The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is to begin offering driving tests from Stone fire station in Staffordshire.

It is part of a programme to share existing public and private sector facilities for vehicle and driver testing purposes. The body has already been closing several of its own ATF commercial vehicle testing lanes and begun operating them in conjunction with private firms.

In this case, tests will continue to be offered at the existing Featherstone site, just over 20 miles away, with this additional facility giving more choice and flexibility to customers.

DVSA’s head of operations, Phil Lloyd, said: “We are pleased to be working with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to offer a more local service for vocational testing.”

“This is a great example of how we can work with partners in the public and private sector to provide a service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service lead in driver development and education, Rowan Kitton, said: “We are looking forward to embarking upon this pioneering partnership with the DVSA. We believe it will be a huge benefit to the communities of Staffordshire and the road haulage industry in general, who have recently been without a local testing facility.”