Issue - meetings

The Environment Act 1995 introduced a requirement that every local authority is under a duty to carry out regular reviews of air quality.  Several small areas of Bath were identified as exceeding acceptable limits and are not within the declared Air Quality Management Area. The authority is therefore required to vary the Air Quality Management Area to include these areas. A consultation exercise has been undertaken on the proposed changes and Cabinet is now being asked to approve the recommended option.

Councillor Dixon in proposing this item, said that this was a small variation to the existing Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for Bath to include additional parts of the City and parts of Newbridge and Lansdown, as indicated on the map. He said the existence of AQMA would assist the Cabinet Member for Transport (Councillor Symonds) in deciding investment priorities.

Councillor Crossley seconded the proposal.

Councillor Symonds said that an AQMA had to be declared when the air quality in an area failed to meet European standards. The designation of an AQMA was an indication that something should be done. If a low-emissions zone was declared, which he hoped would happen, something had to be done. The Council was already taking action in the AQMA. A leaflet had been issued, which from that day were being handed by Parking wardens to the drivers of vehicles who were allowing their engines to idle for more than two minutes.

On a motion from Councillor David Dixon, seconded by Councillor Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To VARY the Air Quality Management Area in Bath to include the blue/dotted areas on Appendix 1. Any residential property whose façade is within the area is deemed to be included. and

(2) To VARY the Air Quality Management Area in Bath to include the 1-hour Nitrogen dioxide objective.