DVSA has dismissed the idea of a replacement driving test centre in Whitchurch as the fall-out from proposals to demolish the town's Civic Centre continues.

The driving agency had been expected to make a new home in the centre after it announced it was closing its site in the town.

But it has now confirmed it will not be looking for a new home in the town, and said this was only in part because of the discovery of RAAC and asbestos which has seemingly doomed the vital civic building.

The body said demand for testing being adequately met by nearby centres in Oswestry, Wrexham, and Shrewsbury.

A DVSA spokesperson said: “DVSA has decided not to consider a replacement driving test centre (DTC) in Whitchurch. 

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“The discovery of RAAC and asbestos at Whitchurch Civic Centre is not the only reason DVSA has decided not to consider a replacement DTC in Whitchurch.

“Whitchurch DTC was closed as the demand for testing could be absorbed at nearby DTCs without reducing test capacity.

“Car practical test waiting times are currently very strong.”

The officials further explained the nearby DTCs in Oswestry, Wrexham, and Shrewsbury have waiting times of five weeks, five weeks and one week respectively as of Monday, January 8 2024.  

They added: “There is not sufficient demand to warrant the permanent redeployment of a driving examiner to Whitchurch.

“Re-instating a service provision in the area would require us to redeploy an examiner from one of the neighbouring DTCs, negatively impacting our priority to reduce waiting times.”

They also claimed "relatively few customers" would benefit from a test centre in Whitchurch.