1. Under the Environment Act 1995 local authorities have a statutory duty to investigate the following air pollutants within their boundaries. Benzene, 1,3-Butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (known as PM10) and sulphur dioxide. All these pollutants have levels which the local authority should work towards achieving. These are known as objectives.
2. The process which this is undertaken by local authorities is known as local air quality management (LAQM). The LAQM is undertaken in a series of stages. Updating and Screening Assessments of air quality are produced every three years. An Updating and Screening Assessment of air quality identifies the pollution levels within Peterborough. In between these publications Progress Reports are produced. Progress Reports highlight any changes which might have occurred over the previous year.
3. At any time should any of the pollutants be suspected or shown to be above the objective level the local authority shall undertake a detailed assessment of the pollutant to determine the assessment of the pollutant. Currently Peterborough City Council has undertaken one detailed assessment on sulphur dioxide
4. If the detailed assessment shows that there is an area which does exceed the relevant air quality objective then the local authority shall declare an air quality management area. Currently Peterborough City Council has declared one air quality management area.
5. There is a requirement for certain industrial processes to be permitted under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. Such processes include mineral extraction, incineration, iron and steel processing and vehicle respraying. At present there are over 50 such processes in Peterborough.
6. There are powers to deal with some types of air pollution e.g. bonfires, if they are considered to be a statutory nuisance .
7. Peterborough City Councils Air Quality Strategy forms an integral part of Peterborough’s air quality management. It aims to integrate different Council departments for the routine consideration of current potential air quality issues.
Further information is available on our air pollution web page |