THERE is a “compelling case” for Poole’s DVLA office and enforcement centre to remain open, an MP has claimed.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns has urged the government to consider Bournemouth and Poole’s significant elderly population and save the Bourne Gate office from closure.

To support his call, he passed on a list of difficult cases dealt with by local DVLA staff in a typical week’s work. Currently motorists travel to Poole from as far afield as Yeovil to be able to speak to a DVLA representative in person.

These cases included: l A customer importing an Indian scooter from India which had been converted into a tricycle. He needed to show staff his paperwork and be advised what to do next.

l A member of the armed forces registering his British Forces Germany vehicle over the counter.

l An elderly customer who had received his tax reminder in the previous registration mark and had not received a registration document for the new mark.

l Two customers who had bought Northern Ireland vehicles and needed to register and tax them.

l A motorist from Salisbury who was trying to tax his vehicle when an error on the DVLA record suggested his car was still taxed.

l An elderly customer who was unable to tax her vehicle online as the insurance had not been updated on her records. In a letter to transport minister Mike Penning, Mr Burns said these examples illustrated how important the local office was to the community, particularly to older customers who may be unable to go online.

“Bournemouth and Poole’s significant elderly population, our proximity to ports at Poole and Weymouth, and the large number of vehicle dealerships in the conurbation combine to make a compelling case for the office to remain open,” he said.