Walkout hits Shropshire driving tests

More than 20 driving tests were likely to be cancelled in Shropshire this afternoon as examiners walked out in a long-running dispute over cutbacks.

Union bosses said as many as 24 tests could have to be rearranged as a result of the two-hour walkout by examiners between 2pm and 4pm.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Driving Standards Agency were striking in the latest phase of a month of action by thousands of transport workers.

The union is protesting at plans to close a number of coastguard stations it says will cost 140 jobs, while the PCS also fears job losses through the closure of some driving test centres.

There are five examiners who are PCS members in Telford, four in Shrewsbury, one in Whitchurch and two at the lorry testing centre in Harlescott, Shrewsbury.

Stewart Williams, PCS assistant secretary for the Midlands region, said potentially each examiner would miss up to two tests if they walked out.

Mr Williams, who is manager of Gornal test centre, in the West Midlands, said: "We have called a two-hour strike for the same reason as before. We want to bring people back around the table to discuss the issues."

DSA spokesman Stephen Small said: "Not all examiners are members of the PCS union and even if they are, we can't be sure they'll support the strike. So we're asking candidates who have chosen to keep their test booking for the afternoon of today or June 15 to come for their test as normal so it can go ahead if possible."

Candidates who turned up but could not take their test because of strike action will be sent a new date in the post. If candidates failed to attend they will not be able to claim expenses if their tests are cancelled and will need to rebook their own tests.

By Lisa Rowley