Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)
On the 27 January 2010, under section 83(1) of the Environment
Act 1995, our Councillors agreed to declare an AQMA for fine
airborne dust (PM10) in the area of Rawreth Industrial Estate. This
was based upon the results of a Detailed Assessment that was
approved by Defra in June 2009.
We are now in a period of public consultation regarding the
extent of the AQMA, and after we have taken your views in to
account, we will create the AQMA by making an official Air Quality
Management Order – the first for the district.
Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP)
Under section 84 of the Environment Act 1995, we must produce an
Action Plan within 18 months of declaring an AQMA, which states
what we and other partner organisations will do to reduce pollutant
levels within the AQMA. We must also consult the public as well as
key organisations (including Defra) on the AQAP. Once this is done
a final Action Plan is agreed and sent to Defra for approval.
An Action Plan will review all the things that we have control
over that affect air quality. The main areas that we have powers
over are planning (planning policy and development control) and
corporate policy. For example the building of new homes may lead to
an increase in traffic.
The plan will highlight what we and our partners are able to do
and how this will affect the air quality in our district. This may
include, improving our roads, buses and railways and so on, as well
as any other legal powers we have that may improve air quality.