Air quality in Bath and North East Somerset is important because
it affects everyone who lives and works in the area. The
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has
highlighted the significance of air quality by including it as one
of fifteen ‘headline’ indicators designed to measure quality of
life.
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 laid the
foundation for a nationwide system of Local Air Quality
Management. This requires local authorities to review air
quality at present and in the future, and assess whether air
quality objectives are likely to be met. If objectives are not
expected to be achieved in any area, the authority will have to
designate that area an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
The process of review and assessment is laid out in the
National Air Quality Strategy 2000. It
consists of a three stage process. Following the stage 3
assessment against health based objectives The Council
originally declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for
nitrogen dioxide along the A4 London Road.
The Council is now drafting an Air Quality Action Plan for the
Air Quality Management Area that it is obliged to submit to DEFRA
by November 2009. A consultation draft will be available in
June, when the Council will be seeking comment on the measures
contained in the Draft Air Quality Action Plan.
Consultation
The consultation period will run from the beginning of July to
the end of September.
Officers will engage with key stakeholders throughout the
process and an informal public exhibition, attended by officers
will take place in the Guildhall on:
- Tuesday 15th September 16:30 – 20:00
- Wednesday 16th September 16:30 - 20:00.
Comment and suggestion leaflets will be able available as part
of the consultation process, either from the exhibition or by
contacting the Environmental Monitoring Team on 01225
477557 or email environmental_monitoring@bathnes.gov.uk.