Local MP Katy Clark met concerned driving instructors from North Ayrshire on Thursday to discuss proposals to move the Saltcoats Test Centre to Kilmarnock. Plans to close the current centre in Saltcoats and build a new centre in Kilmarnock emerged last week, and caused outrage among North Ayrshire’s Driving Instructors. The Driving Standards Agency are denying there are any firm proposals.

The current centre at Saltcoats has no public toilets and so is being deemed unsuitable.

Katy Clark MP said, “I am extremely worried about the proposals to close the test centre in Saltcoats and move it outside North Ayrshire. North Ayrshire has the largest population of the Ayrshire regions. It covers a sizable geographical area including two islands. It would be unfair to relocate the test centre outwith the area and greatly increase the travelling for many.”

There are numerous options to consider that provide viable alternatives to the current plan. Firstly it has been suggested that in fact the current building could be extended to build facilities such as toilets. There have been suggestions that the DSA are planning to build a “Multi-Centre”, if this was the case an extension may not be appropriate, however there are plenty of other local alternatives. In the Stevenston Industrial Estate there are a number of vacant building that have the required facilities that could be used.

Katy continued, “I have written to the DSA urging them to consider the impact that this will have on instructors and learners, particularly given the distance to Kilmarnock. I am meeting with the DSA to discuss with them there future plans, and urge them to keep this service in North Ayrshire.

“I will be fighting to ensure that this service remains North Ayrshire.”