Home News Central Bedfordshire Council MOT testing stations and Non-Emergency Passenger Transport services officially open in Sandy...

MOT testing stations and Non-Emergency Passenger Transport services officially open in Sandy and Dunstable

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Pictured front row left to right: Mayor Cllr Yvonne Farrell, Mayor Cllr Liz Jones, Cllr Gordon Perham, Arthi Appathurai Fleet Services Manager, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Eugene Ghent. Back row: John Shier/ London Hire, Jo Borthwick Head of Public Protection , Su Childerhouse Assistant Director Public Protection and Transport, Ian Dean MOT Manger.

Central Bedfordshire Council has officially opened two MOT testing stations, offering a brand-new service to residents and businesses.

Council officers were joined by their Chairman Cllr Perham, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services, Cllr Eugene Ghent, Dunstable Ward Cllr, and the Mayor of Houghton Regis Cllr Yvonne Farrell and Mayor of Dunstable Cllr Liz Jones, who were given a tour of the MOT centre at Thorn Turn, Houghton Regis, following the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Located at the council’s Thorn Turn and Sandy depots, the testing stations will provide MOTs on Class 4, 5 and 7 vehicles, ranging from cars and mobile homes to mini-buses and goods vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles.

The team will also carry out annual compliance tests for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles (taxis) and use the modern stations to maintain and test the council’s own fleet of vehicles – a service that will save money.

MOTs are available to book online at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/MOT

Following the official opening at the MOT bay, a tour was given,and information was also providedaboutthe council’s Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) service which opened last year, providing children and adults with varying health needs, a safe and assisted non-emergency transport.

NEPT provides transport to students with special educational needs, NHS and private hospital patients, care home residents and hospice patients. The NEPT drivers and care assistants on each vehicle are trained to provide the level of assistance that clients require and know how to respond to their specific needs, according to their individual Health Plan.

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services said: “Both of these services are a welcome addition to our Fleet Transport Service, both for residents and local businesses.

“The new MOT service will save money as we can now maintain our own fleet of vehicles in-house. They will generate new income as we can now offer a new quality MOT service for residents and businesses. It also means that our hackney and private hire vehicles are tested within the licensing authority area, something we have not been able to achieve previously.

“Our Non-Emergency Patient Transport services enable us to provide residents with a safe and well assisted form of non-emergency transport throughout Central Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. Residents can be confident when they travel in one of our vehicles that they will receive the highest quality level of care and attention.”

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