BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL; Schools, Health Services, Refuse Collections, Libraries, Buses and Leisure Centres Are All Set to Be Affected

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Byline: Ciaran Jones; Peter Collins

TODAY we reveal the extent of the disruption facing South Wales on Wednesday, as public sector strikes threaten to bring the region to a halt.

Only one state school will remain open in Cardiff as teachers join nurses, Border Agency workers, council staff and other workers in mass 24-hour walkouts over pensions.

The stoppage means Cardiff's education system is set to grind to a halt, with Rhiwbina Primary School the only authority-maintained school in the city declaring its intent to remain open on a "partial" basis. Disruption is also expected to hit private schools.

Health services will be cut to bank holiday scheduling, with only urgent "life and limb" services being provided and "all routine, non-urgent services suspended".

A staff walkout will see Cardiff Bus reduced to a skeleton service, though the courts and emergency services have promised to maintain routines as far as possible.

A Cardiff council spokeswoman said the authority was working hard to minimise disruption.

"All schools in Cardiff will be closed as a result of strike action apart from Rhiwbina Primary school which will remain partially open," she said.

The council has so far only confirmed how the strike will affect schools, and will announce on Monday plans for other services, such as refuse collection.

But there will be widespread and severe disruption to council services across South Wales, though local authorities …