Driving test centre to leave town? (From This Is Cheshire)

Driving test centre to leave town?

7:52am Thursday 29th November 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

LEARNER drivers will not be able to take their test in Warrington from next year.

And that will mean it could cost more than £100 for drivers just to take the test.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are closing Warrington Driving Test Centre with its examiners moving to a new multi-pupose test centre 11 miles away in St Helens.

But angry driving instructors are unhappy about the lack of consultation about the plans.

Anne Green, chairman of the Warrington Driving Instructor Association said: "We were all really shocked a month ago to find out that the super centre was being built in St Helens and work had already started.

"I do not think they are being fair with the residents of Warrington. It is a service to the community that is going to be withheld."

The DSA are creating 66 multi-purpose test centres across the country to fit in with European Union rules that motorcycle tests need to complete special manoeuvres.

These can only be carried out safely off road and the new centre being built in Pocket Nook has space for the manoeuvres.

"Because car driving tests are not motorcycle tests why can't we keep a car test centre," Mrs Green added.

DSA say the decision to shut the Warrington centre is because it is less than 20 miles from St Helens and so Warrington falls into its catchment area.

But driving instructors say that it will make the cost of learning to drive much higher as learners would have to pay for three hours in the car on the day of their test.

With the average price of an hour's lesson at £22 and tests costing £48 it will cost £114 on test day alone.

Learner drivers would also have to take longer time out for lessons to get them used to the roads in St Helens and tests to take into account the time it takes to travel there.

Mrs Green continued: "A lot of people have their lesson in their lunch hour, we cannot get someone to St Helens in the hour. In theory we all know if a learner can drive they should be able to pass there test anywhere but each town has its anomalies that a young driver in a strange area need a bit of time to analyse."

A spokesman for DSA said: "We expect St Helens to be operational in springtime so Warrington will close then. We have always said that people who are ready for a driving test they should be capable of driving anywhere. They should not have to learn a route to pass a driving test.

Do you think the centre should stay?

You can add your nsme to our online petition by clicking on the comments section of this story.