Air Quality
Bromsgrove District Council’s aims to provide a clean,
safe and attractive environment. As part of this responsibility,
Bromsgrove District Council is committed in its efforts to improve
local air quality throughout the District.
Provided here is a useful insight into the air quality issues
within the District and what the Council intends to do to improve
it.
Part IV of the Environment Act, 1995, places a statutory duty on
local authorities to periodically review and assess the air quality
within their area. This involves consideration of present and
likely future air quality against air quality standards and
objectives. Guidelines for the 'Review and Assessment' of local air
quality were published in the 1997 National Air Quality Strategy
(
NAQS
) and
associated guidance and technical guidance. In 2000, the Government
reviewed the
NAQS
and produced a revised
Strategy, which set out a revised framework for air quality
standards and objectives for seven pollutants. These were
subsequently published in the form of regulatory standards in 2000
and then amended in 2002.
Where it appears that the air quality objectives will not be met
by the designated target dates, local authorities must declare an
Air Quality Management Area (
AQMA
) and develop action plans
in pursuit of those objectives.
Arising from the findings of the local air quality review and
assessment work, an Air Quality Management Area (
AQMA
) was declared in 2001 for
Lickey End, due to road traffic emissions (Nitrogen Dioxide
[
NO2
]) from the M42.
Following declaration of the
AQMA
, the Council
(
BDC
) in
partnership with appropriate organisations, in this instance
Worcestershire County Council (WCC) as the Local
Transport Authority and the Highways Agency (HA) as the body responsible for the
motorways network, were required to develop an Action Plan.
The purpose of the Plan is to deliver viable measures that will
work towards achieving the air quality objectives within an
AQMA
, and to
encourage active participation in its achievement through
consulting the local community and raising awareness of air
pollution issues.
Continuous monitoring equipment measuring N0x and
NO2
has been installed at Lickey End,
Bromsgrove, within the third
AQMA
.
In February 2010, arising from the findings of the local
air quality detailed assessment work, two further Air
Quality Management Areas (
AQMA
) were declared for
Redditch Road Stoke Heath and part of Kidderminster Road Hagley,
due to road traffic emissions (Nitrogen Dioxide [NO2]). The action planning process
relating to these two locations is being implemented in 2010.
Review and Assessment is now an on going process up until 2017
with annual reports needing to be submitted to DEFRA. In
order, therefore to ensure continuity of the Air quality
initiative, to meet government targets and to maintain the high
standards of the air quality programme, a 4 year partnership
arrangement has been entered into with consultants.
Some 30+
NO2
diffusion tubes, including those required for the national survey,
are located at various sites throughout the District.
Air Quality Limits and Legislation
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 places a statutory
duty on local authorities to periodically review and assess the air
quality within their area. This involves consideration of
present and likely future air quality against air quality standards
and objectives. Guidelines for the 'Review and Assessment' of local
air quality were published in the 1997 National Air Quality
Strategy (NAQS) and associated
guidance and technical guidance.
In 2000, the Government reviewed the
NAQS
and produced a revised
Strategy, which set out a revised framework for air quality
standards and objectives for seven pollutants. These were
subsequently published in the form of regulatory standards in 2000
and then amended in 2002.
A three stage review and assessment process is followed to
assess local air quality for the pollutants.
Stage 1 Review
This is to establish the presence of significant existing or
proposed sources of pollutants that could result in not meeting air
quality targets.
Stage 2 Review
If Stage 1 indicates potential air quality exceedance, a more
detailed review and assessment should be carried out, including
monitoring and modelling where necessary. Any potential exceedance
of air quality targets here should be investigated in the Stage 3
review.
Stage 3 Review
This is a detailed assessment of current and future air quality
based on monitoring and modelling. If it is still predicted that
air quality targets are to be exceeded, consideration has to be
given to declaring an air quality management area.
Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)
Any part of the local authorities area in which standards are not
being met, or are unlikely to be met, should be designated an "Air
Quality Management Area", by Order.
Following the designation of an Air Quality Management Area, the
local authority must carry out a further assessment of air quality
within that area, identifying which standards (table 1) are not
likely to be met and the possible reasons. This is a Stage 4
Review.
Within 12 months of designation of an AQMA, the local authority
has to draw up an Action Plan. The action plan details the
measures, and target dates, by which it aims to meet air quality
targets. The plan should be open for consultation by statutory
consultants and the public.
If, after a further review, it can be shown that air quality
targets are not likely to be breached, an
AQMA
Order can be revoked.
