by David Skentelbery
PLANNING chiefs will rule next week on whether a Warrington hotel - currently in administration - can be used as a temporary driving test centre.
The Driving Standards Agency has applied for permission to use part of Paddington House Hotel, in Manchester Road, as a driving examiners' office for six months
Tests would start and end in the hotel car park, with the main practical part of the tests taking place off-site.
Examiners would use a first floor meeting room as offices and test candidates would use the existing hotel reception and conservatory as a waiting area.
The application follows the Government's decision last year to reinstate a driving test centre in Warrington. The original test centre was closed in 2008, despite a major campaign to keep it open.
After the six months is up, the Driving Standards Agency will relocate to permanent premises in the town.
Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council has objected to the application on the grounds it would cause an unacceptable increase in traffic.
But planning officers say there is spare capacity on the hotel car park on weekdays so there are no highways objections.
The hotel is operating as normal at present and the administrators are understood to be optimistic that it can be sold as a going concern.
When Warrington's driving test centre closed in 2008, it became the largest town in the country not to have one. Local test candidates have to travel to St Helens or Northwich to take their tests and driving instructors in the town claim to have lost business as a result of the closure.
It is also believed the pass-rate fell as a result of L-drivers having to take their tests on unfamiliar roads.
The Driving Standards Agency has applied for permission to use part of Paddington House Hotel, in Manchester Road, as a driving examiners' office for six months
Tests would start and end in the hotel car park, with the main practical part of the tests taking place off-site.
Examiners would use a first floor meeting room as offices and test candidates would use the existing hotel reception and conservatory as a waiting area.
The application follows the Government's decision last year to reinstate a driving test centre in Warrington. The original test centre was closed in 2008, despite a major campaign to keep it open.
After the six months is up, the Driving Standards Agency will relocate to permanent premises in the town.
Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council has objected to the application on the grounds it would cause an unacceptable increase in traffic.
But planning officers say there is spare capacity on the hotel car park on weekdays so there are no highways objections.
The hotel is operating as normal at present and the administrators are understood to be optimistic that it can be sold as a going concern.
When Warrington's driving test centre closed in 2008, it became the largest town in the country not to have one. Local test candidates have to travel to St Helens or Northwich to take their tests and driving instructors in the town claim to have lost business as a result of the closure.
It is also believed the pass-rate fell as a result of L-drivers having to take their tests on unfamiliar roads.
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5 Responses to "Hotel set to be driving test centre" 
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said this on 21 Jan 2012 4:12:30 PM BST
As a temporary measure sounds a good idea, but why on earth was the original test centre closed for such a large town like Warrington, when a little place like Northwich kept its.
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said this on 22 Jan 2012 9:00:09 AM BST
What will all this cost the taxpayer. The fact that a centre has been closed and a new centre needs setting up surely will cost a great deal. Got to be a good idea for Warrington to have its own Test Centre and the Parish Council has go t lose its Nimby attitude for the good of the Town.
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said this on 22 Jan 2012 7:09:58 PM BST
At last somebody with brains and iniative has made a rational decision.
the Learner drivers in the Town have lost a service , and it is being replaced by an innovative idea. it keeps a struggling business going and utilises a building that could well be boarded up and left to rot. An ideal location, plenty of parking and pleasant uncramped conditions candidates can relax in prior to their driving tests.
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said this on 22 Jan 2012 7:45:17 PM BST
Isn't it better to site a Driving Test Centre where the traffic actually moves?
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said this on 24 Jan 2012 8:53:45 AM BST
....."It is also believed the pass-rate fell as a result of L-drivers having to take their tests on unfamiliar roads"............ is that why so many cars with only one occupant can often be seen aimlessy driving round Bewsey; because they are the only roads they know!!......... if it is really the case that people fail tests because they drive on unfamiliar roads then maybe we should all worry when these people actually pass!!
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