Mr Stopforth said scores of Chamber members would lose trade if traffic was again forced to drive the 50-plus miles around from Wallasey and Birkenhead to Liverpool. It would again force the Runcorn Bridge to potentially double its load to 160,000 for the day, to accommodate most of the 80,000 journeys that normally go through the tunnels. He added: "With so much notice, many businesses and individuals will be able to make alternative arrangements, but the principle is still important to stress. "They should not be interfering with private sector businesses in what is a local government sector dispute." Unions said the national walkout last week was solidly supported by more than a million workers in the biggest bout of industrial action since the 1926 General Strike. The new regulations would remove the "Rule of 85" from the Local Government Pension Scheme which takes away entitlement to a full pension from anyone retiring before their 65th birthday. GMB senior organiser for public services Graham McDermott said the next stoppage - part of a "rolling programme" of action - would take place in Wales and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, April 26, and on the following day in Merseyside and Cheshire. He said: "Despite the biggest strike in 80 years, and hours of talks, the Deputy Prime Minister went ahead last week with the removal of Rule 85 from the LGPS. "As John Prescott clearly needs more convincing of our members' strength of feeling on this issue, we have announced further one-day strike dates." Unison, the biggest of the 11 unions involved in the dispute, said members were awaiting the outcome of local government authority talks this week before formally announcing they would be joining the action. A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "The city council has established contingency plans in place to protect the most vulnerable residents and keep essential services operating in the event of industrial action. However, we expect there will be disruption to services such as libraries, leisure centres and schools in a similar way to the last walkout." Steve Pearse, head of policy development for Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said the business community was "disappointed" in the decision to press ahead with a second date: "The last stoppage caused massive disruption particularly for some businesses who needed to get across the river," he said. "We hope they wouldn't jeopardise trade in the region, and they find a way to protest in a way that doesn't cut off the cross channel traffic completely." But a spokesman for Merseytravel said: "Until we have received confirmation of dates for further action, we cannot comment." deborahjames@dailypost.co.uk | 
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