Glasgow, Gloucester and Liverpool next for VOSA axe
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christopher.walton@rbi.co.uk VOSA IS TO close three more test stations by the end of the year at the same time as revealing it had hit its target of opening 40 Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) in the past inancial year.
The affected stations are: Gloucester, Liverpool and Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, which will cease operations by December.
VOSA insists that thorough analysis of the potential take-up of ATFs in each area has shown a “heathy pipeline of interest”.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) says it needs an assurance from VOSA that there will be adequate testing provision for vehicles of all sizes in the affected areas.
VOSA has opened 49 ATFs since the Testing Transformation Programme started in January 2010. Two new ATFs opened last week: Moreton Cullymore, Gloucester and S&K Haulage in Barry, south Wales. VOSA chief executive Alastair Peoples says: “I’m pleased to see these sites open. It means VOSA has met its target to open 40 new non-VOSA sites by the end of March. It shows that the industry has conidence in the future of testing.” James Firth, Freight Transport Association head of road freight and enforcement policy, believes the closures would not leave opera tors “feeling high and dry, not knowing where they will test their vehicles as they did before”, as some operators did following the closure of the Mitcham, Surrey, centre in November. But he adds: “ATFs should mean reduced costs by bringing the test closer to the maintenance and reducing vehicle downtime, the fuel for the journey from maintenance to test and the cost of a itter’s time driving to test.”