Air quality review and assessment

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Air quality review and assessment process

The ability to breathe clean air and air that is not harmful to health is assumed to be a fundamental right of the UK population.

The health impacts of polluted air are recognised and were ably demonstrated by the great London smogs of the late 19^th and early 20^th Century. The worst of these events were shown to be responsible for many thousands of excess deaths.

These historic smogs were caused by the large scale burning of coal and wood and were a highly visible and obvious example of air pollution and its health effects.

Changes in the law and improved technology have significantly reduced obviously visible air pollution and changed the constituents found in polluted air.

Many of the current pollutants are invisible to the eye but act as respiratory irritants. This is particularly problematic if individuals have a pre-existing medical condition or vulnerability. Poor air quality continues to have significant impact on the health of the UK population and on the UK economy.

The air quality assessment process

Defra has produced a range of guidance for local authorities outlining how the matter of local air quality should be addressed. The guidance identifies which pollutants are to be considered, and how the stages of assessment should be carried out.

This national approach is summarised in the flow diagram below.

Air quality assessment process

Updating and Screening Assessment (USA)(Every 3 years)	All new round of review and assessment commences with a Updating and Screening Assessment (USA). All seven pollutants have to be considered against changes that have occurred since the previous round. This might include new road development, industrial or large scale residential development.
Progress Report	In the years a USA is not required a progress report must be produced.
Detailed Assessment (one years data)	Any locations identified as being of concern in the USA or progress report are subject to addtional monitoring and data collection.
Declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)	Where concerns are confirmed by the additional monitoring and assessments an Air Quality Management Area must be declared.
Further Assessment	Additional monitoring and air quality modelling carried out and reported within 12 months of declaration of an AQMA.
Air Quality Action Plan	Following the declaration of an AQMA an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) must be formulated within 12-18 months and submitted to DEFRA
AQAP Progress Report	The annual progress on the action plan must be submitted to DEFRA with the implementation of the AQAP.

Wiltshire Council has complied with this multi stage approach and has currently identified seven specific locations where air quality is of concern and AQMAs have been declared. These are in Westbury, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Marlborough and three in Salisbury.  

Last updated: 9 January 2012