Dealers angered by DM closures
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by Ian Wylie • Truck dealers say LGV vehicle excise duty and registration arrangements are in limbo following the DVLA's decision to close its 51 Vehicle Registration Offices (VR0s).
The closures are a blow to vehicle enforcement as untaxed vehicles which are spotted by the police or traffic wardens are normally reported to the regional offices.
Taxing and first registration of new vehicles only will be affected by the closures, which begin in six months.
Shutting the DVLA offices, announced a fortnight ago, is expected to save the Government <£40m, but union officials claim new technology systems intended to replace staff in the offices remains unproven.
A system of first registration by car dealers operating direct computer links with manufacturers and the DVLA is currently being piloted by three dealers in Bristol.
But truck dealers say they are unprepared for the changes in taxing and registration of new LGVs.
Mike Mudie, a spokesman for truck dealers represented by the Retail Motor Industry Federation, says truck dealers have not been approached by the DVLA to discuss future road taxing and registration systems: "We're waiting to see how these pilot schemes in car dealerships progress," he says, "but licensing trucks in dealer ships would be more problematic given the different rates of tax and security implications." And the Civil and Public Services Association, which represents DVLA staff, says it has not been told of any new licensing arrangements for trucks.
According to the MLA, the first regional offices to be closed from early 1995 will be in Aberdeen, Coventry, Croydon, Haverfordwest, Huddersfield, Hull, Leicester, Liverpool, central London, Ilford, Inverness, Stanmore, Taunton and Truro. The other offices will have closed down by 1997.
Over the next three years the DVLA plans to shed 1,500 staff currently employed in licence enforcement, registration and new vehicle licensing.