This one just won’t go away. I’ve mentioned on three occasions (here, here, and here) that the DSA had planned to close the theory test centre in Workington, and that practical tests were absolutely not affected.
Well, it turns out that another councillor (Eddie Martin) anxious to make a name for himself is threatening judicial proceedings if the DSA doesn’t back down. Well, he doesn’t actually say “back down”, but when you see what he does say it amounts to the same thing:
It’s [a document which says the public has to be consulted before services are moved away] a powerful weapon and will be used if we can’t come to a voluntary agreement.
This is democracy at work. By “voluntary agreement”, he means “what WE want”.
Public consultations are a joke because a large proportion of the public – especially that part which usually wets itself to take part in the things – is not a full shilling. Ask one of them if something – anything – should be moved away and they’ll say “NO”, whether they understand the question or not. But that doesn’t mean, of course, that the proposed change is wrong. All it proves is that certain people will automatically oppose things at public meetings!
The story gets better and more confusing:
Mr Woodburn [actually, that’s Elaine Woodburn of Copeland Council] said: “We have thousands of records that are kept safe. We have Sellafield, one of the most protected structures in Britain so there’s no worry about security.”
Aren’t you glad that national security isn’t her responsibility? Apparently, just because you have a nuclear power station near you then you don’t have any security problems to worry about if you have to keep personal records in your own premises. Great logic, eh?
Elaine Woodburn added: “I’m sick and tired of fighting for services in West Cumbria that everyone else across the country takes for granted.”
More brilliant logic. A library closes down, therefore the DSA is wrong to want to relocate its testing centre. Or a bus service is cut, so that means the DSA shouldn’t attempt to relocate. There truly is a problem with the intellectual capability of some of these councillors.
More than 15 driving instructors attended the meeting…
Hallelujah! The DSA MUST be wrong, then.