Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report on a proposal to designate Worcester Road, Bromsgrove as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

It was noted that Authorities were required under the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess the current and likely future air quality within their areas against the objectives in the National Air Quality Strategy. The proposal was as a result of monitoring and assessment undertaken at the site which had concluded that the national air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide was being exceeded. 

As part of the discussion on this item reference was made to three other areas within the District which had previously been designated as an AQMA. Members felt it would be helpful for the Portfolio Holder, Councillor C. B. Taylor to meet with officers in order to follow up the progress made in addressing the issue of air quality in those areas, including ascertaining whether there was any additional assistance which this Authority could provide, for example further discussions with the County Council or the Highways Agency.

It was noted that the proposed Action Plan in respect of the Worcester Road AQMA would set out the measures to ensure that the air quality objectives within the area covered by the AQMA were not exceeded. There was some concern however regarding the timescale envisaged of up to 18 months for the completion of the provisional Air Quality Action Plan. Officers confirmed that during this period work to address the issue would be on-going but also undertook to produce in advance of the formal Action Plan, an outline of actions in the form of a timeline. 

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the area at Worcester Road, Bromsgrove shown in red on the plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report be formally designated as an Air Quality Management Area by the making of an Order under section 83(1) of the Environment Act 1995;

(b)       that authority be delegated to the Head of Regulatory Services and the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services to prepare and sign the Air Quality Management Area Order for Worcester Road, Bromsgrove;

(c)        that it be noted that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Environment Act 1995, a provisional Air Quality Action Plan will be completed within 18 months of the making of the Order and that prior to the production of this Action Plan a timeline will be produced setting out in outline the actions to be taken.