Duty
Local Authorities are required under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to periodically review and assess the air quality in their area in line with guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Present and likely future quality of the air is compared to the National Air Quality Objectives. Where the objectives are found to be exceeded and are identified as areas of public exposure, an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) must be declared.
Air Quality Objectives
|
Objective |
Concentration |
Relevant Exposure |
|
Annual Mean NO2 |
40 µg/m3 |
All locations where members of the public might be regularly exposed. Building facades of residential properties, schools, hospitals, care homes etc. Not offices, gardens of residential properties or Kerbside sites |
|
1-hour NO2 |
200 µg/m3 with 18 exceedences per year.
Guidance indicates that an annual mean NO2 concentration greater than 60 µg/m3 may indicate an exceedence of the 1-hour objective. |
As above plus hotels, gardens, any outside location where members of the public might reasonably be expected to spend 1 hour or longer. |
Current Situation
Following previous review and assessments, an AQMA was declared for the annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2) objective. In 2002 an AQMA was declared covering the London Road. Following further assessments this area has been extended and now covers the major road network within the centre of Bath. The current area is shown in red on the map.
This consultation
Further monitoring has been in place since 2007 to ensure the boundary is correct. Following the extension of the AQMA in 2008, a further assessment has been carried out. This shows that there are a few areas where the boundary needs to be extended, these areas are shown in blue on the map. An Air Quality Action Plan to identify actions to reduce NO2 levels is being finalised.
The latest assessment also shows that at 3 diffusion tube monitoring sites levels exceed 60 µg/m3, and there is the potential of the 1-hour objective also being exceeded. One of the sites is co-located with a continuous analyser which is not exceeding the 1-hour objective.
To ensure compliance with the Environment Act we need to extend the AQMA to cover the areas where an exceedence of the Air Quality Objectives has been found.
The Council is seeking your views on the extension of the AQMA. Please complete the questionnaire and return it using the address below. Alternatively please telephone or email us to discuss your response.
For further details or copies of the full technical documents please contact Environmental Monitoring. Telephone 01225 396622, email Environmental_Monitoring@bathnes.gov.uk.
Please return by 31 January 2012 to:
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Services
FREEPOST (BA1458)
Bath
BA1 1ZZ
This document can be made available in a range of languages, large print, braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from 01225 477495.