Local Air Quality Management

View full list of Local Air Quality Management Documents

Environmental Health monitor air pollutant levels to assess current and future air quality. This information is used to determine whether we are meeting the air quality objectives of the UK National Air Quality Strategy.

The strategy plans to improve air quality based on reducing concentrations of seven key pollutants. We are responsible for carrying out this strategy and will work with local people, commerce and industry, environmental groups and the Environment Agency Wales.

The seven pollutants each have Air Quality Objective levels that should not be exceeded.

The process has several stages:

We review and assesses air quality in a phased approach on a three year cycle. 

• In the first year an Updating and Screening Assessment is undertaken to identify those matters that have changed since the last Review and Assessment, which might lead to a risk of an air quality objective being exceeded.  If there is a risk that any changes may be significant then a screening assessment is carried out.
• In years two and three a Progress Report is undertaken.
• Where an Updating and Screening Assessment or Progress Report has identified a risk that an air quality objective will be exceeded at a location with relevant public exposure a Detailed Assessment is undertaken to identify whether or not a likely exceedance will occur.
• If the Detailed Assessment identifies an exceedance an Air Quality Management Area is declared.
• When an Air Quality Management Area has been declared a Further Assessment is undertaken to confirm the exceedance, define what improvement in air quality is required and provide information on the source of the pollution.
• Following the Further Assessment an Air Quality Action Plan is produced to identify measures to achieve the required reduction in emissions.

For several years, we have been monitoring pollutants likely to affect air quality. This will determine whether objective levels are being met and whether any AQMAs are needed.

Currently there are two areas in the County that are in exceedance of the nitrogen dioxide objective level.  These are Bridge Street in Usk and part of the A48 in Chepstow which includes Hardwick Hill.  These areas have been declared Air Quality Management Areas and Action Plans have been produced for both.

Annual Review and Assessment Reports

 

The latest Review and Assessment Report is the 2011 Progress Report which presents monitoring data for January - December 2010, along with an update on progress towards the Chepstow and Usk Air Quality Action Plans.

The Progress Report identifies that a Detailed Assessment is not required and therefore completes the 2009-2011 three year phase of review and assessment.

The next phase will commence in 2012 with an Updating and Screening Assessment, followed by a Progress Report in 2013 and 2014.  Detailed Assessments will be required if a risk is identified that an air quality objective will be exceeded at a location with relevant public exposure.

 

Air Quality Management Areas

Please see the Usk and Chepstow Local Air Quality Management pages for air quality information about those towns.

Pollutants in Monmouthshire

These studies have shown that for all pollutants we can comply with the objectives, excluding levels of nitrogen dioxide at certain locations. The cause of the exceedance of nitrogen dioxide is road transport. 

The following roads have been considered as liable to cause high levels of nitrogen dioxide:

• Bridge Street, Usk
• A48, Hardwick Hill/Mount Pleasant at Chepstow
• The junction of the A40 and A466 Wyebridge Street in the vicinity of Monmouth Boy's School
• Merythr Road, Abergavenny

Useful Links

UK Air Quality Archive website.

Welsh Air Quality Forum website.

DEFRA Air Quality Strategy website.

For further information please contact Environmental Health.