Air quality review and assessment
See details of our Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA):
Background
Local air quality can be harmful and problems of high air pollution are not confined to big cities. All district-level local authorities have a duty to periodically review and assess local air quality.
The National Air Quality Strategy has set targets for eight air pollutants to protect human health. Lancaster City Council is required to review local air quality for seven of these to assess whether the targets will be met. Where any air quality standard or objectives will not be achieved the local authority must designate an Air Quality Management Area.
Summary of progress
Air pollution is a serious issue and the council has invested substantial time and money in addressing its responsibilities through a series of technical assessments. Three Air Quality Management Areas have been declared, one in central Lancaster, one in Carnforth and one in Galgate. This was required because we expect levels of the traffic exhaust pollutant Nitrogen Dioxide to exceed Government’s mandatory air quality objectives. This will primarily concern residents living within the air quality management areas.
The council has competed further assessment of air quality in the affected areas and is working on new air quality action plans. The new plan will be produced under the delivery arrangements for the Lancaster Transport Masterplan ( available at : http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/strategies-policies-plans/roads-parking-and-travel/highways-and-transport-masterplans/lancaster-district-highways-and-transport-masterplan.aspx
At the same time, we will periodically review local air quality across the Lancaster district and maintain an air pollution monitoring network.
Defra has responded favourably to our current work and proposals. It has accepted the council’s timescales, acknowledged the additional resources we have invested into air quality, and welcomed our thorough approach to the review and assessment process.
Our air quality technical assessments are available to download.
Last updated: 11 August 2017