News and Events
Encouraging the UK to be van smart
DVSA and the transport industry are working together to encourage van owners and drivers to better maintain their vehicles.
We’re doing this by highlighting the road safety risks associated with poor maintenance and overloading.
In 2014 to 2015 there were over 3.5 million light goods vehicles registered in Great Britain, travelling an estimated 45.5 billion vehicle miles. Recent forecasts from the Department for Transport show that this figure will continue to rise substantially in the coming years.
Operating a poorly maintained van could result in an accident, not only endangering the driver, but the lives of other road users. Making sure these vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained will help goods and services reach their destination – promoting a reputation for reliability and increasing road safety.
We’ve created a range of useful videos and guidance to encourage van users to stay safe and legal. These have all been published to a clear and simple guide on GOV.UK. It includes things like the routine walkaround check, to highlight mechanical areas of concern. The walkaround checklist contains an instructional diagram of the daily routine checks a van driver should carry out before using their vehicle.
The most commonly identified defects are:
· tyres
· lights and reflectors
· suspension
· steering
· transmission
Some of the more essential information for van drivers includes things like weight limits and loading, speed limits for vans, and driving hours.
All the videos, guides and information can be found at www.gov.uk/dvsa/vans.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Nick Boles MP Visits Westley Garage
Derek Thomas, Conservative Prospective MP, welcomed Government Minister, Nick Boles MP, to Helston to visit Westley Garage on the Water-ma-Trout Industrial Estate. Nick, who has responsibility for apprenticeships, met with Martin and Julie Westley and new apprentice, Toby Bedford, to discuss how changes to the modern apprenticeship system are affecting small businesses.
Nick Boles MP used his visit to Helston to talk in depth to new apprentice Toby Bedford and owners, Martin and Julie Westley, about their views regarding the changes that have been made to the apprenticeship scheme.
Nick Boles said "We are determined that every school leaver goes into higher education or takes an apprenticeship as a path into a decent career. The improvements we have made to the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme are such that apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as equal in value to university degrees. I have come to visit Westley Garage today because I wanted to see what further help employers need to employ an apprentice and grow their business."
Westley Garage Helston is an established family run independent garage providing Helston and the surrounding area specialist vehicle servicing and diagnostics. Huge investments have been made in diagnostic capabilities and training which are needed to keep up to date with new technologies, including that of hybrid technology.
Westley Garage is a member of the Servicesure Autocentre network of garages, which gives customers the added benefit of a National Warranty Scheme from a local garage, which is Trading Standards Institute approved.
Following the visit Julie Westley said, "It is important to us that young people like Toby are given the best training and support available. Being able to welcome Nick Boles, who is in charge of apprenticeships, to our garage and discuss with him our experience of the Modern Apprenticeship Programme was very helpful."
Derek Thomas, who has recently taken a young person from Helston through the apprenticeship scheme within his building business, has pledged to tackle West Cornwall's low wage economy by working to increase the number of skilled jobs available. Encouraging employers to take on trainees as apprentices is an essential part of his plan.
Derek Thomas said, "For a young person an apprenticeship can lead to a decent wage and the opportunity to stay here in West Cornwall. It is very important that the apprenticeships we provide are tailored to the needs of local businesses and that employers feel taking on an apprentice is good for business. I invited Nick Boles to Westley Garage because I have taken a keen interest in Martin and Julie's journey through the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme."
Derek Thomas, Conservative Prospective MP, welcomed Government Minister, Nick Boles MP, to Helston to visit Westley Garage on the Water-ma-Trout Industrial Estate. Nick, who has responsibility for apprenticeships, met with Martin and Julie Westley and new apprentice, Toby Bedford, to discuss how changes to the modern apprenticeship system are affecting small businesses.
Nick Boles MP used his visit to Helston to talk in depth to new apprentice Toby Bedford and owners, Martin and Julie Westley, about their views regarding the changes that have been made to the apprenticeship scheme.
Nick Boles said "We are determined that every school leaver goes into higher education or takes an apprenticeship as a path into a decent career. The improvements we have made to the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme are such that apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as equal in value to university degrees. I have come to visit Westley Garage today because I wanted to see what further help employers need to employ an apprentice and grow their business."
Westley Garage Helston is an established family run independent garage providing Helston and the surrounding area specialist vehicle servicing and diagnostics. Huge investments have been made in diagnostic capabilities and training which are needed to keep up to date with new technologies, including that of hybrid technology.
Westley Garage is a member of the Servicesure Autocentre network of garages, which gives customers the added benefit of a National Warranty Scheme from a local garage, which is Trading Standards Institute approved.
Following the visit Julie Westley said, "It is important to us that young people like Toby are given the best training and support available. Being able to welcome Nick Boles, who is in charge of apprenticeships, to our garage and discuss with him our experience of the Modern Apprenticeship Programme was very helpful."
Derek Thomas, who has recently taken a young person from Helston through the apprenticeship scheme within his building business, has pledged to tackle West Cornwall's low wage economy by working to increase the number of skilled jobs available. Encouraging employers to take on trainees as apprentices is an essential part of his plan.
Derek Thomas said, "For a young person an apprenticeship can lead to a decent wage and the opportunity to stay here in West Cornwall. It is very important that the apprenticeships we provide are tailored to the needs of local businesses and that employers feel taking on an apprentice is good for business. I invited Nick Boles to Westley Garage because I have taken a keen interest in Martin and Julie's journey through the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme."
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James Cracknell OBE visits Helston.
James visited Westley Garage as part of his Campaign to become the MEP for the South West of England, and Gibraltar in the European Parliament election later this year. James met Martin and Julie Westley, alongside Derek Thomas, candidate for MP of West Cornwall, and discussed the funding for apprenticeships in small businesses. |
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3 New courtesy cars have just arrived at Westley Garage Helston!
We are pleased to offer our customers a brand new Citroen DS3 as a free of charge courtesy car to use when work is being carried out on their own vehicle. *Excludes fuel use. |
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Land Rover Discovery 3 2008 - New Engine in Helston today! The body of this Discovery 3 has to be removed and separated from the chassis in order to gain access to replace the engine. |
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Citroen Berlingo MOT Helston. The Citroen Berlingo from Flambards was our first MOT today in Helston, and is the first of three of the theme parks vehicles to visit us today. A busy day at Westley Garage Helston helping our local Flambards Experience get their vehicles ready for the busy Easter holidays. Westley Garage Helston wish them well for a great 2013. |
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Fiat Ducato Motorhome MOT Helston. The first MOT this morning is a Fiat Ducato Motorhome, later we will carry out its next service so that our customer will be able to enjoy the Summer months travelling in his lovely motorhome. |
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It's BMW day today in Helston! Today we have a BMW X5 for MOT, a BMW X3 for EML diagnose/ BMW TPMS fault, a BMW 1 Series for diagnostics – loss of memory and BMW 320 M Sport Touring for BMW CBS – Condition Based Service. We specialise in BMW diagnostics in Cornwall and are able to diagnose, repair and service all BMWs. |
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Helston in the Snow. Shock hail and snow falls in Helston this morning, within seconds the car park of Westley Garage Helston was white and the sky was black! |
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HM Coastguard at Westley Garage Helston. Our first MOT in Helston today is a Nissan Navara which we look after for the HM Coastguard. Later this morning it will be back patrolling the coastline of Cornwall. |
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Diagnostics for Range Rover Vogue.
This Range Rover Vogue in Helston Cornwall today presented with an Air Suspension Fault – The vehicle was connected to our Land Rover dealer level diagnostic equipment which enabled us to check for fault codes the code we found was for “Too much energy required for regulation” we carried out the latest ECU air suspension software update to bring the vehicle up to the latest software level, further diagnosis then revealed pressure and temperature abnormalities which led us to conclude that the air suspension compressor is worn and in a poor condition, and cannot make the recommended air pressure for the Range Rover – we recommended replacement of the air compressor. |
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Autologic Dealer Level Diagnostic Equipment.
This BMW Z3 in Cornwall – failed its emissions test for the MOT due to excessive carbon monoxidecontent. When we code read the vehicle using our Autologic Dealer Level Diagnostic Equipment, we found the coolant temperature was very low at 56 degrees, Martin Westley, our Bosch Diagnostic Technician, further examined the vehicle and found the thermostat to be faulty which we then replaced and retested the emissions, which then passed the MOT. The Helston customer was very happy as he was expecting a huge bill for the replacement of a catalytic converter, but because of our, investment in Autologic Dealer Level Diagnostic Equipment and training, and with our knowledge, experience and methodical approach to diagnostics we are able to diagnose vehicles correctly giving us an excellent first time fix ability. |
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Snow falls in Helston. Snow falls in Helston overnight, this is when we are glad we have a Land Rover. We are open for business as usual. Bosch car batteries selling like hot cakes this morning already and its not yet 8:30!! |
