Greg lobbies Transport Minister on learner driver issue

5.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jul 2009

Greg Stone has today written to Transport Minister Paul Clark seeking Government support for residents of Cochrane Park and North Heaton Bungalows who are concerned about the huge amount of learner driver traffic using these quiet residential areas as "test routes" from the Longbenton driver testing centre.

Greg said "At present the city council does not have powers to regulate the use of learner driver vehicles, so I have written to ask the Government minister whether any good practice guidance is available to encourage local authorities, driving test centres, and driving instructors to co-operate to prevent areas such as Cochrane Park and North Heaton being swamped with learner drivers.

"Most residents understand that learners have to practice somewhere, but they are currently faced with more than 250 driving schools using their streets from 7 in the morning until late at night, and they feel this is creating a traffic problem. Some unfortunate individuals have also experienced problems including demolition of garden walls or breaking of wing mirrors. A more managed approach including variation of test routes would be a big help in this regard."