Managing Hot Spots in Urban Municipalities in England

Image via WikipediaMapping Air Quality Action Plan Guidance available to Local Authorities (52 page pdf, prepared by Entec UK Limited for DEFRA, Apr. 14, 2011)

Also discussed here: Local Air Quality Management Webpage

Since legislation was enacted in 1995 to improve urban air quality in the UK, over 200 local authorities have declared over 500 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA). The report reviewed today critically reviews the effectiveness of the guidance provided to the local authorities, identifies some shortcomings and makes recommendations. The lack of progress in reducing roadside emissions is notable.

Key Quotes:

“The Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) regime was thought to be effective at identifying areas where the Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) were likely to be exceeded”

“216 local authorities have declared 529 AQMAs. Some local authorities have declared the whole of their administrative areas as an AQMA, whereas others have declared AQMAs where “hot spots” of poor air quality occur within their area”

“Road traffic emissions are the main contributor to current and forecast exceedences of the AQOs..Roadside concentrations of NO2 in particular have shown only a very small downward trend, and more recently there have been increases at some roadside locations in England.”

“[Some Identified Shortcomings And Comments] Diesel vehicles seem to have most effect on air quality in urban areas, but no measures to tackle this. Euro Emission Standards which should have resulted in improvements don’t seem to be materialising… Only really effective way of improving air quality is to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. No clear measures about how to do this.. GIS Tool to highlight air quality hot spots and where there may be creeping air quality levels in areas in order to see visually where issues are located to try and address problems - Could be good tool for public to see issues also”

Some Recommendations:

• “Local Authorities prefer to use best-practice examples when looking for ideas for measures to include within their Action Plans, especially where a measure has been effective elsewhere, in improving air quality. These examples will need to be easily accessible and updated regularly to show the use and effectiveness of new measures”
• “Guidance for local authorities in order to raise awareness of air quality amongst members of the public and local councillors in relation to air quality and its synergies with planning, transport, climate change and its effects on health of local residents”

Related articles

• Drivers face running engine fines (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• Air quality: the UK's invisible health crisis | Caroline Lucas (guardian.co.uk)
• Despite heat, air quality remains same as last year (charlotte.news14.com)
• Minister Backs Healthy Air Campaign but makes no commitment to new action (environmental-protection.org.uk)