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VOSA chief offers guarantees over CM test centre closure campaign
Page 7
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CM GRILLED VOSA chief executive Alastair Peoples (pictured right) over the agency's programme of vehicle testing station closures.
From the outset, Peoples wished to make it clear that the four test station closures so far, and the Authorised Testing Facility [ATF] programme are two separate elements" that had somehow become tangled up.
-We're spending so much time trying to explain what the relationship is and that is that there isn't one," he stressed.
Peoples also gave CM a guarantee to our first 'Stop the VOSA Closures' campaign demand that no more closures would take place until viable, suitable alternatives are in place but was more elusive about the remaining two.
JS: What guarantees can you provide for us? AP: "I can give a guarantee on the first [campaign demand]. On the second one [VOSA to consult locally on all closures], on the basis that it will he self-evident that work has migrated away [from VOSA stations to ATFs], and, on that the basis, we will need to prepare a case for closing a site, we will need to demonstrate to the minister that adequate indeed, potentially more than adequate facilities are in place. so it will be self-evident.
On the third point [VOSA to publish a list of stations it plans to close by March 2012]. there are no more planned station closures until we see what the take-up of ATFs is."
JS: What's the progress on the ATF contract, and how many expressions of interest from organisations have you had?
AP: "We hope to have an ATF contract ready [this month]. I anticipate we will see the first
contract signings towards the end of October. We've had more than 100 expressions of interest, but clearly some are more tangible than others.
"Before any site can be closed, we will need to prepare a ministerial submission. And to avoid the consternation provided by the four site closures, which was to do with overcapacity, we will need to ensure that there is adequate provision of testing. It could be some time before we see any closures as a result of the ATF [programme].
"We will clearly need to keep a safety net for those operators that aren't able to use ATFs• or where the particular type of vehicle can't be tested at an ATE JS: If you don't get the private sector interest you anticipate, where does that leave VOSA, particularly given its finances?
AP:"We're in difficult times. In 2003/4/5,VOSA increased its fees by about 13% per year so that's the kind of quantum (or more) should we have to refurbish the whole estate. Unless we make cost savings, the only other way of covering that [extra expenditure] is through generation of fees."
JS: There are 'customers' in Steeton who have AP: "We operate a national fee regime, and if we were to get into bespoke fees for regions or test stations. you can understand the complexity of legislation we would get into.
"Steeton is currently being subsidised to the tune of £8 a test from the national fee. So that's the quantum of the fee increase there, if we could do that. You can imagine trying to do that for 87 full-time sites it would be very difficult to do."
JS: What is your reaction to the consternation felt by the operators affected by the closures? AP:"We arc looking at providing testing within 30 miles or 60 minutes' drive for 90% of operators [the so-called 30/60/90 rule Ed.]. With the three sites already closed, and the future Steeton closure, we will still be within that rule. Clearly some have been affected more than others.
• To read the full interview with Peoples. and to join our Stop the VOSA Closures campaign by signing our No.10 petition, which has attracted 243 signatures so far, log on to www.roadtransport.com/vosaclosures