Scunthorpe driving theory test centre to close
Learners could face a trek to Grimsby, Doncaster or Hull in future
Learner drivers will have to travel to Grimsby or Doncaster when the Scunthorpe theory test centre closes later this year.
The government is planning a shake-up of theory tests from September 6.
This means that the Doncaster Road centre will shut, leaving learners with at least an additional half an hour to travel to other centres.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency says the closure is down to contracts to run the service being awarded to multiple companies.
It claims that the overall number will rise across the country and there will be a more even distribution.
A spokesperson for the DVSA said:
“Because the new contract to run the theory test service has been awarded to more than one company, the location of many theory test centres will change from 6 September.
“We have tried to make decisions that are best for as many customers as possible. However, in some cases this means some people will now have to travel further, though the distance will have decreased in other cases.
“The increased number of theory test centres (from 180 to 202 across Great Britain) will result in a more even distribution of test centre locations and will make theory tests more accessible to those in remote areas of the country.
"In the new network all candidates should not have to travel more than 40 miles or 40 minutes to get to a test centre unless they choose to travel further."
Other test centres are also available in Lincoln and Hull.
Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft said on Wednesday that it was important to have a local test centre.
“I received emails from a number of people raising concerns regarding a potential closure of the theory test centre in Scunthorpe,” she said.
“I want to reassure local residents that Andrew Percy MP and myself are already on the case, and we have both pressed DVSA to get a full picture of what is happening.
“This may be down to contractual or service changes with outsourced providers and agreements with landlords.
“If this is the case, the leader of North Lincs Council, Cllr. Waltham, will offer DVSA the council’s full support in resolving this matter with access to council-owned buildings to ensure the continuation of tests.
“As I have said, we are still making further enquiries to understand what’s exactly happening here and I will of course continue to keep residents updated on this. I did my theory test in Scunthorpe years ago and I do understand how important it is that we have this available locally.”