Air Pollution

 

Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 made it a statutory duty for local authorities to investigate certain air pollutants within their boundaries. The pollutants that they assess are benzene, 1,3-butadine, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (known as PM₁₀) and sulphur dioxide.

Local authorities assess these pollutants against a range of pollutant levels known as objectives. These objectives have been decided by the government following advice from air quality experts and health professionals.

 

The work undertaken by local authorities is known as the Local Air Quality Management regime (LAQM). The Local Air Quality Management regime runs in rounds with the first Review and Assessment in 1998. In 2003 the regime was altered so an Updating and Screening Assessment is written every three years and Progress Reports are written in the years that the Updating and Screening Assessments are not written.

 

When a local authority considers that a pollutant may exceed its objective level it shall undertake a Detailed Assessment. The Detailed Assessment is used to determine the extent of the exceedence and where the pollution is originating from. If the Detailed Assessment shows that there are exceedences in a relevant location then the local authority will declare an Air Quality Management Area and draw up an action plan to control air quality.

 

Once an Air Quality Management Area has been declared the local authority will develop an Action Plan to ensure that air quality in Peterborough meets future air quality objectives and the health of the public is safeguarded.

Peterborough City Council has also published its Air Quality Strategy which describes how the City Council will undertake its duties with regards to air pollution.

 

For further information, please contact the Pollution Control team.