Driving Centre closure tests business

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Mark Hannaby The Politics Show Wales

It is claimed the closure of Haverfordwest's driving test centre endangers jobs and businesses in Pembrokeshire.

120 mile round trip to be tested

Those wishing to drive heavy vehicles must now do a 120-mile round journey to Neath to practise routes and to be tested.

Pembrokeshire Council and the Driving Standards Agency have been unable to agree a way to provide heavy vehicle testing in the county.

On Friday 13 February 2009, the driving test centre in Haverfordwest closed.

Travel extended

Now Pembrokeshire trainees requiring qualifications in bus and truck driving, or driving with horseboxes, must travel to Neath and back, at extra cost to employers.

Conservative AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Paul Davies, says: "This will have a huge effect on the people living in Pembrokeshire and on the businesses in Pembrokeshire."

Silcox Coaches of Pembroke Dock have a policy of recruiting people from the locality, many of them untrained when they are recruited.

Multi Purpose Test Centre rejected

The firm says the additional costs they will incur may mean they will no longer be able to give opportunities to Pembrokeshire jobseekers and may instead turn to ready-trained agency drivers from Eastern Europe.

Silcox Coaches Traffic Manager, Bert Dix says: "With the current problem that's facing us now with the closure of the local test centre it may be a time to revisit that option".

HGV threat

Those who teach people to drive large vehicles face a direct threat.

Pembrokeshire Road Training provides instruction for bus, truck and farm vehicle drivers.

Its owner says the test centre closure will more than double his company's operating costs.

Nigel Simms said: "My firm may not survive this at all. I have a five or six week's window to try and get things resolved.

"If I can't get things resolved within five or six weeks the huge investment I've made personally into this business over the last four years will all be to no avail unfortunately."

A Driving Standards Agency spokesperson told BBC Wales Politics Show the agency had made "lengthy and strenuous efforts to maintain a service in Haverfordwest".

Multi Purpose Test Centre rejected

The DSA had intended to replace the closed test centre with a new, larger Multi Purpose Test Centre in Haverfordwest.

Their planning application and appeal was rejected.

The Agency claim the sites Pembrokeshire Council proposed for a new Multi Purpose Test Centre were unsuitable or too expensive.

But Pembrokeshire Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning Councillor Jamie Adams said the authority had "gone the extra mile for the DSA".

Councillor Adams said: "We would remind our critics that it is the DSA which is withdrawing this service.

"Since the Appeal decision the Council has offered the DSA several other possible alternative sites for a test centre as well as alerted them to other opportunities.

"In addition we have offered to part fund an interim solution to give the DSA more time to acquire a new test centre site in Pembrokeshire.

"Unfortunately the DSA has failed to respond."

New development

Councillor Adams added that Pembrokeshire Council is "extremely concerned" at the impact the DSA's withdrawal will have on haulage and coach firms in the county.

The Pembrokeshire situation has latterly taken another turn.

The Politics Show can reveal that a private company called Mainport Training have just been given planning permission to put an extension complying with heavy vehicle testing requirements in Withybush Business Park.

They hope to provide Haverfordwest with its test centre.

The Politics Show for Wales, with Jon Sopel and Felicity Evans on Sunday at 1200 GMT on BBC One.

If you want to have your say, you can call 0845 300 90 10, or e-mail via the website.

... <i>Or</i> write to: The Politics Show, Room 1060, BBC Wales, Llandaff, Cardiff. CF5 2YO

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