The possibility of a new “super test centre” at Steeton has been mooted following the disclosure that Keighley Driving Test Centre will close next month.

Last week the Keighley News revealed that the town’s test centre is to shut on November 19 and tests temporarily moved to Skipton.

The decision has not been well received by Keighley driving instructors, who have expressed their concerns about an increase in costs for themselves and drivers.

“Our concern is the cost to our business by having to travel over to Skipton,” said James McGrath, chairman of Keighley and District Driving Instructors Association. “We don’t always want to pass any increase in prices on to our pupils.

“A lot of these poor learners are young and will only be earning a minimum wage. And then there’s the issue of learners having to get time off from work to accommodate potentially longer lessons.”

Local driving instructors have also complained about “horrendous” parking problems outside the Keighley test centre.

Frank Parkin, chief observer with Skipton and Craven Institute of Advanced Motorists, said he couldn’t see a major problem with a temporary move to Skipton.

“The Skipton test centre has been completely refurbished and it has a decent car park, though I suspect it will be busier when Keighley closes,” he said.

“It’s a bit inconvenient having to drive 15 to 20 minutes to Skipton, but it’s not the end of the world.”

The Driving Standards Agency has confirmed that the move to Skipton is temporary, with the agency’s long-term ambition being to relocate the Keighley test centre to a heavy goods vehicle testing site at Steeton.

Mr Parkin believes the Steeton site could eventually become a “super test centre” that would incorporate testing for cars, HGVs and motorbikes.

He thinks it would not take too much work to open a new test centre at the Steeton site.