Wyre Forest learners are taking a second hit from the Government. Coming shortly after 40 Wyre Forest driving instructors, learners and parents took a 1,300 name petition to 10 Downing Street, appealing against the closure of Kidderminster’s driving test centre, the Government has today hit Wyre Forest yet again. The Government has announced increases in the cost of driving tests by an average of almost 20 percent for drivers and motorcyclists.
· Practical driving tests - An increase of almost 10 percent for weekday tests and almost 12 percent for out-of-hours tests.
· Motorcyclists - First module for bikers will go up a huge 55 percent with the second module going up by up to 8 percent.
· Practical vocational and car plus trailer tests will also go up by almost 13 per cent.
· Cab drivers - Tests for taxis and private hire vehicles go up by an average of 13 percent.
· Hauliers - A 9 percent increase in fees. This comes despite a 236 per cent increase in the number of HGV drivers claiming JSA in December 2008, compared with December 2007.
Commenting, Shadow Roads Minister Robert Goodwill – who has been helping Wyre Forest driving instructors for some time - said: “It beggars belief that the Government can hike up the cost of driving tests when so many families and firms are struggling to keep afloat during the recession. New drivers are facing a double whammy as they are hit by rising fees along with the closure of their local test centres because of ministerial incompetence.”
Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest’s Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman added: “No matter how hard we keep trying to get this Government to see sense, they continue to raid Wyre Forest’s learner drivers for funds. By closing the test centre in Kidderminster, they generate capital from the sale of the building, but increase learning costs for student drivers. And then they increase the cost of the tests. Truly incredible. Has there ever been a time when the actions of the Government are so far from the rhetoric?”