Instructors in test centre protest

Driving instructors from Kidderminster today staged a second major "go-slow" in protest at plans to close the town's test centre.

They announced plans to take their fight to the headquarters of the Driving Standards Agency.

Going in convoy from Kidderminster Rugby Club to the Lake Street test centre in Lower Gornal, where all tests would be transferred under the plans, they held-up commuter traffic and flew flags from their car aerials to highlight their campaign.

The protest also held up the start of several learners' tests. The success of their second protest drive, which started at 7.30am from Kidderminster Rugby Club, bouyed the instructors who said they now "had the backing of residents in the Lower Gornal and Dudley". These residents had feared the transfer of driving tests would cause chaos and dangers on local roads.

Campaigners now plan to take their protest and a cavalcade of cars to the Nottingham headquarters of the Driving Standards Agency, which wants to close the Castle Street centre.

Councillor Julian Phillips, a member of Wyre Forest District Council, who has spearheaded the campaign with driving instructor Glyn Ellis-Jones, said: "The decision to stage the protest today was taken at short notice so we did not expect as many people to take part but we are delighted with the turn out."

Protestors are planning to hold a public meeting at Kidderminster Rugby Club at 8.30pm on November 10 to discuss the date for the cavalcade to Nottingham.

DSA chief executive Rosemary Thew said: "We have the necessary capacity to absorb the demand for Kidderminster at neighbouring centres within our travel distance criteria."