Air Quality Management

The Environment Act 1995 introduced legislation for the local management of air quality. Part IV of the Act introduced a statutory duty for local authorities to review and assess the air quality within their districts and to identify the air quality standards and objectives.

The National Air Quality Strategy was published in March 1997, establishing standards for eight key pollutants and outlining national and international policies to reduce air pollution levels by 2005. The eight key pollutants were benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, fine particles (PM10), sulphur dioxide and ozone.

The National Air Quality Strategy evolved over time and has been revised and republished as 'The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - Working Together for Clean Air', 2000

The Air Quality (Wales) Regulations 2000 set the statutory objectives for local authorities for 7 air pollutants to be achieved by 2005. (Ozone was omitted on the basis that national, rather than local action, would best reduce ozone levels due to the trans-boundary nature of the pollutant.) The objectives were based on the effects of the pollutant on human health.

The City and County of Swansea undertook a comprehensive multi-staged review and assessment of air quality within its boundaries and was able to identify those areas that would exceed the national objectives. Following this an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared in the Lower Swansea Valley. This is referred to as the Hafod Air Quality Management Area (NO₂) because Hafod was likely to fail the statutory NO₂ objective, which was to be achieved by 2005.

In order to improve air quality within an AQMA a specific Action Plan is required.

After several feasibility studies and a lot of preparatory work the City and County of Swansea are now satisfied that the outcome of the Action Plan will provide a practical delivery of the improvements required.

A summary of the proposed Action Plan measures being considered, or those which are being pursued actively, can be viewed here.

The City and County of Swansea have now begun the second round of review and assessment. This process is divided into two parts:

Updating and Screening (completed July 2004)
Detailed Assessment (work ongoing)

The City and County of Swansea will still continue working on The City and County of Swansea (Hafod Air Quality Management Area (NO₂)), while undertaking the Detailed Assessment.

Swansea along with other Local authorities are proceeding with the Local Authority Review and Assessment process and have now completed part of the next phase - this being the production of a Progress Report for 2004. Updating and Screening Assessments are now required at intervals of 3 years whilst Progress Reports maintain the continuity and are to be produced in the intervening years. These reports highlight new monitoring data and new local developments that may already be impacting air quality either now or in future years. Progress on the implementation of any Action Plans for existing Air Quality Management Areas are also identified.

Action Plan

Once an authority has designated an area as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) section 84 of the Environment Act 1995 requires the formulation of a written plan in pursuit of the achievement of air quality standards and objectives within the designated AQMA.

Air Quality Management Area

If it is considered that an air quality objective may not be achieved, the local authority is under a legal obligation to declare by Order the affected part of the areas an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

Draft Progress Report

The Draft Progress Report for 2010 is available below.

Progress Report

Progress Reports have been introduced into the LAQM system following a detailed evaluation of the first round of local authority review and assessment.

Review and Assessment Documents

Review and Assessment

The review and assessment process was multi-staged and was structured in the following way.

This page last updated on July 27 2010