The Ryder Cup is not all Good News for some local businesses.
Motorcycle Training Expert Andy Smith of 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff says, ‘The Ryder Cup is being hailed as a boost to the economy in the South Wales Region but it has meant that the Newport Driving Test Centre has closed it’s doors for the duration, leaving motorcycle test candidates with an extended wait for tests’.
At a time when the Motorcycle Industry is under pressure from the recent introduction of the new two part motorcycle test, which brought with it a drastic cut in the number of tests centres, this is added pressure on a straining industry.
“We have been left firmly in the bunker” adds Andy. With the wait for motorcycle test in Wales well above the national average as it is this just prolongs the misery for test candidates, already having to book tests as far ahead as Mid November.
“I believe that the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) may have a reason for not wishing to conduct road tests during this period with the increase in traffic that the tournament will bring, but surely they could still conduct the off road element of the tests which involves no road riding at all”
With Newport being one of only two test centres for the off road test, serving the entire area of Mid, South and West Wales and is often used by training schools from as far afield as Hereford and Bristol, this week would be a perfect opportunity for the DSA to go some way to reducing the back log and waiting time for the Module 1 – ‘off road’ test.
An opportunity missed?