Vosa testing station

Vosa plans to stop testing at its Gillingham and Grantham sites by the end of March 2013.

Although the stations in Gillingham, Kent and Grantham, Lincolnshire, will not close, Vosa has taken the decision to cease testing at these sites.

Operators will instead be able to test their vehicles at one of four authorised testing facilities (ATFs) in the Lincolnshire area, located in Newark, Lincoln and Boston.

Testing is also carried out at six ATFs in Kent, at Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Faversham, Rochester, Sittingbourne and Aylesford. The Gillingham site will remain open for specialist tests.

A Vosa spokeswoman said Vosa's Testing Transformation Programme said it was helping reduce vehicle downtime by bringing the testing closer to the customer.

"Many fleet operators have told us that they are saving tens of thousands of pounds a year in reduced fuel costs, vehicle downtime and salaries, and also seeing first time pass rates noticeably improve,” she said.

Vosa said that 81% of Gillingham’s tests and 76% of Grantham’s are already carried out at an ATF.

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