Air Quality

Bromsgrove District Councils 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.

The Council is currently considering the contents of the draft plan.

Continuous monitoring equipment measuring N0x and N02 has been installed at Lickey End, Bromsgrove, within the third AQMA.

Review and Assessment is now an on going process up until 2010 with annual progress 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 5-year partnership arrangement has been entered into with consultants.

Some 30 N02 diffusion tubes, including those required for the national survey, are located at various sites throughout the District.   

Please follow the links below for further information.

• Air Quality Limits and Legislation
  
• Lickey End Air Quality Management Area
  
• Air Quality Information
  
• Air Pollutants and their Effects
  
• Bromsgrove District Council LAQM Detailed Assessment 2007  (1.29 MB)
  
• Bromsgrove District Council Detailed Assessment Proposal 2008
    (68.42 KB)
• Links

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.

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