Learners facing longer journeys

8:45am Thursday 15th May 2008

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By Charlie Crabtree »

KIDDERMINSTER'S driving test centre will be closed by the end of the year in a decision which has been branded "immoral" by a Wyre Forest district councillor.

Residents needing to take tests will have to travel to Redditch, Lower Gornal or Worcester as a result of the closure of the Castle Road-based centre.

Conservative councillor, Julian Phillips, had been campaigning to safeguard its future.

He said: "This is very bad for all of Wyre Forest, particularly rural residents. It is a disadvantage to learn in one area and then have to travel up to 20 miles to take the test."

He added: "It's immoral. It is now more expensive than ever to learn to drive and Wyre Forest residents, as well as having to pay more, are at a disadvantage."

Mr Phillips explained it was all part of a "bigger picture" in which it was becoming more difficult and expensive to learn to drive. He said that was making it harder for young people to get started in life.

He added: "The question I am asking the Driving Standards Agency is why are they putting up the price of tests on the one hand and closing centres on the other? It doesn't make sense."

Henry Ashcroft, 54, a Kidderminster driving instructor, said the decision could affect his livelihood as well as young people learning to drive.

He explained: "We normally offer one or two-hour lessons which, because we are local. Now we will have to take pupils to Worcester or Lower Gornal to familiarise them with the routes.

"This will mean longer lessons and, to me, that is not fair on pupils. People also won't want to pay that much. They might go on intensive week-long package courses rather then take lessons with a local driving school."

Mr Ashcroft admitted that the Kidderminster centre was in need of repair and said there were no toilet facilities for pupils taking their tests.

He added: "They could just do repairs to it. There is no need to shut it down. Whatever happens, there needs to be a test centre in the area."

Michael Watkinson, spokesman for the Driving Standards Agency, said the centre would be closing by the end of the year but no definite date had been set.

He added: "The existing demand for the Kidderminster test centre will be split between three centres - Redditch, Lower Gornal and Worcester.

"The seven examiners at Kidderminster will all be relocated and there will be no redundancies."