YOUNG drivers, parents and learners are being urged to write to the agency responsible for driving tests to urge them to release dates for Oswestry.

The call has come from Gareth Jones from Stop and Go Driving Academy and chairman of the Oswestry and District Driving Association, which has 23 members and was created five years ago.

This, he says, was created to ensure that pressure remained on the Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) to keep a stronger presence in Oswestry.

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Gareth says that, from speaking to other instructors, the first available test in Oswestry – to their knowledge – is in February 2005.

He made the call on social media for people affected to write to the DVSA.

He said: “Right at this moment in time there are no tests available – I’ve checked with other instructors in the area and the first test anyone has booked is the beginning of January.

“But the DVSA usually releases dates as they go along, but we’ve been in this in state now for at least three weeks where’s there been no tests available in Oswestry.

“I spoke to a manager from Shrewsbury who was going to chase up the people who book the tests but he hasn’t yet.

“I sent him a message again on Monday to ask what’s going on, why haven’t got any test available in Oswestry and still haven’t had anything back.

“This is why I have tried to get parents and young learners involved in canvassing the DVSA at the same time.

“We’re not a full-time test centre – we’re classed as an outside station and this is where we need people to help us because we have to fight for this.

“We need people to write to them and explain why Oswestry needs a test centre and also to release tests to them as quickly as possible.

“I had a driver who failed this week – she’s going to look online and see no tests available in Oswestry.

“She will have to book a test elsewhere in the country, taking a spot from someone, and keep checking the test cancellation checker app looking for tests here.

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“She will take a spot from someone who will need it and it’ll be a vicious circle.”

Anyone wishing to support Gareth can do so by emailing their concerns to enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk

DVSA’s chief executive officer Loveday Ryder said: “In the past financial year alone, we’ve provided almost two million tests.

"I was delighted to meet the Transport Secretary recently to discuss how we can continue to increase the number of tests by recruiting more examiners while tackling bots and those exploiting learners.

“DVSA want to see more learners passing first time, so we’re working with the driver training industry to educate and advise learners on what they can do to prepare and improve their likelihood of passing.

“Learners can check out our Ready to Pass campaign and use our checklist to make sure they’ve had enough lessons so they can drive safely and are ready to pass first time.”