This week's closure of the driving test centre at Haverfordwest will be a huge blow to the area which could result in local jobs being lost, says Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

The centre at Withybush is being closed on Sunday (February 15) and those wanting to take tests to drive lorries or buses will have to travel to Neath for the exam instead.

Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies has been told that it won't be feasible to train bus drivers for a test route so far away and as a result job opportunities could be lost to local drivers.

Speaking in the Senedd last week Mr Davies said: "The closure of the centre will be a huge blow to the area. Establishing the new centre at Withybush would have had a wider positive effect on the local economy by creating and safeguarding essential employment."

However, one of Pembrokeshire's biggest bus companies is warning it may have to employ qualified drivers from outside the area to get round the problem.
Silcox Coaches, which employs 90 drivers, usually has at least one learner driver undergoing training.

"We employ a training firm to train them locally and they start first thing on a Monday morning, have an intensive week's training and usually take the test around the end of the week," said Silcox Traffic Manager Bert Dix. However he said that before taking the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test they need to be familiar with the test route.

"It wouldn't be fair to train them in Pembroke Dock or Haverfordwest and then send them to Neath for the test," he added.

"If we need more drivers then we'll have to go there for them, we'll have to start advertising outside the area. There's a shortage of drivers nationally so we may even have to go abroad.

"We want to employ local people, if they are willing to be trained we rather have them."

Mr Davies added: "Silcox Coaches is a big employer but they are being forced in this direction. Every job is precious in Pembrokeshire and it would be a disaster if the test centre closure results in future jobs being lost.

"The closure of the test centre is not only going to cause massive inconvenience to hundreds of people taking the car test who will now have to travel to Pembroke Dock or Cardigan but more seriously could result in people missing out on jobs."