James Duddridge, Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East, welcomed Mike Penning MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State from the Department of Transport, to Southend last week to discuss the possibility of Southend having a Driving Test Centre again.
James Duddridge MP, David Amess MP and Mark Francois MP actively campaigned to prevent the closure of Southend Driving Test Centre in 2008. The campaign included letters to Ministers, the Driving Standards Agency, a petition with 3000 signatures supporting the campaign, Written Questions and an adjournment debate was held. However, despite the best efforts of residents and Parliamentarians the Driving Test Centre was closed in 2008.
The closure of the Test Centre has, as expected, caused implications for learner drivers and driving instructors. When James was informed of the pilot scheme, which is in operation at various locations providing driving tests within the community, James wrote to the Minister and the Driving Standards Agency requesting that Southend is added onto the scheme.
The Minister visited Rochford and Southend East last week to assess if Southend could be added to the pilot scheme.
James said
“I was delighted to welcome the Minister to Southend and for him to see for himself the support that this campaign has received from members of the public, Rochford and Southend Councils, councillors and driving instructors.
“The community actively campaigned to prevent the closure of the test centre previously, unfortunately this was unsuccessful. However, I am very hopeful that Southend will once again having a test centre that will provide driving tests to local people, locally.”