The proposed closure of the only driving test centre in Tameside has caused 'immense anxiety' for local driving instructors and pupils, MPs for the borough have said.
Jonathan Reynolds, Angela Rayner, and Andrew Gwynne have written a joint letter to the DVSA objecting to plans to close down the Hyde centre in April.
It comes after driving instructor Jim O'Connor, who runs Strive To Drive in Tameside, launched and online petition urging the DVSA to rethink the plans - with more than 3,000 people having signed it so far.
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In the letter, dated today, (Monday, January 17), the MPs said: "The Hyde centre is the only test centre in the borough and it has served the community well for many decades.
"To close this centre will mean that Tameside residents will be forced to use test centres in Oldham and Stockport and, as we are sure you can appreciate, this has caused immense anxiety and concern for local driving instructors and their pupils.
"At a period when waiting times for driving tests are already incredibly high, we ask that you please reconsider your decision to close this busy test centre in Tameside, a decision that will surely only put additional pressure on other locations already struggling to meet the demand."
The letter went on to say that 'numerous driving instructors' have expressed their fears about an increase in fuel costs should pupils have to take tests out of Tameside.
While the DVSA accepts there may be 'inconvenience' from the decision to close the site in Hyde, it says no tests will be lost as a result of the change and there will be no job losses from the move.
A spokesperson for the DVSA added: "We have made the decision to close the Manchester Hyde test centre, as there are other nearby centres where the same services can be relocated.
“We understand this change may cause an inconvenience for some, but we have worked hard to ensure that there is no change in the number of tests provided to local candidates, and no tests were lost as a result of the closure.”
To read the letter from the MPs in full, click here.
And to view the petition, click here.
