Issue - meetings

The Leader welcomed the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor L. Mallett and Councillor S. Colella as a Member of the Board and as Ward Councillor for Hagley West.  He proposed that the Cabinet considered recommendation a) that Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) reverse the proposal to revoke the Hagley AQMA after consideration had been given to the other recommendations.

It was noted that recommendation d) that the Council increase the AQ monitoring points in Hagley from Stakenbridge Lane to the B4187 (Worcester Road junction) had already been discussed and actioned following the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting.

Councillor Colella was invited to speak and in so doing explained the reason for the request that the revocation of the AQMA be reversed.  He raised concerns around the current monitoring process and the use of the small test tubes which were analysed on a monthly cycle with a mean average being taken over a year.  It was stated that there was equipment available which able to produce both a maximum and minimum reading, this was important as there were peak traffic times and the impact of residents would be higher particular for those travelling to school on foot or cycling.  Hagley had carried out numerous investigations and research and had heard from experts. It was clear that traffic in the area had increased due to the recent developments and therefore it was difficult to understand how the current position had been reached.  It was acknowledged that financial support would be needed to carry out such testing, but it was understood that in the not too distant future Central Government would be making available a number of grants for local authorities who needed to improve air quality in their areas.

Mark Cox responded to a number of points raised by Councillor Colella and explained that the testing that was used provided robust quality assurance and meet DEFRA guidelines.  The monitoring to which Cllr Colella had referred was used to record measures with a rapid turnover and had a set up cost of around £30k this did not include the cost of maintenance, electricity etc or for the cost of analysing the data collected and calibration.  This method was currently being used on the Worcester Road in Wychbold in order to ascertain whether an AQMA was required in that location.  This method had also been used in Hagley initially to assess the area.  The monitors needed to be in place for 6 months.  It was accepted that air quality was a wide concern generally and that DEFRA had guidelines and protocols to follow in respect of AQMAs inception and revocation.  The national objective, which took into account “peaks and troughs”, was not being exceeded in the case of the Hagley AQMA and therefore it was not appropriate or necessary for it to be retained.

Members noted the availability of such equipment and commented that they had not been aware of this.  Mark commented that this had in fact been used initially in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99