Instructor says unsafe potholed test surface would not be tolerated anywhere but Derry

Danny Toland contacted the ‘Journal’ to say he feared someone could injure themselves at the centre in the Glenaden complex.

He told the paper that several large craters have opened along seven test bays that are allocated to learner drivers at the centre.

“It’s not just one hole it is several and these are huge potholes,” said Mr. Toland, who has been putting local motorists through the ropes for over three decades.

“I’ve been a driving instructor for 31 years and I’ve never seen it as bad as this,” he told the ‘Journal’.

The local instructor, who runs the Danny Toland School Of Motoring, said it was a serious health and safety issue and that he feared someone could hurt themselves.

Equally, a vehicle could be badly damaged.

“Someone is going to break their ankle. I left a pupil over there last week and she stepped out into a puddle and the water went up over her boot,” he remarked.

Mr. Toland said he did not believe such a poor road surface at a DVA vehicle test centre would be put up with anywhere other than in the North West.

“This wouldn’t be tolerated anywhere other than Derry,” he fumed.

The ‘Journal’ contacted the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) for a response to Mr. Toland’s concerns but none had been received by the time the paper went to press on Monday evening.