Authorised Testing Facilities go on trial
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM COVER STORY
By Joanna Bourke IN THE SAME week that the new chief executive of VOSA. Alastair Peoples, confirmed that the agency will plough ahead with shifting tests to privately run premises, some Designated Premises (DPs) have begun trials as Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs), Following his appointment after spending six months as acting chief executive, Peoples says lie does not anticipate any more test station closures ahead of March 2010 in relation to ATF openings.
He remains confident that the current 23% of testing conducted by a mixture of ATFs and DPs will grow to 33% by then.
He says: "There are a number of players who want to become ATFs, but are waiting to see what the final contract looks like. Whether or not we migrate to ATFs, we will ensure it is still us who conducts tests, and we need to ensure there's adequate testing space." A draft contract has been issued to potential ATF providers, but the final version of the contract is expected to be published in the autumn.
Some DPs are taking part in an ATF pilot, including Lancashirebased RNB Commercials and MAN Truck & Bus in Manchester.
South Liverpool Commercials will be operating as an ATF one day a week, but reveals that it does not expect to see financial benefits from doing so in the immediate future.