A NEW MOT testing station has been opened in Yate by South Gloucestershire Council.

The purpose-built station and tachograph centre is an Authorised Testing Facility (ATF), staffed by the government’s Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

Based at the council’s Broad Lane depot in Yate, the facility features two dedicated testing lanes along with drive-through facilities. MOTs can be processed quickly, reducing the time a vehicle is off the road.

It will offer a full range of MOT services including testing heavy goods vehicles (HGV) weighing up to 44 tonnes, all public service vehicles (PSV) and specialist tests such as ADR (carriage of dangerous goods). These will be provided in addition to the class 4, 5 & 7 MOTs that are currently available, catering from cars through to lorries, with the capacity to test up to 16 vehicles per day.

It will also provide a full range of tachograph services and is able to offer vehicle operators the option to hire loads when carrying out MOT tests.

Cllr Howard Gawler, vice chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, officially opened the facility on Tuesday (March 4).

He said: “Commercial vehicles are required to take an MOT test every 12 months the same as cars, but there are only a limited number of specialised testing lanes in Authorised Testing Facilities available.

“This new centre will help local businesses improve their productivity by bringing the vehicle testing facilities right to their doorstep in the heart of the local community.”

Commercial vehicle operators previously had to travel to Bristol, Wiltshire or Gloucestershire to access these facilities so the council hopes a dedicated testing station located in South Gloucestershire will benefit a large number of local businesses.

It will also help the council to reduce its own mileage in the authority’s 40-strong fleet of HGV and PSV buses.

The centre will continue to provide an impartial MOT service to the general public.

Cllr Brian Allinson, chair of the council’s planning, transportation and strategic environment committee, said: “The testing station will be of great value to local bus and haulage companies as they will no longer need to travel long distances to be tested, saving them time and money, as well as reducing emissions and CO2.

“It will also be a major benefit for the council, we have a large fleet of vehicles and having test facilities based in Yate will save us time and resources.”

The centre is currently operating two days a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. For more details and for bookings contact 01454 863920 or email StreetCareTransport@southglos.gov.uk