Bath & North East Somerset Council has been monitoring air quality in Keynsham since 2002. There are monitoring sites at the following locations:
- High Street (automatic monitor above Ronto’s);
- Charlton Road (diffusion tube);
- Temple Street (diffusion tube);
- Somerfield (diffusion tube);
- Rock Road (diffusion tube);
- Bath Hill (diffusion tube);
- Kelston Road (diffusion tube);
- Back Lane (diffusion tube); and
- Temple Hill Primary School (diffusion tube)
Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide along the High Street and Charlton Road in particular are exceeding National Air Quality Objectives, set at 40µg/m³ as an annual average. At the Euro Spar diffusion tube location on the High Street, the average concentration so far this year is 55µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide measured. Further along the High Street near number 10 and 12, the average levels so far this year are 54µg/m³. On Charlton Road, close to the junction with Ashton Way, the average concentration of nitrogen dioxide so far this year is 46µg/m³. These are all increases on the corresponding annual average value for 2009.
Due to these exceedances and as required by guidance issued by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Council declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that came into effect on 31 July 2010.
The map below shows the AQMA. Most of the area is exceeding the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide. However, as suggested by the guidance, the boundary includes peripheral areas that are level with or just below the air quality objectives. These areas are relevant in terms of measures that will help air quality objectives to be met in the areas of exceedance.
Although an AQMA does not act as an ‘exclusion zone’, it does help to clarify an area on which to focus and improve the air quality in areas where there is public exposure. This is the first part of a process as outlined by central government in DEFRA policy guidance.
Details of the recent monitoring data are available online or by request from:
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental and Consumer Services
FREEPOST (BA1458)
Bath
BA1 1ZZ
Telephone: 01225 477557
Email: environmental_monitoring@bathnes.gov.uk