The future for designated premises
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VOSA's official line on the shape of things to come is as follows: "We constantly review the capacity of our own stations and encourage, where appropriate, the further utilisation of DP sites, so that testing services are provided widely across the country, thus minimising the burden on industry." In other words, VOSA is keen to see more DPs created, so long as dealers and operators can go through its hoops successfully.
Northern Commercials (Mirfield) tested more than 900 vehicles last year and service director David Gibson says: "VOSA couldn't do without DPs now." Things might well go further than dependence, wit t a fundamental shift in the relationship between government agency and private sector in the air. Some DP owners feel that the next lc gical step is for greater privatisation of VOSA's testing activities. "Long-term, I can see a situation where we can employ the testirT station staff ourselves," says Tim Stacey, Rygor Commercials dealer principal . "It is a logical progression."