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VOSA's policy of test station closures has come in for renewed criticism after it emerged that little or no progress on finding replacement sites - Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) - has been made.

The government agency says it wants 33% of annual tests conducted at ATFs by next March and 85% by 2012. However, despite the first test station at Bredbury, Cheshire having already shut, there are still no ATFs in place.

The Steeton,  West Yorkshire site was due to have shut last month, but has been given a stay of execution until the autumn following intervention from local MP Ann Cryer to allow more time for ATFs to be set up.

However, although at least three local firms have expressed an interest in creating an ATF, so far VOSA has failed to respond to them. Keighley haulage firm Joda Freight said it was looking into the issue as a way of avoiding an additional annual cost of £50,000 from taking its 60 trucks and 120 trailers to Leeds for test.

It expressed an interest in setting up an ATF in March, but has heard nothing from the agency since. Director David Wareing says: "VOSA is not coming forward with the rules - it's most frustrating. We are a long way off from getting an answer - we have been waiting for a meeting since March."

He says without guarantees from VOSA, no-one can commit the substantial sums needed to set up an ATF.  Another local business, which asked to remain anonymous, says it has made numerous calls and written letters to VOSA, but has received no response. "We've called it a day with our plans simply because VOSA doesn't get back to you.

"We left business cards, left messages and nothing has happened - as far as I'm concerned it's over." No-one from VOSA was available to comment.