Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith (Con) is encouraging residents to sign a petition calling for the Forest Hills driving test centre to remain open.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which is an executive agency of a government department, announced that the Townhill Park test centre would close on April 10, confirmed Smith in a letter to residents.

He said it’s been providing tests for people “predominantly on the east of Southampton” for over 40 years, and that its “closure will be a big blow to Southampton”.

He added there’s been no consultation and driving instructors now have no choice but to book tests through the Maybush centre.

“This is unacceptable and in my view is the wrong decision by the DVSA.”

Not only will the closure affect those in the east of the city wanting to prepare for and take their tests, but it’s also reportedly going to have a knock-on impact in Redbridge ward, where the Maybush centre is situated.

Labour councillor for Redbridge Sally Spicer told the Daily Echo that the move would “make our lives ten times worse” due to congestion in the area, and that it would impact pupils having to “drive in an area they are not familiar with”.

Sarah Bailey, a resident of Northfield Road, just around the corner from the Forest Hills centre, told bitternepark.info it is “such a ridiculous thing to do in the current climate”.

She added: “My son is trying to get a test in some strange location and looking at August! With such a failing system why close a centre.”

“My friend is a driving instructor in the area and felt like she wanted to stop teaching as there is no way in an hour lesson she can get to any of the other testing centres with pupils and get them used to the roads, not enough time. Some of her students have gone to Lee on the Solent for tests. I know if you pass your test you should be able to drive on any road but it's another stress on what is already a stressful day. “

Royston Smith added in his letter: “It makes sense for people to learn to drive in the area they are familiar with, and the Forest Hills centre provides a good location for this. The Maybush centre is five miles away from Forest Hills.”

He said he believed the lease on the Townhill Park site is soon to expire, and called on the DVSA to extend it or look for another location in the east of the city.

The DVSA didn’t respond to an invitation to comment on the closure earlier in the month.

The petition is at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZLK59ZJ

 

Save #ForrestHillsDrivingTestCentre #Southampton from closure. Many #learnerdrivers will suffer, Please help us and sign. https://t.co/4c7e1vEaUr pic.twitter.com/HOXwhDGDnH

— John Lendrum (@LendrumsDriving) February 23, 2022