Issue - meetings

There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting. Slides are attached.

Lucy Bolton, Robin Spalding and Aled Williams – Environmental Monitoring Team introduced the report and gave a presentation on ‘Air Quality Management Areas – A37’ which covered the following:

·  Legal Obligation

·  Monitoring in Temple Cloud

·  Temple Cloud AQMA Boundary Consultation

·  Consultation Details

·  Responses

·  Monitoring in Farrington Gurney

·  Farrington Gurney AQMA Boundary Consultation

·  Consultation Details

·  Responses

·  Next Steps

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Bull asked what action would be taken under the Air Quality Action Plan and would it be sufficient. The officer explained that the action plan was aspirational. Councillor Bull asked if it could get to the stage where a clean air zone was needed in these areas too. The officer explained that the next stage was an action plan and modelling. Councillor Bull asked if officers could give an example of something that would have direct effect on emissions. The officer explained that one action that has been discussed is a smoothing of the flow of traffic so that HGVs don’t stop on a hill and then accelerate.

Councillor Hale stated that not many people had come to the drop in sessions and was it worth the cost. The officer explained that consultation is a statutory process, such sessions were good to raise public awareness and also explained that the consultation periods can be minimised.

Councillor Samuel asked that, if HGV’s were causing problems in these areas, would weight limits be considered. The officer explained that the Bath/London Road area had been identified by the Government and there was a mandate whereas Temple Cloud was not identified as a place of exceedance so there were not the same measures that could be brought in.

Councillor Evans asked about areas such as Whichurch, Pensford and High Littleton, the officer explained that these areas were monitored but do not have the same exceedance as the areas highlighted in the presentation.

The Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment Councillor Mark Shelford explained that the issues of clean air and congestion must be separated and that clean air necessitates short term strategies whereas traffic congestion needs long term change.