May/June Issue 61 - Flipbook - Page 25
NEWS
MANCHETTS RECOVERY
This time of year stuck
agricultural equipment can
easily get damaged. Our
specialist vehicle allows us
to stand and hold ground
effectively to apply progress
winch power to winch
casualty equipment back to
hard standing, preventing
shock loading of the stricken
machine and in turn damage
free recovery allowing
farmers to continue farming.
GARAGES PERMITTED TO REMAIN OPEN DURING LATEST
LOCKDOWN
New ‘stay at home’ order for England and Scotland does not affect workshops but DVSA not
yet ruled out MOT extension
A new lockdown ordering people to
‘stay at home’ in England and Scotland
is now in force but garages are
permitted to remain open.
The latest government guidance for
England states that “vehicle repair and
MOT services” can remain open.
In Scotland, “car repair and MOT services
including supply of parts” can continue to
operate during the latest restrictions.
England’s latest lockdown rules will
remain in place until at least mid-February;
Scotland’s current restrictions will be
reviewed at the end of January.
Wales remains at ‘alert level four’ and
garages can remain open.
The DVSA has said it is working “closely
with the government” but is yet to confirm
its official position on the impact of
restrictions on its services.
MOT extension
Many garage owners now fear a possible
reintroduction of another MOT extension, a
move which saw many workshops forced
to close during the first lockdown last
year – despite being granted permission to
remain open.
The rules allowed an extension to MOT
expiry dates from the end of March 2020.
His televised statement yesterday came
after the UK reported a record 58,784
cases on Monday, as well as a further 407
deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
Announcing England’s lockdown, Mr
Johnson said hospitals were under “more
pressure from COVID than at any time
since the start of the pandemic”.
The extension ended on August 1, 2020,
and from this date drivers had to ensure
their cars have valid MOT certification,
prompting significant demand on MOT
services in recent weeks.
An extension was not granted for MOTs
during the second lockdown and is unlikely
to be granted for the latest national
lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the
coming weeks would be the “hardest yet”.
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