Farron opposes Kendal test centre closure

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th May 2008

Local MP Tim Farron has spoken out against plans to cut the number of motorcycle test centres dramatically. New regulations will come into force at the end of September this year and could result in the closure of Kendal test centre, leaving people wishing to take their test in Kendal having to make a round trip of over a hundred miles to either Carlisle of Blackburn.

The 224 test centres currently in England will be replaced by 66 Multi-Purpose Test Centres because new regulations stipulate that the series of tests must now be carried out on off-road sites. The move has been criticised by motorcycle groups up and down the country.

Tim Farron said:

"The move from the Driving Standards Agency to reduce the number of test centres is nonsensical, this will see inexperienced motorcycle and moped riders having to travel huge distances on busy roads just to take their test. I hope the DSA will see sense and keep the test centre in Kendal in operation."

"The safety implications of this move are massive, but add this to the sheer inconvenience that it will cause to so many people and you have all the ingredients for an almighty mess. The number of test centres nationally really ought to be significantly higher than 66.

"For a Government which claims to have climate change at the top of its agenda, these changes, which would result in significantly higher levels of pollution, are absolutely crazy."