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P VEHICLE TEST:,
Page 7
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VOSA union brands ATF move as 'folly'
THE PUBLIC AND Commercial Services (PCS) Union, which represents staff who work at VOSA, has described the targets for the approval of Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) and the transfer of work to these locations over the next three years as "absolute folly': In a letter to CM, PCS negotiations officer Jessica Pearce states: "The target of having more than 33% of tests carried out outside of VOSA premises by the end of this financial year is absurd.
"It is evident that the targets will not be delivered, and we believe this is, at least, in part due to the fact that the project will disadvantage the majority of operators. Over 85% of VOSA customers are small operators with a fleet of fewer than 10 vehicles and are not in a position to look at opening their own ATF in order to gain the test they want."
VOSA has been set a target by the Department for Transport to transfer 85% of annual tests to ATFs by 2012. To date, two VOSA test sites have closed, with a further two set to close in March 2010. No ATFs have yet opened.