9.5 Local AQMAs

9.5.1 Local Air Quality Management

The Environment Act 1995, Part IV places a duty on local authorities to identify locations where concentrations of specific air quality pollutants are predicted to exceed national air quality objectives. Air quality management is the responsibility of District Councils working in partnership with the County Council. The air quality review and assessment process includes the production of reports on progress, updating and screening assessment and detailed assessment. The results and conclusion of these reports determine what action must be taken and whether further assessment is required to set mandatory indicators in the LTP.

The Figure 9.5.1 shows the air quality management process;

Figure 9.5.1

9.5.2 Review and Assessment Process

The Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) report primarily identifies any aspect that has changed since the previous round of review and assessment. It also includes new monitoring data, objectives and sources, or changes to existing sources, locally or in neighbouring authorities and any other changes that might affect local air quality.

The Detailed Assessment (DA) report considers in detail pollutants and specific locations that have been identified as requiring further work, for example, where members of the public are likely to be exposed over the averaging period of the air quality objective. The DA report also indicates whether an existing AQMA needs to be amended or revoked, whether further AQMAs need to be designated or if there is no need to designate an AQMA.

District Councils must submit reports to DEFRA. The programme for reports in the LTP2 period is;

• April 2006; USA - All District Councils
• April 2007; DA - District Councils that have identified the need for a detailed updating assessment in their previous USA
• April 2007; Progress Report - District Councils that have identified no need for detailed assessment in their previous USA
• April 2008; Progress Report - All District Councils
• April 2009; USA - All District Councils
• April 2010; DA - District Councils that have identified the need for a detailed updating assessment in their previous USA
• April 2010; Progress Report - District Councils that have identified no need for detailed assessment in their previous USA

9.5.3 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)

If the review and assessment process indicates that air quality objectives are not being achieved, the Local Authority must declare an AQMA. During or following the declaration process, the individual District Council together with the County Council will form an Air Quality Management Working Group with representatives from other key areas. Membership of each working group is dependent on the dominant source of emissions and AQMA location. Working groups have advised on;

• Choosing the type and size of the AQMA
• Consultation on the AQMA
• Deciding technical issues
• Preparing and adopting the Action Plan
• Reviewing progress of the Action Plan
• Adopting best practice.

To date, Lancaster City, Preston City and South Ribble Borough Councils have declared AQMAs and are required to undertake further assessment Stage IV with the results either amending or revoking the AQMA. Any further AQMAs will be included within Annual Progress Reports.

9.5.4 Further Assessment Stage IV

The further assessment allows local authorities to;

• confirm their original assessment of air quality against the prescribed objectives and ensure that the declaration was correct
• calculate more accurately how much of an improvement in air quality would be required to deliver the air quality objectives within the AQMA
• carry out additional air quality and highway monitoring
• refine the knowledge of the source of pollution so that air quality action plans can be properly targeted
• take account of national policy developments which might come into light after the AQMA declaration
• take account of any local policy developments which are likely to affect air quality by the relavant date and which were not fully factored into the earlier calculations, such as new transport or development schemes that are likely be implemented in the vicinity of the AQMA
• corroborate assumptions used in declaring an AQMA
• respond to comments by statutory consultees.

The further assessment considers how severe the problem is, the significance of background air quality levels and source contributions and the level of improvement that is required.

9.5.5 Road transport is generally regarded as the dominant source that contributes to AQMA problems in Lancashire. The individual types of road transport will be assessed and impacts quantified as part of the Stage IV work. This will establish which types of initiative will provide emission reductions and should be considered for inclusion in the action plan. This information will also allow consultees to form a view on whether an action plan is proportionate and properly targeted.

9.5.6 Air Quality Management Areas in Lancashire

Currently, three District Councils have declared areas of poor air quality resulting in a total of seven AQMAs in Lancashire, with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) being the pollutant of concern. All three District Councils are at different stages in preparing their further assessment. The further assessment results will be included in progress reports as will the action plans and the impacts of implementing the action plans. The AQMAs listed above are detailed in the individual District chapters. Results and conclusions from any further assessment Stage IV will be included in the Annual Progress Reports, as will any required Action Plan and the impacts of implemented measures.

9.5.7 Average Residential Exposure for Lancashires AQMAs

The seven declared AQMAs have been included in a process that determines the average exposure per resident. Additional AQMAs can easily be incorporated into the process without biasing results. The approach is detailed in the AQMA Mandatory Indicator and Monitoring Process section. Trajectories have been calculated for a 'do nothing' scenario based on observed data and an 'improvement rate' showing the reduction required to meet current air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide by the end of the LTP2 period. The average residential exposure will be reported on in the Annual Progress Reports.

Figure 9.5.7

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