GLASGOW SHETTLESTON TEST CENTRE RELOCATES

15 Apr 2004 12:45 PM

DSA /04

15 April 04

Glasgow Shettleston test centre relocates

The practical driving test centre in Shettleston, Glasgow, is relocating to more modern premises in May.

Andrew Wilkinson, the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) Area Manager for Scotland, said: "The decision to relocate the centre was made to provide better, modern, facilities for both staff and customers. The Shettleston centre, which has been at that location for over 40 years, no longer satisfies the requirements of a modern centre and would need extensive renovation to bring it up to a good standard.

"The new test centre offers disabled access, improved customer facilities and fourteen dedicated car parking spaces offering the possibility of conducting off road manoeuvres on site. The premises can also accommodate up to 16 examiners and is well equipped to cope with any increased demand for driving tests in the future," he said.

The current centre at Amulree Street will be moving to at Unit 1140 Springhill Parkway, Glasgow Business Park, Glasgow.

In view of the closeness of the new site to the existing centre, there has been no need for DSA to consult on the decision.

The new centre is located just off Junction 9 of the M8 motorway and will be renamed as the Baillieston Driving Test Centre.

It is expected that the last day of testing at the Shettleston centre will be on Saturday 8 May 2004 and the new centre will open on Monday 10 May 2004.

Notes to Editors

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and is part of the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) group of organisations within the Department.

2. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and supervising basic training for learner motorcyclists.

3. The DSA is a trading fund with turnover of around 101 million for the year 2002/3. Income for the year 2003/4 is expected to be in the region of 112m, fully funded by fee income and revenue from non-statutory activities.

4. The DSA HQ is at Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU, and there are five area offices, which manage 430 practical test centres across Britain.

5. The DSA employs 2,178 staff, of which some 1,462 are driving examiners. In 2002/03 the Agency conducted 1.4 million tests for car drivers, over 72,000 vocational tests and over 86,000 motorcycle rider tests. 1.4 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were 31,786 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

6. The DSA achieved formal accreditation as an Investor in People in July 2000.

7. DSA is one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an 'on-line' booking service. Candidates can book their theory and practical tests directly on DSA's website : www.dsa.gov.uk