MP slams VOSA plans to close testing station
Page 6
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ANN CRYER, Labour MP for Keighley, West Yorkshire, has accused VOSA of "failing spectacularly to impress anyone': with its plans for Authorised Testing Facilities (ATB), and she has called on the Department for Transport (Dfr) to intervene with the planned closure of the testing station in Steeton, Bradford.
In a letter dated 29 July and addressed to the Under Secretary of State for Transport, Paul Clark MP, Cryer has attacked VOSA's decision to shut the Steeton testing station on 31 March 2010, because no privately-run ATFs have been established.
The letter states: "You need to know that the policy (to transform goods vehicle testing) has failed spectacularly to impress anyone, and the execution of it is causing anger, frustration and could well lead to increased costs for local businesses already suffering in the economic downturn.
"I am horrified to find out the closure has been announced."
VOSA confirmed the decision to approximately 15 operators at a meeting on 23 July at the Beeches Hotel in Keighley, where a 32-page draft ATP' contract document was handed out, which Cryer claims her constituents did not have sufficient time to read.
The site was originally due to close on 23 April, but Cryer managed to obtain a commitment that the closure of the station would not happen until at least October 2009 (MP wins reprieve for Steeton'. CM 2 April).
The latest letter is the seventh Cryer has sent to the government since the closure was revealed.
In a further protest, she writes: -VOSA, with its infrastructure and virtual monopoly, apparently can't make testing work, so why would a private operator take the risk of setting up an ATF?"
After a request for Clark to visit Steeton to discuss the site, VOSA confirms he has arranged to meet with Cryer on 2 September.
Kevin Rooney, VOSA customer director, says of the meeting on 23 July: "The local industry has been engaged to offer an understanding of what is needed to provide test facilities.They asked for a definitive closure date for the Steeton site and we have given that."
• Turn to page 20 for a round-up of all the test station closures.