DVSA to close eight test centres in England

DVSA have today given notice of eight local test centres closing permanently across England later this year. Emails detailing the closure, and recommended alternative test centres, have been sent to trainers local to each centre.

The centres affected (and the alternative centres to be used in brackets) are:

Croydon (Mitcham)

Southampton Forest Hills (Maybush)

South Shields (Sunderland)

Hyde (Bredbury or Chadderton)

Whitchurch (Wrexham or Shrewsbury)

Elswick (Gateshead or Gosforth)

Ashford (Chertsey or Isleworth)

Newbury GVTS (Greenham)

Broadly the agency maintains the closures are a cost saving measure, stating in their email to instructors that centres are shutting because the cost of running these specific locations can be saved and the same service can be provided from another test centre.

However, DIA CEO Carly Brookfield has pressed for more meat on the bones of this rationale "Speaking to the agency this morning I have asked why these specific centres. For example, has usage of these particular centres fallen? Are these specific centres no longer fit for purpose in terms of the quality and state of the facilities? Have the leases been raised to the point these centres are now untenable? This detail is important in trainers and their pupils understanding the closures better, and why the DVSA's core customers are facing further limitations in the provision of testing services in their area (on top of those issues already caused by the pandemic).

This detail is also important in terms of understanding whether alternatives to closure, or ways of mitigating the impact of closure, can be considered. There have been cases historically where local trainers have been able to propose solutions to mitigate the impact of test centre closures. Understanding the specific reasons for closing an individual centre enables at least an opportunity for a discussion locally as to how the impact of the closure could be best managed - or even whether closure could conceivably avoided. DVSA have recognised this information is important and have promised to come back to us shortly."

Any tests affected by these closures will be moved to other local test centres, and candidates will receive an email notification from DVSA confirming the new location of the test. Trainers will need to tell their pupils about the changes if they booked the test for them.

DVSA will also be holding meetings for local approved driving instructors, which will be advertised at the driving test centre in due course.

I’m sure this will go along way in reducing the ridiculous waiting times 😡 - Derek