore advised that members of the public DO NOT put their bins out for collection during this period. It is hoped Black Bin services will commence as normal on 28 March with the Blue and Brown bin collections recommencing the following week 04 April.

RECYCLING CENTRES

The following centres are CLOSED

· Pennyburn Recycling Centre

· Glendermott Road Recycling Centre

· Strahans Road Recycling Centre

· Strathfoyle Recycling Centre

· Eglinton Recycling Centre

· Claudy Recycling Centre

· Park Recycling Centre

· Donemana Recycling Centre

· Plumbridge Recycling Centre

· Newtownstewart Recycling Centre

· Spamont and Castlederg temporary facility

BULKY WASTE SERVICE

Council’s free bulky waste service will not be available this week.

STREET CLEANSING SERVICES

Street Cleansing services are severely impacted however there are skeleton services operating in Derry city centre and Strabane town centre.

PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAY AREAS

Council owned public parks and play areas that are gated are impacted with many remaining closed this week.

LEISURE SERVICES

The strike action is having a variable impact across all leisure centres and facilities in the Council area.

Swimming pools at all leisure sites are closed with no access to swimming lessons and school swimming sessions. Where possible, gym classes and main hall activities will continue however the level of services will vary and there is a possibility that there could be reduced opening hours at some centres.

Derg Valley

Monday, March 21

Please note the centre is OPEN for normal activities however the situation will be reviewed on a daily basis to take into account impact of strike action.

Melvin SC

Monday, March 21

Please note the centre is OPEN for normal activities however the situation will be reviewed on a daily basis to take into account impact of strike action.

Foyle Arena

Swimming pools, health suite and pitches are closed for casual, club, learn to swim lessons and school use.

The gym is open, however there will be no inductions or 1-to-1 training available.

We hope to run a limited fitness class programme

FOYLE ARENA MAINTENANCE WORK

Planned essential maintenance works at the Foyle Arena is taking place today resulting in there being no hot water for a number of days so only dry changing facilities will be available.

Brooke Park LC

The centre is CLOSED on Monday, March 21..

Riversdale LC,

The centre is closed today Monday, March 21

Templemore SC

The centre is closed today Monday, March 21

COMMUNITY CENTRES

Council run community centres are operating as normal today Monday 21 March.

PITCH BOOKINGS

Pitch bookings are cancelled and Council owned pitches are closed.

CEMETERIES

Council has engaged with the Union to successfully secure an exemption for essential services such as burials at the Cemeteries. Please note there will be limited grass cutting and grounds maintenance works at the cemeteries as a result of the strike.

REGISTAR’S OFFICE

Council has engaged with the Union to successfully secure an exemption for the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages services. These services will operate as normal. To contact the registration department please email – [email protected]. For urgent enquiries please telephone 02871 253253 and ask for the Registry Office. To view all the details relating to the changes to services and to access the relevant online forms please visit www.derrystrabane.com/district-registration

CIVIC OFFICES

The public are advised that the civic offices at Strand Road Derry and Derry Road Strabane remain open to the public and Council can be contacted directly at 028 71 253253.

MUSEUM AND VISITOR SERVICES

Council’s Museums and Visitor Services at the Guildhall and Tower Museum, Derry and Alley Theatre, Strabane are operating as normal.

GENERAL STRIKE INFORMATION

All information is updated on the website at https://www.derrystrabane.com/Strike-Action and communicated regularly via the Councils social media channels.