Argyll and Bute Council is making every effort to minimise the impact of the national strike taking place across the country next week.

Union members have voted to take industrial action on Wednesday 30 November.

The action is likely to affect the majority of council services across Argyll and Bute, which will either be closed or run at a much reduced level.

Council leader Councillor Dick Walsh said:  “Our priority is to protect our essential services, and to minimise the strike’s impact on our communities.

“We will of course be keeping a close eye on the situation as the extent of the action becomes clear, and will keep the public as informed, via the council website, regarding services which are affected on the day.”

Councillor Walsh added that any school which can operate viably will remain open. Parents will be informed by their child’s school early next week regarding whether or not it will be closed.

The council’s contact centre will operate in a limited capacity, but members of the public might find that many council telephone lines are unanswered during the strike.

Councillor Walsh said; “Unfortunately, some inconvenience for our service users will be unavoidable, but I would ask for people’s understanding and co-operation across Argyll and Bute during the course of the day.”