Agenda item

The Senior Environmental Health Officer presented an update on air quality monitoring outcomes in the Borough. Councils had been required to monitor air quality since 1995 and submit annual reports to Central Government, the latest of which was sent in July 2014.

Given the identified health and economic impacts of sustained long term pollution levels, the UK and other European Union (EU) Partners were struggling to meet EU Air Quality Standards. However, the July 2014 report concluded that there were no areas within the report identified as exceeding any of the Air Quality Objectives at locations of relevant exposure.

Members noted that the Council’s air quality monitoring included active monitoring of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), particularly at Castle Road, a site near to the M3 motorway and dust (particulate matter) levels at the same location. The Council also carried out passive monitoring at nine sites in the Borough including urban, rural, road and kerbside locations.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer reported that all the findings included in the July 2014 report to Government had been assessed against national air quality objectives. The report also focussed on any significant changes since the previous review that could impact on air quality in the Borough.

Members queried the rise, since 2013, in overall levels of NO2 and specifically, the rise in 5 out of 9 monitoring points.

Notwithstanding concerns on NO2, the Committee noted that the air quality in the Borough was generally very good and that it was unlikely that the air quality upper limits for the relevant (PM10) objectives would be exceeded. In particular, there were no exceedances reported at locations where residents could be exposed for any length of time. However, it was noted that works on the M3 may have caused an increase in NO2 levels due to the changes in speed limits and engines labouring due to the incline on the London bound lane but once this had been completed the levels should decrease.

Whilst the work carried out as part of the Air Quality Action Plan had been successful in reducing traffic pollutants, particularly given the work to increase the number of lanes on the M3 motorway, the Council would continue with the current continuous monitoring programme, retaining the existing Air Quality Monitoring Action Plan. Members emphasised the need for continued scrutiny of air quality through future Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment/Progress reports.

A copy of the briefing by the Senior Environmental Health Officer would be circulated to the Members of the Committee.

Resolved that:

i)                  the satisfactory result of the Air Quality Action Plan be noted; and

ii)               the Air Quality Management Area monitor, remain in place until the M3 work had been completed.