Air Quality

Clean air is an essential ingredient of a good quality of life. You have a right to expect that the air you breathe will not harm you.

We have a duty to undertake a full review and assessment of air quality within our district in accordance with the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR, now DEFRA Department of the Environment Food & Rural Affairs).

The main aim of the strategy is to ensure a level of ambient air quality in public places which poses no significant risk to health or quality of life. It sets health based standards for 8 key pollutants and objectives for achieving them:-

• benzene,
• 1,3 butadiene,
• carbon monoxide,
• lead,
• nitrogen dioxide,
• particulates (PM10),
• sulphur dioxide and
• ozone

We are required to consider all pollutants with the exception of ozone, which is to be addressed at national level.

Assessments are undertaken every three years. The most recent assessment was published in August 2009 called the USA Report 2009. Where there is a liklihood of a national air quality objective being exceeded, we must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures we intend to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.

There are three AQMA's in Bolsover district, all of which have been declared due to an exceedence of the annual air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide arising from traffic.

• AQMA - Carter Lane East, South Normanton

Local Air Quality review & Assessment Report 2004

Appendix 2 Report - Remodelling & Traffic Validation Exercise

Appendix 3 Report - Stage 4 Air Quality Assessment: Source Apportionment

Air Quality Action Plan

• AQMA - Chesterfield Road, Barlborough

Local Air Quality Assessment Report January 2004

Local Air Quality Management Detailed Assessment Report 2004

Air Quality Further Assessment December 2006

Further Assessment August 2008

• AQMA - Orchard Close, Barlborough

Local Air Quality Management Management Detailed Assessment Report 2004

Local Air Quality Updating & Screening Assessment 2006

We are also required to produce Progress Reports which provide a reporting mechanism between the three yearly requirement to carry out a review and assessment of air quality. The most recent report was published in October 2010 and November 2011.

The Derbyshire Environmental Protection Group (DEPG), a consortium of all local authorities in Derbyshire, has produced a summery document containing the results of the 2009 Updating and Screening Assessments for the whole of Derbyshire.

For further information or assistance on air quality issues, please telephone our Contact Centres on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 August 2012 17:46