Test centre's future under review

Test centre's future under review

Driving instructors in Shrewsbury are demanding reassurances over the future of the town's test centre after it was revealed it could be demolished to make way for houses.

Severnside Housing has applied to Shrewsbury Borough Council for permission to build a three-storey block with 24 apartments on the site adjoining the test centre.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) recently announced they would be carrying out a review which could mean the closure or merging of Shropshire's four test centres.

Driving instructors in the area had already called a meeting to discuss the issue next month but news of Severnside Housing's planning application has come as a further shock.

Consultation stage

Glenn Langford, who runs the A-Class motoring school in Shrewsbury, said: "I asked the DSA to send a representative to the meeting and they have declined.

"All the instructors in Shrewsbury are going to be present and it seemed the ideal opportunity to send a representative but they have declined and said they have arranged another meeting for a later time."

The DSA said the review was still at the consultation stage and no final decisions had been made.

It said it values the opinions of the instructors and members of the public but made no mention of Severnside Housing's application.