Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Environmental Services

Summary

This report considers the issue of air quality across the district and the areas of concern identified by monitoring and assessment.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To support the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area in Hennef Way, Banbury;

(2)               To note the possible implications which may arise from developing an action plan to deal with an Air Quality Management Area; and

(3)               To note the further areas where elevated nitrogen dioxide levels have been identified and may lead to them being declared Air Quality Management Areas in the future.

Recommendations Approved

The Head of Environmental Services submitted a report to consider the issue of air quality across the district and the areas of concern identified by monitoring and assessment. In the course of discussion Members requested Officers to report back on trains idling at Banbury Station, to continue to monitor air quality at Ardley and to contact Cllr Milne Home to be contacted re action plan.

Resolved

(1)               That the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area in Hennef Way, Banbury be supported

(2)               That the possible implications which may arise from developing an action plan to deal with an Air Quality Management Area be noted

(3)               That the further areas where elevated nitrogen dioxide levels have been identified and may lead to them being declared Air Quality Management Areas in the future be noted.

Reasons

Air Quality in the area covered by Cherwell District Council is good. However there are four areas where air quality objectives may not be achieved.

An area around Hennef Way must be declared as an Air Quality Management Area following detailed assessment of monitoring data and subsequent support of these conclusions by DEFRA.

Two further detailed assessments are being undertaken.

There is a risk of future costs for dealing with implementing an action plan for an Air Quality Management Area. These costs cannot be predicted at this stage and are unlikely to arise before 2012/13.

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