Express & Star

An ‘L’ of an outcry over Cannock test centre axe

Driving instructors have staged a protest over the closure of Cannock’s test centre.

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Councillors, driving instructors and pupils turned out to protest at the planned closure of the driving test centre in Cannock

Instructors fear the loss of the centre, which is based at Cannock fire station and is due to close on Wednesday, will have a huge impact on young learner drivers.

It means them those who live in the Cannock area will now having to travel to take their tests at either Lichfield or Featherstone.

Protesters say they hope it is not too late for the decision to be reversed. The centre was previously saved in 2015 when a plan to shut it was scrapped by the DVSA.

The Cannock centre currently opens two days a week and the DVSA says the decision will provide a “more consistent service, five days a week”.

Gilly Shepherd, from Gilly’s School of Motoring, said: “We are trying to put pressure on the DVSA to listen to us. We have written emails but no-one has responded to us.

“This will impact on pupils. With all the developments that are planned where are these people going to go? Test times are already increasing at Lichfield and Featherstone."

DVSA operations manager John Selbey said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving. The temporary driving test centre at Cannock only opens for two days a week.

"Using the nearby test centres at Featherstone and Lichfield we will be able to provide all candidates with a more consistent service five days a week."

“Candidates can take their test at neighbouring driving test centres, which have lower waiting times than Cannock and capacity to accommodate additional test bookings.”