Air Quality Review Stage 1
How we are following the National Air Quality Strategy
This report details the work undertaken by the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in regard to the National Air Quality Strategy. It outlines the actions taken so far by the Council and highlights areas that require further investigation.
In March 1997 the Government published a National Air Quality Strategy for the United Kingdom. In the strategy eight of the main air pollutants are identified i.e.
- Carbon Monoxide
- Benzene
- 1,3-Butadiene
- Lead
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Particle Matter (PM10)
- Sulphur Dioxide
- Ozone
The strategy aims to lower the concentrations of these pollutants in the outside environment to levels that should not affect the most sensitive of individuals. The standards set in the strategy are based on the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards and these standards are to be achieved by the end of the year 2005.
The strategy involves three stages. Every local authority must complete stage one. Stage one involves the collation of information on the main sources of pollution in an authority's area. Authorities must give due consideration to all sources of pollution that can impact on their locality and demonstrate that they have conducted a thorough search of all available existing information. Where information does not exist all reasonable attempts to find the information must be made. This information must then be used as the basis of the decision as to whether the authority should proceed to the second stage of the strategy.
Stages two and three of the strategy involve more detailed consideration of the sources of pollution. This requires measurement and the use of computer modelling to predict the likely concentrations of the identified pollutants in the year 2005. If after stage three an area has been identified within the authority, where it is unlikely that the standards will be met then an authority will need to declare an Air Quality Management Area and develop action plans to allow compliance with the strategy.
The stage one review and assessment for the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham demonstrates that the main source of air pollution within its boundaries is from motor vehicles.
The use of the information collected demonstrates that for four of the identified pollutants
- Carbon Monoxide
- Benzene
- 1,3-Butadiene
- Lead
no further assessment is required. The current levels of these pollutants are already below the standard to be achieved or the levels are such, that given current and proposed legislation, they will be below the standards by 2005. For three of the pollutants
- Particle Matter (PM10)
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Sulphur Dioxide
a stage two assessment is required as the information collected indicates that the standards set in the National Air quality Strategy will not be achieved by 2005. Controls for reducing the amount of ozone in the environment need to be instigated on a national and European basis and the strategy does not require local authorities to take direct action to lower the concentrations of ozone within their boundaries.
Consultation with residents and other interested parties is a vital component of the council's air quality review and assessment. The views and comments of local people and of businesses in the borough are an essential part of the strategy. Participation in the review at all stages of the process is necessary for an effective policy to be developed. To this end a summary of this review and assessment document will be sent to interested parties, with a detailed copy available on request.
If you have any comments about this initial review and assessment document, then please write to:
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Environment Department
Policy Group
Town Hall
King Street
London
W6 9JU
Alternatively, you can e-mail your comments to: paul.baker@lbhf.gov.uk
