New figures show the driving test centre in Reading helps thousands of people pass their tests each year, demonstrating its importance to the town.

The Reading practical driving test centre in Elgar Road South, Katesgrove has been in place since 1995, with hundreds of thousands of people winning permission to drive there since then.

But the crucial part it plays in people's lives is set to end next Spring, as a company called Maxika Homes has won permission to replace the centre with an apartment building containing 16 flats.

Each year, thousands of drivers pass their tests at the centre, according to government data.

Figures show 3,238 people passed their practical driving test in Reading in the last year.

But that is not the total number of drivers who attempted tests, as 6,766 tests were conducted during the period from April 2023 to March 2024.

Of those, 3,238 people passed, resulting in a pass rate of 47.9 per cent, which is exactly the same as the national average.

The figures have been revealed as the test centre is due to close in Spring 2025, leading to fears that the town could be left without a place for people to get their driving licences.

The next nearest centres are located at Sunbeam House in Slough and the Brighton Hill test centre in Basingstoke.

But concerns have been raised that the thousands of people that attempt their tests in Reading will have to try and pass elsewhere, leading to increased pressure and longer test booking times.

Figures for the attempts and passes at each centre are held by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Rachel Newland, 47, a driving instructor from Earley has raised fears that Reading could be left without a test centre site once it closes for redevelopment.

Luckily, the DVSA is currently in negotiations to secure a lease for a new site.

A DVSA spokesperson said: "We are in the early stages of negotiating the lease.

"We will confirm the location as soon as we are able to."

Mrs Newland raised concerns that Reading could be left without a test centre for a long period of time, raising the example of High Wycombe, which was without a test centre for more than a year.

Answering this concern, the DVSA spokesperson said: "We always aim for the minimum amount of disruption for our customers and colleagues.

"We have tried and tested business continuity plans in place for this including where there is a planned or temporary change in location."

The project to replace the test centre in Katesgrove was refused by Reading Borough Council's planning committee in December 2022 but allowed on appeal by a government planning inspector in April.