The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services (Shared Regulatory Services) submitted a report, which sought approval of the 2021 Bridgend County Borough Council Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Annual Progress Report (APR) based upon on air quality datasets obtained in 2020, to submit a final version to Welsh Government (WG).  She also reported on an update on progress towards the Draft Air Quality Action Plan for the Park Street Air Quality Management Area. 

The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services reported 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 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.

She informed Cabinet that the Annual Progress Report provided details on the ratified data for the air quality monitoring undertaken in 2020 within the County Borough and in general, air quality continues to meet the relevant air quality objectives as prescribed in the Regulations.  She stated that a noticeable effect of the strict lockdown arrangements put in place in March 2020 and subsequent lockdowns due to the pandemic, had seen a significant reduction in road traffic in line with the prohibition of non-essential travel and the requirement to work from home wherever possible.  In 2020, across the County Borough, there was an average reduction of 22% in NO2 annual mean concentration experienced at roadside diffusion tube monitoring sites, relative to 2019. However, air quality continued to be a concern along Park Street, Bridgend, coinciding with the boundary of the Air Quality Management Area. 

The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services reported that due to delays in planning permission and legal agreements being in place an automated air quality monitoring system (AMS) was now located in the grounds of the Quaker Meeting House on Park Street.  The monitoring site measures and records on a 24/7 basis the levels of NO2 and PM10, and forms part of the Welsh Air Quality Network.  She presented an update of the Park Street, AQMA Action Plan, in that a Steering Group from various departments of the Council and partner agencies had been established to develop ideas and to ensure an effective Action Plan.  The Steering Group had concluded, supported by feedback from public engagement sessions that queuing and inconsistent traffic flows would appear to be the principal cause of the poor levels of air quality on Park Street.  The following had been developed as preferred mitigation options: implementation of a 4-phase junction (3 traffic, 1 pedestrian) at the Heol-y-Nant turning (Measure 21); denying all access onto St Leonards Road (Measure 18); and optimise the Park Street/ Angel Street/ Tondu Road Junction (Measure 20).  She stated that Measure 21 was unlikely to bring about the desired improvement in air quality due to queuing traffic, however it is was a condition of the Persimmon planning permission that a right turning be introduced into Heol-y-Nant.  Air quality modelling was due to be run on this arrangement.  Next will follow work to model Measures 18 and 20 for both transport and air quality considerations and once the outcomes of this modelling work are understood, the Air Quality Action Plan for the Park Street AQMA can be compiled accordingly and presented to Cabinet for consideration prior to public consultation.  

The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services reported that the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID 19 pandemic had impacted on local air quality monitoring and the development of the action plan for the Park Street AQMA, both in terms of its scheduling and delivery.  She stated that the Welsh Government has been kept up to date with the position and inevitable delays in delivering the action plan.  The Welsh Government had agreed to allow for a further extension period to facilitate the delivery of the action plan, with a revised deadline of 31 March 2022 for its submission.

The Cabinet Member Communities questioned whether Measure 21 would still be proceeding even if it did not deliver the desired outcome of improving air quality and reducing queuing traffic.  He asked when access on to St Leonards Road, Measure 18 would be put in place as this would divert traffic on to Heol y Nant and whether tree planting could be considered to aid air quality.  He also asked what the next steps for the Air Quality Plan for Park Street are.  The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services stated that she would explore the idea of tree planting in order to improve air quality along Park Street.  The Operational Manager– Enterprise and Specialist Services informed Cabinet that the mitigation measures had been developed by the Steering Group, and that Measures 18 and 20 which are softer measures will be progresses and that public awareness will be undertaken.  The Group Manager Planning and Development Services informed Cabinet that the turning lane off Park Street is a condition of the planning consent for the Persimmon development, which is in the interests of highways safety and air quality.  Monitoring data is awaited and once that data is received, the highway implications and impact on air quality and its impact on pedestrians and active travel will be looked at by officers.   

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet:-

·      Noted and accepted the results of air quality monitoring gathered in 2020

·      Noted the progress made in developing the Air Quality Action Plan for Park Street; and

Agreed the finalisation of the 2021 Annual Progress Report (attached as Appendix 1) for submission as a final version to Welsh Government.