If an area is identified as being at risk of exceeding an air
quality objective, we must declare an Air Quality Management Area
(AQMA) and take action to reduce the air pollution in that
area.
The Local Air Quality Management progress report for 2007
indicated that the Moor Street area of Ormskirk was likely to
exceed the annual air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide.
To gather more information about the problem we began to carry
out additional monitoring:
A detailed assessment was completed in August 2009. This
concluded that an area of Moor Street, and the adjoining top end of
Stanley Street, exceeded the air quality objective for nitrogen
dioxide and that an AQMA should be declared - this was done on 20
January 2010.
Latest assessment
A further assessment was completed in February
2010. This concluded that road traffic is the main contributor to
the overall pollutant levels in the AQMA.
A steering group was formed with the goal of improving air
quality within this area. Representatives of residents within the
locality of the AQMA, highways officers, local bus companies, staff
from the Primary Care Trust, Council officers and Members were
invited to attend this group.
Many possible options were discussed, with the most viable
options being taken forward. This resulted in the drafting of an
Air Quality Action Plan(AQAP). Part IV of The Environment Act 1995
places a legal requirement on the Council to develop an Air Quality
Action Plan for this area, within 18 months of the initial
declaration, and the final draft of this was approved by DEFRA in
September 2011. This Action Plan identifies and assesses actions
for improving the local air quality within the designated area. It
proposes the implementation of those actions which are relevant to
local air quality management and those potentially capable of
bringing about improvements within the designated area, and the
Borough as a whole.
Contact us
For more information please contact the Environmental Protection
Team
Tel: 01695 577177
Email: envhealth.admin@westlancs.gov.uk
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