From September 2008 you will no longer be able to take your driving test in Trowbridge*.  Also from April 1st the DSA have increased test fees,( £8 more for a car test, now £56.50! ).  Another double whammy? 

SO YOU NOW HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR LESS!   And the DSA say that you will receive the same level of service, when in order to take a test you will then have to travel to either Chippenham, Salisbury, Swindon, Bristol or Yeovil! 

What say you to that?

It is part of the DSA restructuring plan, they have an agenda to introduce MPTCs, (multi purpose test centres) in order that they can test other types and categories of driver including trailer tests and the new more difficult motor cycle test, (the bike test will no longer be available in Trowbridge from September on as they don't have the facilities, so it is off to a MPTC for them in any case).  the nearest ones are Swindon and Bristol apparently.

Trowbridge is as far as I am aware a profitable centre, after all they only occupy two rooms and a toilet facility and there is no logical reason to close it as even if they only do car tests there they should still be busy, the current waiting times are about 7wks, so that speaks for itself.

The overall effect of this closure is that it is going to cost more to train a car driver because they will have to go further to get to a test centre and it is desirable to do at least some familiarisation in the place where you take your test in order to have reasonable degree of confidence when you undergo what is after all for a lot of people a very stressful experience.

*The latest information on the closure is that now it has been brought forward to 29th of August and local instructors have each received a letter from the DSA to that effect.

*LATEST UPDATE   Despite the best efforts of those who have tried to stop this closure, it is going ahead as planned. Local driving schools and organisations had hoped to obtain a judicial review, in order to stall the closure and possibly prevent it, this has now been proven to be impractical.