Burgess Hill Town Council is lodging an objection after discovering that car drivers, as well as motorcyle riders, will use the government-run facility near the town's Victoria Industrial Park.

Their concern has been fuelled by proposals to close two test centres in the Brighton area, send drivers north to Mid Sussex for practice sessions and tests.

Cllr Mandy Thomas-Atkin, one of the Mid Sussex district councillors for the Victoria ward where the centre will be based, welcomed the change for local drivers for environmental reasons, but said: "What gravely concerns me is the Driving Standards Agency proposals to close both the Brighton Marina and Hove driving test centres, forcing the city residents to come to Burgess Hill to take their car and motorbike tests.

"At present I understand that there are eight test inspectors of cars and another four of motorbikes working from the Hove site. Multiply this by the inspectors seeing seven candidates each day and the impact on our local roads will be apparent. "

A public consultation about the plans is open until May 16.

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