Following the shock announcement by the Driving Standards Agency that the burgh facilities are scheduled to close within weeks, local driving instructors have rallied in a concerted campaign to force a U-turn over the plans.
Angus learners will be left with one test centre at Montrose, and the two axed offices will be replaced by what the DSA has labelled at “multipurpose test centre” in Dundee.
The agency has described Forfar and Arbroath as outstations and said that, given the close proximity of the towns to Dundee, they did not consider any consultation was necessary.
Learner drivers lining up to take tests in the two affected towns fear they may be bumped down a rearranged list to sit their exam in Dundee.
Angus driving instructors have reacted angrily to the announcement and a protest at Arbroath last week was followed by a weekend gathering of teachers from the Forfar and Kirriemuir areas.
The instructors are gathering signatures on a local petition, and in addition an online protest has drawn more than 1000 signatures within just four days of its launch.
The strength of feeling against the move will also be raised by Angus MP Mike Weir, who has managed to secure a Westminster debate on the vexed issue and plans to stress the local concerns to the UK transport minister.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user tgraham.