Two New Lifts Installed At MoT Centres

Two new MoT vehicle lifts are to be installed at local test centres, the Infrastructure Minister has announced.

Originally purchased at the end of last year, installation of the equipment has been accelerated to provide additional capacity and help mitigate the impact of ongoing test suspensions.

One will enter operation in Belfast and the other in Newbuildings, L'Derry.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: "These lifts will be independently inspected and checked before becoming operational. More information will follow on when and how these two new lifts will be operational but I expect that to be possible within the next few days."

The announcement comes as thousands of appointments are cancelled after signs of cracking were identified in 48 out of 55 lifts.

All car and light vehicle tests are currently suspended, with appointments only continuing for heavy goods vehicles and buses.

Two independent reviews are due to be carried out, however in the meantime, drivers with expired MoT certificates have been automatically issued with exemption certificates, meaning they can continue on the roads.

Taxi drivers and owners of four year-old cars in need of a first vehicle test are ineligible for the exemptions. The Department has committed to prioritising these vehicles.

Minister Mallon also instructed the DVLA that motorists unable to tax their vehicles due to the disruption should not be penalised.

"I will continue to push the DVA for progress on increasing the capacity for testing, whilst ensuring that safety remains the top priority for customers and staff," the SDLP MLA concluded.



(JG/CM)