NORTH Shropshire's MP has made a blunt call for the future base for Whitchurch learner drivers to be established 'immediately' following the closure of the town's previous centre.

Helen Morgan has called for an urgent meeting with the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) to speed up the process of opening a replacement driving test centre in Whitchurch.

The town has been without a driving test site since the existing centre shut in April despite the Civic Centre, in High Street, quickly being offered as a replacement base.

After months of regular reminders from the MP and the full co-operation of Whitchurch Town Council, which leases the building, the DVSA is still yet to carry out a full site assessment of the Civic Centre.

She has now written to the DVSA urging them to join a meeting with her and the town council to 'finally get this sorted for the people of Whitchurch'.

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The Lib Dem MP said she shared the annoyance of learners having to wait to take their tests closer to home.

She said: “It’s been a frustrating few months since the test centre closed.

"The DVSA needs to show more willing to help us move forward with opening a replacement site.

“It’s been three months since the DVSA carried out an initial assessment but since then they have dragged their heels and slowed the process down despite the efforts of the community, council and myself to find a solution.

“Meanwhile learner drivers in North Shropshire are not only facing long waits for tests but also long journeys to take the tests.

“Hopefully my offer will hurry the process up, lead to some overdue action from the DVSA and we can finally get this sorted for the people of Whitchurch.”

According to Mrs Morgan, the DVSA has blamed the delay on 'issues' with the Civic Centre lease despite the only issue having been resolved – gaining the permission of the landlord Shropshire Council which has confirmed it is onboard with the plan and the DVSA 'has been made aware of this'.

Since the closure of the previous base in Dodington, learner drivers must travel to Shrewsbury, Crewe, Oswestry or further to take their driving tests but there are waiting lists of up to six months for appointments.