Pembrokeshire hauliers have been spared the misery of driving up to 80 miles to an HGV test centre after it emerged a new site is to open just yards from the recently closed Driving Standards Agency (DSA)-run centre in Withybush.

Following the closure of Withybush Test Centre after theDSApulled theplug on its support, local hauliers feared they would have nowhere convenient for testing. However, Mainport Training has been granted planning permission to build a centre nearby.

"I am not terribly impressed with the closure as it would have been a great inconvenience had there been no replacement," says Brin Morris, owner of Johnston-based W Morris & Son.

Without Mainport Training, the nearest site for HGV candidates would have been at Neath. Morris estimates it would take approximately two hours to travel there, which, in the long-term, would become very costly becausehe operates three trucks.

Meanwhile,the owner of Llandeloy-based M and S Transport, Meurig Harries, says: "It would be ridiculous and take us at least 80 miles to get there."

A DSA spokesman adds: "If approved, legislation prevents it being used as public facility and the Agency will only be able to test candidates presented by the facility owners." He says approval will be given ifthe facility is good enough.

Providedthe new centre gets DSA approval, it is expected to be in full operation by the end of March. It will be located half-a-milefrom the existing centre on an industrial estate in Haverfordwest.

Source Roadtransport