18-07-05 VOSA Chief Executive Visits Re-built Aberdeen Test Station
Aberdeen Test Station - Spruce and Spacious
On Tuesday, 19 July, Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency), will make his first visit to Aberdeen Test Station, which has undergone a major refurbishment.
The station, the biggest north of Perth, serves drivers and vehicle operators in the north-east of Scotland at a rate of about 40 vehicles a day. Building work began last September when the main, single storey building was reduced to a shell for a complete refit, and then a second floor was created. The work was completed in March.
“The station has doubled in size and it’s a great improvement for our customers and staff - it’s bigger, brighter and modern,” says station manager Ian Smith. “We have an all-weather canopy long enough to accommodate an articulated lorry and to protect staff from the elements during the initial examination of a vehicle. Our two test bays have been made deeper, longer and wider, which not only gives staff more room and light to examine vehicles, but is also more suitable for checking low-floor buses.
“We now have three lanes at the side of the building for vehicles waiting for testing - before, there was no queuing system and sometimes we had to use the roadway. We also have a smart reception area, giving the right professional, modern image for VOSA.”
The six month re-build was so radical that the test station had to move operations. “It was quite a challenge, but we were greatly supported by First Aberdeen and Sandy Bruce Trucking,” says Ian. “We were able to use their premises to ensure no break in service, and the VOSA test stations at Keith and Montrose were also on hand to help customers.
“This major change worked because of the commitment of our staff and the understanding of our customers. Staff showed great initiative and often had to make very quick decisions working in difficult circumstances, while some of our customers faced a longer journey to have their tests done at our temporary sites.”
The station mainly deals with HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) but covers the full range of vehicles, including coaches, horse boxes and self-builds, such as kit cars.
There are 18 staff at the site: 10 involved in testing vehicles, six working on enforcement (checking that vehicles and their drivers comply with legal standards and regulations) and three from the Driving Standards Agency, the government agency responsible for all driving licence tests.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to Aberdeen Test Station on Tuesday, 19 July, at 1.30pm, to meet VOSA chief executive Stephen Tetlow and station manager Ian Smith. Please report to reception and ask for station manager Ian Smith.
Stephen Tetlow was appointed chief executive of VOSA on 1 January 2005.
VOSA conducts statutory annual testing for HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) and PSVs (Public Service Vehicles, such as coaches and buses) at VOSA test stations around Britain and at private-sector approved testing premises (designated premises).
It also offers specialist inspections of vehicles, for example, certification of PSVs before they enter service; inspections of imported or amateur-built vehicles to comply with acceptable safety and environmental standards (Single Vehicle Approval for cars and motorcycles); and inspections to check the identity of written off vehicles which are returned to the road (Vehicle Identity Check).
VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an agency of the Department for Transport. VOSA is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls
For further information about VOSA, please contact: Marka Rifat on 0117 9543286, or e-mail marka.rifat@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006