DOZENS of learner drivers are having their tests postponed because of industrial action by the city's driving examiners.
Around 500 of the 3000 tests conducted across Scotland every week have been postponed since examiners and test administrators started a work-to-rule in July in protest over job cuts in the Capital and across the United Kingdom.
Learner drivers ar
e having to wait up to ten weeks to sit a test at the Joppa exam centre and seven weeks at Currie.
Union officials say this is much longer than the typical waiting times and the delays could get worse if a planned 24-hour strike next Monday is confirmed by the Public and Commercial Services union later this week.
The Driving Standards Agency's office in George Street, which employs around 15 staff, is one of three regional centres being considered for closure.
The regional offices are responsible for deploying driving examiners and handling customer inquiries and complaints.
The Edinburgh office is the only one north of the Border and if it closes it would mean all driving examiners in Scotland being co-ordinated from England.
PCS officials today said the closure plans - part of the UK Government's drive to cut civil service jobs - would reduce the level of service driving test applicants and driving instructors receive.
Cassie Malcolm, 22, a bar tender from Leith, had her test scheduled for tomorrow cancelled yesterday
She said: "My instructor had warned me that tests were being cancelled because of the action but I was so angry when I found out my test was affected.
"I am so ready for the actual test and you do prepare yourself mentally - it is such a kick in the teeth.
"My instructor alone has had about five people who have had their tests cancelled so it makes you wonder how many people across the city are in the same position as me.
"I will have to fork out even more money now for more lessons until the next available test date, which might not be until November."
PCS official Alex Flynn said there would be a loss of local knowledge if the plans are given the go-ahead and people with queries or complaints about their driving test would have to deal with call centres.
He said: "Our members have been on work-to-rule since the strike in July and this is beginning to bite.
"The examiners are now taking their breaks between tests and the impact it is having illustrates the goodwill that was in place before this action started."
He added: "We are sorry for the inconvenience this is causing but the agency has to consider our members' concerns about increased workloads for instructors and the loss of local knowledge."
The union has previously raised fears the moves are a first step towards privatisation of the driving test.
A spokeswoman for the Driving Standards Agency said: "We are doing everything in our power to cope with the situation and we would urge people to turn up for their test unless they are instructed otherwise.
"If a test is cancelled as a result of industrial action then they will be entitled to compensation and they will be automatically re-booked."
