84 extra driving tests to be available a week at new Blackpool test centre when two new examiners join team
Up to 14 more driving test appointments a day will be on offer in Blackpool after it was announced the new permanent driving test centre is to open this week.
Blackpool’s seven current driving test examiners will be based from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) new base in Avroe Crescent, South Shore from Wednesday.
The new eagerly-awaited permanent driving test centre for Blackpool will see two new examiners join the team in the near future taking the number of daily driving tests on offer from 49 to 63.
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The news of the new permanent base comes alost three years after the original site on the same site at the DWP on Warbreck Hill Road was closed down by the landlord on May 26, 2023 and the various businesses within it had to look for alternative accommodation.
Since then, DVSA has moved all its examiners to several temporary driving test centres to ensure no tests were lost from the town.
Now DVSA has announced that the first day of driving tests at the new site will be on Wednesday, April 15.
The new site will offer more tests than the old one at the point of it closing.
The address for the new site is: Unit 8, The Pavilions, Avroe Crescent, South Shore FY4 2DP.
Two new driving test examiners are currently in training and will join the team on their completion.
The National Audit Office revealed driving test wait times in Blackpool has reached 24 weeks - six months.
Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Economy at Blackpool Council, said: “This is good news for Blackpool drivers who will finally have a proper Driving Test Centre again. Learning to drive is so important to finding and keeping a quality job.
“It’s also a positive commitment to the council’s investment in Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, which is bringing more jobs to the area.
“From next month, our investment in the site will mean that the business park will have two roads in for the first time ever, which will improve the site’s attractiveness for job creation, while also being a massive support to the businesses already on the site by reducing the congestion from people getting on and off the site.”
The first day of testing at The Pavilions will be Wednesday, April 15. The last day of testing at South Shore Lawn Tennis Club will be tomorrow.
The new test centre will not offer theory tests as they are conducted by a separate organisation to the DVSA.
Threst theory test centre to Blackpool will continue to be in Preston.
DVSA’s Operational Delivery Manager, Richard Bradley, said: “DVSA has been committed to providing a long-awaited, permanent driving test centre for the town after several years of using temporary premises.
“Our new site in Blackpool will be a modern space, which will benefit instructors, examiners and learners.
“We’d like to thank local instructors and learners for their patience while we worked to open this new centre.”
Some residents have raised concerns about the location of the test centre behind South Shore Morrisons and McDonald’s and Blackpool Retail Park.
Derek Ronson, a driving instructor from Poulton-le-Fylde said: “It's a rubbish place for a test centre.
“Of all the places they could have chosen its probably the worst.
“Only 8 bays that you can hardly swing a cat around.
“As an instructor of 29 years I’m really looking forward to the hassles from the other businesses on the estate.”
“Hopefully the new entrance to the business park will be opened by that point to relieve traffic.”