THOUSANDS of learner drivers in Basingstoke will have to travel to Reading to take their driving theory tests from the end of August.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has confirmed that the Basingstoke theory test centre in Basing View is to shut.

The decision means learners will have a 35-mile round trip to Reading to take the theory test, even though the practical driving test will still be taken in Basingstoke at the centre in Brighton Hill, which is no longer threatened with closure.

The shock move to close the theory test centre has annoyed driving instructors and learner drivers, who did not know about the plans.

Sally Blanc, who has been a driving instructor in Basingstoke for seven years, said: “I had no idea it was closing down. We always find out about these things second-hand. For learners, it's even more money that they will have to spend to take the theory test.”

Although learners will have to pay out to get to and from Reading, the DSA says the closure decision will save money as not enough theory tests are taken in Basingstoke.

The theory test centre in The Square, Basing View, has the capacity to hold 20,000 tests each year, but from 2010 to 2011, just 7,338 were taken, of which 6,467 were car candidates.

However, this is an increase from the previous two years when 6,880 were taken between 2009 and 2010, and 7,174 between 2008 and 2009.

After August, learners will have to travel to the test centre at Hanover House in Reading, which has the capacity to accommodate more tests.

A spokeswoman for the DSA said it has a duty to spend money from fees responsibly. She added: “Maintaining a theory test centre in Basingstoke is simply not cost-effective so we plan to close the centre at the end of August.

"As the theory test centre in Reading also has spare capacity, it is not cost-effective to keep both centres open.”

The spokeswoman added that the theory test centres are sub-contracted to a company called Pearson Vue, which “has informed staff at Basingstoke of the closure, and intends to offer alternative similar employment wherever possible”.

Becky Turlin, 30, from South Ham, Basingstoke, is learning to drive with Freedom driving school. She has not yet taken her theory test, and said: “It will cause a lot of problems. I work so I would have to take time off.”

Her instructor Keith Taylor added: “It's ridiculous. They have kept the practical test centre because there's too much work to close it, so surely they have the same amount of work for the theory test centre.”

Sam Aspinall, from Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, is a learner with AAG School of Motoring. The 19-year-old is glad she has already taken her theory test. He said: “Travelling to Reading would be a pain. I think people will be angry about this.”

His instructor Andrea Mannion, 34, from Buckskin, added: “It's a bit of a shock. Basingstoke is a huge area. It's like turning round and saying, 'we are closing down the library'.”

Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the Basingstoke-based AA, said the town deserves to have its own theory test centre.

Commenting on the travel challenge facing learners, he added: “Yes, Reading is on the main railway line, but it's not if you live in Odiham or somewhere else like that. It's all become rather ridiculous that a town with a 160,000 population won't have a theory test centre.”

In 2008, The Gazette reported that the DSA was looking to close the practical driving test centre in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, because it was not big enough for new motorcycle tests required by the European Union. Test candidates would have had to travel to new centres in Farnborough and Newbury. However, the DSA now say they have no plans to shut the Brighton Hill practical centre.