Work begins on new Steeton driving test centre (From Craven Herald)

Work begins on new Steeton driving test centre

9:00am Sunday 15th July 2012 in News

Construction work on a new driving centre in Steeton is under way.

The Driving Standards Agency expects the centre, on the industrial estate at Steeton Grove, to be fully operational by the end of next month (August).

The centre, which will test drivers of cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs), and motorcyclists, is at a former HGV testing station.

It will replace the Keighley driving test centre, which closed in 2010 for health and safety reasons.

The DSA received planning permission for the centre last October.

A spokesman for the government agency said: “The redeveloped centre is expected to open for car and Module 2 motorcycle testing some time in August 2012.”

Bradford Council gave planning permission for the new centre despite opposition from Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council.

Parish council chairman David Mullen voiced concerns about projected vehicle movements of up to 240 a day and potential use of Steeton streets by learner drivers.

The DSA responded that the centre would have a negligible effect on the local road network, would generate additional employment and would not affect a proposed cycle route to Steeton railway station.

Bradford councillor Adrian Naylor, who represents Craven Ward, called for a review of how the local road network was being affected by both recent and future building.

He accepted that individual developments might be beneficial for the area, and not dramatically affect local roads, but taken together with other projects would cause problems.

He said: “We’re seeing a lot of development which will impact on the already busy road junctions.

“We have to look at investing in improvements to the road system in Steeton.”