Kirkham HGVTS is to close on June 28th 2013, the station was built in 1967 just prior to the plating and testing regulations in 1968 on part of the land of Kirkham Prison (Formerly RAF Kirkham) 
Some pictures of the test station (Some previously posted)
I passed my class 1 there in a Ford D500 owned by Joe Ash from Bolton. I had a class 2 with Grandfather rites. Joe was a great instructer and I passed 1st time.
Cliff
Can’t say I’ll miss it, just hope they keep paying my pension. Here are a few from my days there
front door
back door
spot the brake drum
bit of wear in that bearing
how thick are those tyre casings?
some people are going to miss it. The one on the front not the one behind
I think that the PENSION will be fine Dave,
Operators are gettin a shock @ the private ATF stations, up to £55 pit fee for a vehicle and £40 for a trailer then the test fee on top
Some operators are not happy with the closure
wheeltapper:
I think that the PENSION will be fine Dave,Operators are gettin a shock @ the private ATF stations, up to £55 pit fee for a vehicle and £40 for a trailer then the test fee on top
Some operators are not happy with the closure
They will have to charge that to cover my pension. I would never pay extra when I was running wagons whether it was for a DP or a weekend. I bet there are a lot of unhappy operators but there is not much option now.
Hi All.
Yes it will be sad day when it ends. Did my Class one there the Ribble Valley Training that was.
Me form being a fitter I was getting trucks tested there form so many years, I would allways go down Lane 1 with Tim and Bill and not to forget the other tested that was there at the time.
Cheers
Peter
Hi Wheeltapper,
It is still a functional facility for a place that was constructed in 1967…good foresight and planning whoever designed~built it.
Maha or BM test equipment?
How many vehicles a day do you put through each lane?
wheeltapper:
I think that the PENSION will be fine Dave,Operators are gettin a shock @ the private ATF stations, up to £55 pit fee for a vehicle and £40 for a trailer then the test fee on top
Some operators are not happy with the closure
its a total disgrace the lot of it,there is a lane at darlington aint been used for over a year, they sending their lads out to atf stations ,why should i have to pay more money to go to an atf when there is a perfectly good station at darlington that is not being utalised correctly,
Riverstick:
Hi Wheeltapper,It is still a functional facility for a place that was constructed in 1967…good foresight and planning whoever designed~built it.
Maha or BM test equipment?
How many vehicles a day do you put through each lane?
VLT roller barke testers in place, sound building and all hard standing in A1 condition.
When I was lane officer 14 years ago I could have up to 7 lads on the lanes, each knocking off 28-30 axles a day
Always a busy site, but politics and views were altered and ATF’s came in and the rest is history