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Driving test centre to close
LEARNER drivers will no longer be able to take their test in Trowbridge from late summer following a decision to close the test centre.
The Driving Standards Agency informed the centre in Wiltshire Drive, off Bradley Road, on Tuesday that its lease would not be renewed in September.
The nearest centre to Trowbridge is Chippenham, which would burden learner drivers with extra travel costs, according to local driving instructors.
Roger Brunt from Southwick, told the Wiltshire Times: "Basically it will cost the client about £200 extra to drive as it takes about half an hour to get to Chippenham from Trowbridge and half an hour back.
"The client will need to gain a street knowledge of Chippenham in order to take their test there."
Henry Davis, 55, from Henry Davis School of Motoring also based in Southwick, said: "I think its ridiculous to be honest because Trowbridge test centre serves a large area.
"It will just end up costing the customer more because they will need a minimum of ten hours in Chippenham.
"Also there are only four parking bays in Chippenham so it's going to be chaos."
The DSA said its decision would not lead to job losses and was based on the fact the Chippenham centre could absorb the extra intake.
In a statement, a spokesman said: "The forthcoming lease break in September 2008 has provided the Agency with the opportunity to review its service provision in the area.
"Operationally, the Chippenham centre meets the Agency's requirements in terms of test routes and customer and staff facilities and has the spare capacity to absorb the diversion of demand from Trowbridge without compromising waiting time service targets.
"There will be no job losses arising from the closure of the Trowbridge centre.
Examiner staff based there will be transferred to alternative centres taking into account their preference & the Agency's business need."
Trowbridge test centre manager Pete Richardson confirmed the closure when contacted on Tuesday, but would not comment on the decision as he did know the full details.
1:58pm Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: nativedwarf, Trowbridge on 3:14pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Another government agency reducing expenditure at the cost of the public. Surely the £50+ test price (for 30min) is enough to keep it running comfortably?
Another government agency reducing expenditure at the cost of the public. Surely the £50+ test price (for 30min) is enough to keep it running comfortably?
Posted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 3:36pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Do Trowbridge drivin Chavs bother with the licence anyway. Wont make much difference to most of em!
Do Trowbridge drivin Chavs bother with the licence anyway. Wont make much difference to most of em!
Posted by: stuart, westbury on 3:38pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Walter you really are a moron coming out with a statement like that. Does being the village idiot make you feel good
Walter you really are a moron coming out with a statement like that. Does being the village idiot make you feel good
Posted by: Walter McCabe, Freshford on 3:41pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Bless you Stuart Little!
Posted by: Bob, Paxcroft City on 5:05pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Still nice to see the extra carbon produced by all the extra milage has been given some thought. NOT!
Is Trowbridge the county town? with services being transfered to Chippenham or Swindon you have to wonder.
Still nice to see the extra carbon produced by all the extra milage has been given some thought. NOT!
Is Trowbridge the county town? with services being transfered to Chippenham or Swindon you have to wonder.
Posted by: blackdog, southwick on 5:12pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Anything else the powers that be want to take away from this so called County Town ?
Anything else the powers that be want to take away from this so called County Town ?
Posted by: Lou, Bournemouth on 7:57pm Fri 28 Mar 08
aahh Walter, village boy, isn't it time for mummy's bitty!
This is upsetting, Trowbridge has so much potential and when we think we are getting somewhere they take the basic essentials away!
It would be ok if public transport was reliable but its not! Using the train from Trow to Bristol daily encouraged me to get my licence!!!
aahh Walter, village boy, isn't it time for mummy's bitty!
This is upsetting, Trowbridge has so much potential and when we think we are getting somewhere they take the basic essentials away!
It would be ok if public transport was reliable but its not! Using the train from Trow to Bristol daily encouraged me to get my licence!!!
Posted by: AndrewLye, Pembrokeshire on 9:38am Sat 29 Mar 08
When I took my driving test in 1978, I took it in Chippenham.
As I lived in Lavington, in those days, it was either Trowbridge or Chippenham as my driving school was in Devizes.
I was in Chippenham last week-end and do not recognise the place. Thankfully, the sat nav got me round it.
However, Trowbridge should remain open as West Wiltshire just grows and grows ...
When I took my driving test in 1978, I took it in Chippenham.
As I lived in Lavington, in those days, it was either Trowbridge or Chippenham as my driving school was in Devizes.
I was in Chippenham last week-end and do not recognise the place. Thankfully, the sat nav got me round it.
However, Trowbridge should remain open as West Wiltshire just grows and grows ...
Posted by: moonrakin_wurzel, Trowbridge on 3:36pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Perhaps the removal of the driving test centre will lead to a reduction in the number of superfluous traffic control devices in Trowbridge (I'm thinking the Longfield "roundabout" traffic lights)
When I took my test there weren't any traffic lights in Trowbridge and there's a school of thought that goes - "we need proper stuff on the test circuit so let's get some traffic lights, pelican crossings and mini roundabouts"
These things work when used properly - but Wiltshire CC have a reputation for randomly sticking traffic control devices in more as a result of budget imperatives rather than proven traffic issues.
And if my everyday experience of driver competence is anything to go by - the driving test is about as effective as immigration controls!
Perhaps the removal of the driving test centre will lead to a reduction in the number of superfluous traffic control devices in Trowbridge (I'm thinking the Longfield "roundabout" traffic lights)
When I took my test there weren't any traffic lights in Trowbridge and there's a school of thought that goes - "we need proper stuff on the test circuit so let's get some traffic lights, pelican crossings and mini roundabouts"
These things work when used properly - but Wiltshire CC have a reputation for randomly sticking traffic control devices in more as a result of budget imperatives rather than proven traffic issues.
And if my everyday experience of driver competence is anything to go by - the driving test is about as effective as immigration controls!
Posted by: moonrakin_wurzel, Trowbridge on 3:40pm Sat 29 Mar 08
And before anybody kicks off over safety - the latest research and testing shows that when you take a way kerbs and crossings in areas where pedestrians and cars mix - there's less accidents and the ones that do occur are less serious.
The drivers are more wary - and the pedestrians - 'blees em - pay attention to where they're walking....
And before anybody kicks off over safety - the latest research and testing shows that when you take a way kerbs and crossings in areas where pedestrians and cars mix - there's less accidents and the ones that do occur are less serious.
The drivers are more wary - and the pedestrians - 'blees em - pay attention to where they're walking....
Posted by: moocherx, ex-Trow on 2:56am Sun 30 Mar 08
Is Trowbridge shutting up shop? Test centre gone. Records office gone. Ushers site gone and laid to waste. Council has to buy old Tesco site back because the developer can't even be bothered. Peter Black site very visibly in ruins.
Why even bother with the place any more?
Is Trowbridge shutting up shop? Test centre gone. Records office gone. Ushers site gone and laid to waste. Council has to buy old Tesco site back because the developer can't even be bothered. Peter Black site very visibly in ruins.
Why even bother with the place any more?
Posted by: moonrakin_wurzel, Trowbridge on 3:00am Sun 30 Mar 08
Laid to waste - yep - that's about right!
Laid to waste - yep - that's about right!
Posted by: SmokeBan on 6:57am Sun 30 Mar 08
Yes Trowbridge is poo! everyone is leaving! the place is a dump! let the polskis have it!
Yes Trowbridge is poo! everyone is leaving! the place is a dump! let the polskis have it!
Posted by: GSXRRRSP, WESTBURY on 9:23pm Mon 31 Mar 08
DOES THIS MEAN IT WILL NOW BE SAFE TO DRIVE ON BRADLEY ROAD NOW!!!!!
DOES THIS MEAN IT WILL NOW BE SAFE TO DRIVE ON BRADLEY ROAD NOW!!!!!
Posted by: franka, trowbridge on 11:01pm Mon 31 Mar 08
I really think that this is a short sighted move by the DSA, because Trowbridge has a very large catchment area and serves not only a large area of Wilts but part of Somerset also. The DSA are at present trumpeting on about their new multi purpose centres, which are designed to conduct other types of test, but apparently a lot of these have not been built and won't be ready for the test changes they are bringing in. Nativedwarf is misinformed about the duration of the test, as 57mins is allowed in order to complete the necessary tasks. Chippenham is as someone already pointed out a small centre and as waiting times in Trowbridge were around 7 weeks on average I think it will be interesting to see how they cope with the increased traffic.
I really think that this is a short sighted move by the DSA, because Trowbridge has a very large catchment area and serves not only a large area of Wilts but part of Somerset also. The DSA are at present trumpeting on about their new multi purpose centres, which are designed to conduct other types of test, but apparently a lot of these have not been built and won't be ready for the test changes they are bringing in. Nativedwarf is misinformed about the duration of the test, as 57mins is allowed in order to complete the necessary tasks. Chippenham is as someone already pointed out a small centre and as waiting times in Trowbridge were around 7 weeks on average I think it will be interesting to see how they cope with the increased traffic.
Posted by: trowbridge, Trowbridge on 5:39pm Tue 1 Apr 08
Roger Brunt, from the article, seems to misunderstand the purpose of the driving test (which concerns me, as he is a driving instructor).
If he has taught his students well, they will not need practice in the test route in Chippenham.
The test is about driving, not memorizing a set route.
Once you've passed your test, you don't have a driving instructor in the car with you the first time you drive anywhere new!
Roger Brunt, from the article, seems to misunderstand the purpose of the driving test (which concerns me, as he is a driving instructor).
If he has taught his students well, they will not need practice in the test route in Chippenham.
The test is about driving, not memorizing a set route.
Once you've passed your test, you don't have a driving instructor in the car with you the first time you drive anywhere new!
Posted by: James Humphries, Trowbridge on 3:29pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[bold]For all of those people who actually care about keeping the test centre there will be a protest at the test centre on Friday 25th April 2008 from 12pm[/bold]
For all of those people who actually care about keeping the test centre there will be a protest at the test centre on Friday 25th April 2008 from 12pm
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