Learner riders face jaunt for test

Learner motorbike riders in the West Midlands will have to travel to Birmingham to take their test when new regulations come into force in October.

A change in the law means that local test centres such as those in Lower Gornal, Wednesbury and Stafford will no longer be running motorbike tests. Officials say that existing premises do not have enough room for bikers to carry out the new manoeuvres which are due to be added to the test and cannot be done on public roads.

The multi-purpose test centre in Garretts Green, Birmingham, has a specially designed test area for bikes.

Driving Standards Agency spokeswoman Sarah Newall said no jobs would be lost in the move as instructors would be transferred to the centre in Garretts Green.

The decision to transfer the tests from Lower Gornal has come under fire from driving instructor and Dudley councillor Adrian Turner who said it was bad news for the borough and feared car tests could be next. "I think we are going to lose the test centre in Lower Gornal completely within the next two or three years when they get the go-ahead for a multi-purpose centre in our vicinity," he added.

"I think it is disgraceful that we are reducing the opportunities for our young people to get a driving licence and get themselves on the job ladder. If you make it more difficult for people to take their driving tests then there is going to be more unlicensed and uninsured drivers and riders on the road."

The news comes weeks after a decision was made to close Kidderminster driving test centre in the autumn despite a campaign by local residents and instructors.

Two years ago the centre in Quinton shut its doors for good and during the last 15 years centres at Bloxwich, Bilston and Bromsgrove have also been lost.

Meanwhile the Lower Gornal test centre will close for 10 weeks on October 1 while the waiting room area is refurbished and during that period learners tests will be transferred to other centres.