SHYC chair, Chris Santry wrote to the Driving Standards Authority (DSA) and pointed out the time and financial impact the move to close the Spalding Test Centre would have upon young people learning to drive in the Spalding area. Chris discovered that the amount to be saved by closing Spalding test centre was a relatively small £4660 per annum and he pointed out that the costs were unfairly being loaded on young people from a rural community.
John Hayes was so impressed with the quality of the letter and the research undertaken and the strength of feeling generated by SHYC that he invited two members to join the discussion with the Chief Executive of the DSA, Rosemary Thew, at the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 July. Representatives of the local driving schools will also be involved in the meeting in London.
Currently the SHYC foresee the cost of driving lessons mushrooming from the current rate of approximately £20 to a rate of £40 simply because of the need to travel to Peterborough. In addition the prospect of an unnecessary increase in carbon emissions causes them much concern.
Chris Santry feels very strongly about the issue, he says:
"It is our future that is being mismanaged and because we are not yet old enough to vote it appears that no-one wants to listen to us."
Graham Scorthorne, Acting Strategic Partnerships Manager for South Holland District Council, says:
"I am delighted to note that some politicians and people in authority are keen to hear young peoples' views and recognise that they have extremely valuable opinions. I know that the members of the Youth Council will continue to voice their opinions on behalf of all young people across South Holland and I hope that more and more young people will take an active interest in what is going on around them and impacting upon their future lives."
