DRIVING instructors in Aberystwyth have met with their local MP over concerns learner drivers are having to wait up to a year to book a driving test.

Responding to complaints from several instructors in the town, Mark Williams MP held an open meeting last Monday regarding the increasingly long waits in Ceredigion for driving tests.

Those who attended the meeting expressed concerns that local driving instructors are losing business and that young people and other learners in Ceredigion are missing out on job and educational opportunities due to the excessive waits.

Mr Williams labelled the situation “frustrating” and said he has now written to the Transport Minister in Westminster, Patrick McLoughlin MP, calling for a meeting in order to explain the situation and ensure that action is taken so that residents in Ceredigion have access to driving tests within the national average waiting time of six weeks.

“The increasingly long waiting times for driving tests in Ceredigion is yet another frustrating example of rural communities being overlooked,” Mr Williams said.

“People waiting for tests in Cer­edigion do not have the variety of public transport options available to those in urban areas and therefore it is essential that tests here are carried out within a reasonable time scale.”

Steve Griffiths, driving instructor of 23 years and owner of Aberystwyth Driving School, blamed a change of policy whereby examiners are not paid travelling costs, meaning the only other examiner in the county, who is from Cardigan and set to retire soon, does not get paid to travel further north.

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