Bradford Council Conservative Group Leader Kris Hopkins has said he will vigorously oppose plans by a Government quango to close the vehicle testing station at Steeton.
Cllr Hopkins revealed that Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has advised the Council that it intends to shut the Steeton site which undertakes approximately 5,000 tests each year.
The loss of the Steeton site would mean the Council and private sector vehicle operators having to use the facility at Rothwell in Leeds – a potential return journey of 65 miles.
“The closure of the Steeton testing station will result in Bradford Council having to take vehicles to the Leeds test centre, resulting in increased journey times of 400 hours per year, an additional 5000 miles of travel annually and seven extra tonnes of CO2 emissions from Council vehicles per year,” commented Cllr Hopkins.
“The direct cost to the local Council Tax payer is likely to be around £25,000.
“Private sector vehicle operators will be similarly inconvenienced and out-of-pocket.
“There will also be increased traffic flows along the already very busy A650, city centre and A647 routes, together with an estimated 300 extra tonnes of CO2 emissions from heavy good vehicles.
“And, as we face up to the most difficult economic circumstances for generations, the closure of the site will inevitably mean everyone currently employed there would lose their jobs and many private sector operator jobs would also be put at great risk.
“I will certainly be doing everything I can to attempt to convince the Government and VOSA to reverse their ill-advised decision to shut the Steeton facility and hope others with any influence on these matters will join me in my opposition to the plans.”
