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MOT and driving tests cancelled ahead of Storm Éowyn

Writer: Love BallymenaLove Ballymena
MOT centre

The Department for Infrastructure will close all DVA centres tomorrow, Friday 24 January, due to the Met Office red weather warning issued for Storm Éowyn.


All vehicle tests (MoTs), practical driving tests and driving theory tests will be cancelled. Customers do not need to take any action.



All affected customers will receive an email to confirm that their appointment has been cancelled.

The DVA will also contact customers by email, as soon as possible, to confirm details of a new appointment.


Due to the red weather warning in place for Storm Éowyn and the advice to avoid travel, Translink has announced there will be no bus or train services operating on Friday morning, 24 January and while the red status is in place.


Strangford ferry service will also be suspended from 7.30am on Friday until further notice.



The service will remain under review throughout Friday and any updates will be issued via Ferry SMS and DfI’s social media channels.


Rathlin Ferry Service 4pm departure from Rathlin and the 4.30pm departure from Ballycastle have been cancelled on Thursday, 23 January, and all sailings will be cancelled on Friday 24 January.


The PSNI has issued a do not travel warning for the period of the red Met office warning tomorrow between 7am and 2pm tomorrow which will see very strong winds and bring a threat to life. Outside the red warning period,  yellow and amber warnings are in place from midnight tonight until midnight Friday with widespread disruption and significant impacts expected.



While staff are on standby to respond to incidents on the roads please be aware that with the adverse conditions expected and advice not to travel during the period of the red warning , this will affect our ability to respond as quickly as usual and incidents will have to prioritised accordingly. The safety of members of the public and our own staff is paramount.


Multi Agency preparations ongoing since yesterday include the Department for Infrastructure’s roads and rivers teams checking and clearing road gullies and other drainage and infrastructure.   


Monitoring of river levels and sea levels has been ongoing and will continue until the weather warning has elapsed. Regional Community Resilience Groups have also been advised of weather patterns and to make appropriate preparations.




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