Accessibility links

1
Language selection

Agenda item

Local Air Quality Management - Annual Progress Report 2019

Minutes:

The Operational Manager and Specialist Services Officer, from the Shared Regulatory Services jointly presented a report, the purpose of which, was to seek approval for the 2019 Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Annual Progress Report (APR), based upon on air quality datasets obtained in 2018. The report required Cabinet approval in order to submit a final version to Welsh Government (WG) before the 30th September 2019. 

 

Cabinet were advised, that under Section 82 of the Environment Act 1995 every local authority has an obligation to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not air quality objectives to protect health are likely to be achieved.  Where the air quality reviews indicate that the air quality objectives are not being achieved, or are not likely to be achieved, Section 83 of the 1995 Act requires local authorities to designate an Air Quality Management Area (‘AQMA’). Section 84 of the Act ensures that action must then be taken at a local level which is outlined in a specific Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to ensure that air quality in the identified area improves. 

 

The Annual Progress Report provided details on the ratified data for the air quality monitoring undertaken in 2018 within Bridgend County Borough Council.

 

On 20th November 2018 BCBC’s Cabinet approved the recommendation to implement an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) on Park Street based on evidence provided by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) who manage LAQM on behalf of BCBC. Cabinet also approved the detail of the proposed AQMA order. 

 

The Park Street, Bridgend AQMA Order was officially implemented on the 1st January 2019. The area comprising the Bridgend County Borough Council Air Quality Management Area Order No. 1, Park Street was outlined by Figure 1 in the report.

 

The 2019 Annual Progress Report confirms that in general air quality within Bridgend County Borough continues to meet the relevant air quality objectives as prescribed in the Air Quality (Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Air Quality (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2002.

 

However, it was notable that in 2018 air quality was a prevalent concern along Park Street, which coincides with the boundary of the AQMA Order raised on 1st January 2019. It is also noted that elevated annual average NO2 air quality levels exist in close proximity to Park Street along adjoining road networks, where relevant exposure is apparent. 

 

It was noted that monitoring undertaken at the new established site for 2018 (OBC-110), located on Park Street, does not only demonstrate annual average levels in exceedance of the annual average air quality objective set at (40µg/m3) for NO2, but levels captured are also encroaching upon the 1-hour objective; 200µg/m3 not to be exceeded > 18 times per year. OBC-110 recorded an annual average figure of 58.7.µg/m3.

 

It was also essential that the highlighted monitoring sites are closely examined and suitable action is taken where necessary explained the Officers. Such action may involve amendments to the AQMA Order, including revisions of the geographical boundary to encapsulate a wider area and reasoning for declaration.

 

As part of the LAQM statutory duties, from the date of raising the AQMA Order (in this instance 1st January 2019) SRS and BCBC has 18 months in which to prepare a Draft Action Plan to improve air quality in the area, and once agreed, this plan must be formally adopted before two years has elapsed.

 

SRS/ BCBC are currently working in accordance with WG’s Policy Guidance to produce an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP).

 

In preparing such a document, SRS has established a Work Steering Group which ensures the AQAP considers all aspects, including transport, planning, strategy & policy, public health and communications. The work steering group consists of representatives from BCBC’s various departments, as well as representatives from the local Public Service Board (PSB). Meetings held to date have allowed for cross department integration and the development of realistic mitigation measures to alleviate the air quality concerns.

 

To date SRS has developed a preliminary list of proposed mitigation measures to address and hopefully alleviate the air quality concerns within the established Park Street, Bridgend AQMA. This preliminary list of measures considers the main categories shown in paragraph 4.13 of the report.

 

SRS/BCBC would be engaging with members of the public via ‘Drop-in’ sessions to answer any questions from residents and businesses in regards to the development of the Park Street AQMA Action Plan. The drop in sessions will provide an outline understanding for Council proposed mitigation measures and will allow persons to comment or request further information on the proposal.

 

Following completion of the Draft Air Quality Action Plan, a public consultation will be undertaken which will allow residents and businesses to make necessary comments.

 

As part of the report’s financial implications, Officers advised that to support the development of the Park Street AQMA Action Plan, detailed air quality and transport modelling will be required to support any decisions to implement mitigation measures to improve NO2 levels along Park Street. To support the decision as to which measures will be implemented there will be further detailed modelling assessments.  Firstly each measure will be assessed in terms of cost and benefit, which will allow Cabinet to make an informed decision as to which measure/ measures they wish to pursue for further scrutiny and examination.

 

A further report will be brought to Cabinet in order to facilitate this process.

 

Any further detailed assessments will require financial support which, depending on the amount required, will necessitate discussion with the Section 151 Officer as to how these can be funded.

 

The Cabinet Member – Future Generations and Wellbeing, acknowledged the report together with the fact that Officers from the Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) were taking the issue regarding Park Street seriously. She was pleased to note, that there were no other real concerns with regards to the air quality depreciating significantly in other locations within the County Borough.

 

The Deputy Leader confirmed that BCBC provided no less than 800 different key services and that it was essential, that the air that people breathe in Bridgend and its surrounding areas is of sufficient quality so to not as be detrimental to any one individual’s health. He asked Officers if the air quality within the Mynydd Y Gaer area near the Rockwool site, Wern Tarw was safe for both residents and livestock that grazed on the common land at this location.

 

The Specialist Services Officer advised that tests had been made at this location and overall the air quality there gave no cause for concern, though there were monitoring processes carried out there from time to time, to ensure this situation did not change.

 

The Leader noted that there were higher levels of air emissions in the location of Tondu Road which was relatively close to the lower air quality levels at Park Street. He asked if these could be mitigated in some way through, for example, traffic management proposals being possibly put in place within these interconnecting locations, with a view to reducing carbon monoxide levels from motor vehicles.

 

The Specialist Services Officer confirmed that this was something that would be examined as part of the overall dataset analysis in the 2019 study of Local Air Quality controls. If these levels proved to be high, then mitigation measures would be taken along the lines of those, amongst others, contained in paragraph 8.3 of the report.  

 

 

RESOLVED:                             That Cabinet:

 

(1)  Noted and accepted the monitored results gathered in 2018.

(2)  Noted the progress made developing the Air Quality Action Plan to accompany the Park Street, Bridgend AQMA, and

Recommended the finalisation of the 2019 Annual Progress Report (as attached at Appendix 1 to the report) for submission as a final version to Welsh Government before 30 September 2019.

Supporting documents:

 

A to Z Search

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z