Newslink January 2022

News
Test centre refurbishment programme
sees DTCs shift to temporary premises
The DVSA has opened 2022 with a
flurry of changes to its testing estate as
it embarks on a period of
refurbishments. In all cases the pupil or
person who has booked the test should
have been informed, DVSA says.
Barking driving test centre
The Barking driving test centre (on
Tanner Street) will be temporarily closed
for refurbishment from Monday, 17th
January – Thursday, 10th February.
During this period all testing will
continue from Goodmayes Baptist
Church, Kinfauns Road, Goodmayes,
Essex IG3 9QL.
Testing will recommence from the
Barking test centre on 14th February.
Barnstaple driving test centre
The Barnstaple driving test centre will
be temporarily closed for refurbishment
from Monday, 21st March until Thursday,
14th April.
During this period all testing will
continue from The Barnstaple Hotel,
Braunton Road, Barnstaple EX31 1LE.
Testing will recommence from the
Barnstaple test centre on 18 April.
Birmingham Shirley driving test centre
The Birmingham Shirley driving test
centre will be temporarily closed for
refurbishment from Monday, 7th
February until Friday, 4th March.
During this period all testing will
continue from Cocks Moor Leisure
Centre, Alcester Road South,
Birmingham B14 6ER.
During this period all testing will
continue from Birmingham Shirley test
centre on 7th March.
Boston driving test centre
The Boston driving test centre will be
temporarily closed for refurbishment from
Monday, 17th January until Friday, 11th
February.
During this period all testing will
continue from Boston Enterprise Centre
Venture House, Endeavour Park, Boston,
Lincolnshire, PE21 7TW.
Testing will recommence from the
Boston test centre on 14th February.
Dorchester driving test centre
The Dorchester driving test centre will
be temporarily closed for refurbishment
from Monday, 21st March until Friday,
15th April.
During this period all testing will
continue from Redlands Community
Sports Hub, Cranefield Avenue,
Weymouth DT3 5AW.
Testing will recommence from the
Dorchester test centre on Tuesday, 19th
April.
Knaresborough driving test centre
The Knaresborough driving test centre
will be temporarily closed for
refurbishment from Monday, 7th
February until Friday, 4th March.
During this period all testing will
continue from Walton LGV test centre,
Wighill Lane, Walton LS23 7DU.
Testing will recommence from the
Knaresborough test centre on 7th March.
DVLA in push to move more customers online
Letchworth driving test centre
The Letchworth driving test centre will
be temporarily closed for refurbishment
from Monday, 28th February until Friday,
25th March.
During this period all testing will
continue from Mercure Letchworth Hall
Hotel, Letchworth Lane, Letchworth
Garden City SG6 3NP.
Testing will recommence from the
Letchworth test centre on 28th March.
Sidcup driving test centre
The Sidcup driving test centre will be
temporarily closed for refurbishment from
Monday, 7th February until Friday, 4th
March.
All testing will continue from North
Cray Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Davis
Way, Sidcup, Foots Cray, Kent DA14 5JR.
Sidcup test centre will reopen from
7th March.
Tilbury driving test centre
The Tilbury driving test centre will be
temporarily closed for refurbishment from
Monday, 7th February until Friday, 4th
March.
All practical car driving tests, ADI tests
and standards checks will still go ahead
as planned, but instead these will take
place at the following address:
Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles
Avenue, Orsett, Essex RM16 6HS
Testing will recommence from the
Tilbury test centre on 7th March.
Worcester driving test centre
The Worcester driving test centre will
be temporarily closed for refurbishment
from Monday, 7th February until Friday,
4th March. During this period all testing
will continue from The Masonic Hall,
Rainbow Hill, Worcester WR3 8LX.
Testing will recommence from the
Worcester test centre on 7th March.
The DVLA has launched a new
campaign to help move more customers
online, highlighting the ease, speed and
security of its online services.
Millions of customers already use its
online services every single month, with
98 per cent of all taxed vehicles in the
UK taxed via digital services. However,
many customers continue to post their
applications when they could be using
digital services, so DVLA wants to
encourage those customers to go online
rather than use the post to ensure it
operates as efficiently as possible.
In particular the campaign will focus
on those renewing their licences at 70,
those renewing photocard licences and
those who have bought/sold a vehicle.
DVLA says using its online services
instead of applying by paper is quicker,
more environmentally friendly, secure
and will save money – indeed, it
estimates savings could be in excess of
a million pounds.
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NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2022