RECENTLY I was contacted by Press reporter Haydn Lewis about a complaint by Paul Richardson who had his motorcycle test cancelled by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

Because he was not one of our test candidates I was unable to comment on this, but did confirm that in the past year we have had several tests cancelled because of the failure of the DSA's radios and examiner machine breakdowns etc.

I expressed my annoyance at this because it causes us great problems, sorting out re-tests and training slots etc. But I did point out to Mr Lewis that these problems have been discussed at a meeting with the DSA earlier in the year.

I wrote a letter of complaint to the DSA about this matter and, in reply, we have been assured new equipment is being supplied to solve this problem.

We have a good working relationship with the DSA and understand there are always going to be times when test cancellations are unavoidable. We shall always try to resolve any problems by talking to the DSA not by "slagging them off", which I feel your article of September 6, implied.

John Clark,

York Rider Training Scheme,

York Road,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 11:08 Wednesday, September 15, 2004