U-turn on motorcycle testing is welcomed by the Western Isles

Motorcyclists in the Western Isles will soon be able to take their test on Lewis, saving them hundreds of pounds.

At present, all bikers need to head to the mainland for a test but the Driving Standards Agency have performed a U-turn and will allow a testing site to be built on the island.

The move came after Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil urged the Westminster Transport minister to “apply common sense” over the issue.

The new test centre is expected to be up and running by September.

He said: "It will be very welcome. There's no guarantee that if you go to the time and expense of going to Inverness that you'll actually pass. You might find yourself failing and having to go again and that can put people off.

“I think this will be welcomed from a safety point of view and it will certainly be welcomed in terms of time, travel and cost.”

Adam Laurie from Lewis Bike School said: “It's been a three and a half year fight for the locals on the island. They have put so much time and effort into it.

“There’s a lot of isolated places up here where people struggle to get buses into the town and a bike is the ideal way of travelling.”

The move has been welcomed by motorcyclists who will save hundreds of pounds in travelling costs.

Motorcyclist David Skelly said: “I've talked to people who want to do their test on the island and they're not willing to go away to Inverness to do it so they're stuck.

“I think it's brilliant. It will save lots of time and money and much more people who want to become bikers can do it easily at home."

People who read this story also read