A plea to stop Haverfordwest's driving test centre closing in less than a month's time is being taken to the highest level by Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies.

A group of specialist driving instructors met Mr Davies last week to ask for help in resolving the situation.

"These instructors prepare people for their heavy goods and trailer tests and they are gravely concerned about the effect that closing the local test centre will have on their livelihoods," said Mr Davies.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is closing the centre at Withybush on February 15 after being told to vacate part of the site.

This means that people from the town will now have to travel to Cardigan or Pembroke Dock to take their tests on cars. If they want to take motorcycle, heavy goods or trailer tests then it's likely they will have to travel to Neath or even Swansea.

"Four driving instructors came to see me to issue a final plea to try to get this situation resolved," said Mr Davies.

"The majority of people taking driving tests do so on cars and they will be inconvenienced by having to travel further," he said. "However if you are a farmer wanting to take a trailer test, a bus operator wanting to train new drivers or a learner motorcyclist then the relocation of the test centre will have a huge impact.

"I've now written to Jim Fitzpatrick the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport outlining the severity of the situation and asked him to reconsider the DSA's decision. We are hugely disappointed that this dispute has not been resolved and that driving instructors and learners will suffer as
a consequence.

"I've also requested a meeting between the Minister and the driving instructors so they can tell him their fears face to face."