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VOSA experiences rough ride over test centre closures
Page 12
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VOSA's plans to close the Llandrindod Wells testing station came under fire at a recent public meeting
CM COVER STORY
By Cotin Barnett
VOSA'S TESTING station closure programme hit rocky ground last week in the face of an impressive display of people power.
At a public meeting in Llandrindod Wells, fronted by a heavyweight line-up of VOSA officials led by chief operating officer Alex Fiddes, the agency attempted to explain its decision to close the town's testing station.
However, a 60-strong audience of local operators and vehicle maintainers remained unimpressed. Local MP Roger Williams (LibDem, Brecon and Radnorshire), his prospective Conservative rival, Suzie Davies, and a group of Powys councillors also attended, while the UKIP MEP for Wales, John lEiufton, from a well-known local haulage family, sent a message of support from Strasbourg.
The background to the meeting is that Llandrindod Wells is one of four testing stations chosen for closure this year in response to the Executive agency avoiding privatisation ('VOSA stays in public hands', CM 10 July 2008). The sta
tion, which carries out some 2,000 goods vehicle and 360 PSV tests a year, is due to close on September 25 a process which Fiddes acknowledges has been brought forward by Tesco's desire to acquire the existing site as part of a major superstore development.
High among the questions raised at the meeting was why VOSA hasn't taken advantage of a nearby alternative site being offered by Powys C:ounty Council free of charge and with all planning and environmental formalities completed-something Fidcles had been unaware of.
Conditions queried
Local county councillors had raised queries over conditions in Tesco's planning permission requiring the provision of suitable alternative testing facilities, but this has since been discounted.
The VOSA team declined to reveal the amount paid for the existing site without a Freedom of Information order, but the figure is believed to be more than enough to provide and equip a new building on the proposed site.
However, VOSA's funding arrangements apparently don't allow this option.
The decision to close the fully utilised facility at Llandrindod Wells, located close to the three major roads in mid-Wales the A483. A470 and A44 instead of the under-used and more isolated part-time station at Llanrhystyd, near Aberystwyth, was questioned (see map).
Other areas of heated debate during the evening concerned the complete lack of customer consultation
required by Haverfordwest
0
the closure process, the lack of suitable alternative facilities within a reasonable distance, especially for 44-tonne vehicles, and the lack of enough detailed financial information to enable potential local repairers to consider joining the new Authorised Testing Facility (ATE) scheme.
VOSA area manager David Collings could confirm only one new ATF site, which he expected to be operational by October. This will be located 25 miles away in Newtown in a location that a large proportion of the audience felt has totally inadequate access. with two more undisclosed facilities within six miles of Liandrindod Wells.
However, he did reveal that
these will only accommodate smaller vehicles. The nearest alternative VOSA testing station is 40 miles away at Hereford, and local bulk tipper operator Michael Gough calculated that this would add 2,000 miles annually to his fleet movements.The environmental implications of this were questioned by the politicians present.
Calls for reprieve One area on which all present at the meeting were unanimous was the service provided by longstanding Llandrindod Wells test station manager Mike Chandler, who was universally acclaimed as being firm but consistently fair. The evening ended with Williams calling for a reprieve while a number of issues are resolved.
The latest position as CM goes to press is that the Road Haulage Association is calling for a meeting with the politician responsible for approving the decision, Paul Clark, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport. •
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