Rural Stirlingshire’s learner drivers were this week facing a headache following the news that the test centre at Callander is to close.
People looking to obtain a full driving licence will now have to travel to either Stirling or Crieff to sit their test if the closure goes ahead.
Callander test centre, located at the McLaren Leisure centre, will close in May, meaning learners would be forced to travel an extra 14 miles to Stirling or an additional 16 miles to Crieff.
Learners based in Tyndrum would have to travel up to 50 miles each way to sit their test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) this week confirmed to the Observer that the test centre will close on May 23.
DVSA test centre manager for Stirling, Richard Senior, said: “Our priority is to help everyone through a lifetime of safe driving.
“Test routes at Stirling driving test centre mean candidates can be better tested on the new test, helping improve driving skills and making Scottish roads even safer.
“The temporary driving test centre at Callander only opens for one day each week. Using the nearby test centre at Stirling will provide all candidates with a more extensive service, six days a week.”
Tests are carried out from the Callander hub on Thursdays. Tests were previously carried out on Tuesdays and Thursdays but Tuesday test session was scrapped in December.
One driving instructor said the move disadvantages learner drivers in rural areas and is hoping to persuade the DVSA to keep the test centre open.
Grant Wallace, who runs the Grant Wallace Driving School in the town, has been a driving instructor for eight years. He was informed of the decision after spotting a flyer at the Stirling test centre in St Ninians Road.
He usually has around 40 students at a time and he is hoping to drum up enough support locally to force the centre to stay open.
He said: “I called the DVSA to ask why, but they couldn’t give me a reason. I never thought it would happen because it’s such a huge catchment area.”
A large percentage of Grant’s students are pupils from McLaren High and he now has concerns that they will be forced to book double lessons in order to learn the test route in Stirling,
“I take pupils in to Stirling anyway, because I feel it’s an important part of learning to drive,” he added.
“But a lot of pupils do driving lessons during their free periods, but if they have to go to Stirling and back to do it then it doesn’t give them enough time. They would either have to meet me in Stirling or start their lesson in Callander and spend at least 40 minutes travelling to and from Stirling, that’s if we don’t hit any traffic.
“The catchment area goes up to Tyndrum and they already have to go all the way to Callander. The closure would mean they would then have to travel all the way to Stirling or Crieff or even Glasgow. It’s bonkers.
“This will cause a lot of people stress and financial hardships. It’s discrimination against the rural areas for people who will not be able to afford lessons or travel to Stirling to have lessons.
“If the centre in Callander closes then I will have to put my prices up because pupils will have to take double lessons.”
Trossachs and Teith councillor, Martin Earl, has expressed his concerns over the decision. He said: “This closure will really disadvantage people learning to drive from across a huge rural area and I would urge a re–think.
“I’ve never heard of any issues with the tests taken in Callander and I cannot see a reason for this other then saving a bit of money from the one day a week it currently operates. If this closure happens the nearest testing station will be Stirling and people will have to have lessons in that area prior to taking a test there.”
