Extending the air quality management area in Devizes: Consultation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Extending the air quality management area in Devizes: Consultation John Carter- Head of Public Protection (Food & Environment)

Content • Update on progress since attending the Devizes Area Board in September 2011 • Conclusion of the Devizes Detailed Assessment • Introduction to the consultation process for declaring an air quality management area (AQMA) • Potential options for an AQMA

Next steps for Devizes….. Update on timescales • Complete Detailed Assessment and report findings to the Area Board and Defra May 2012 - Complete • Recommendation to declare an Air Quality Management Area and launch public consultation on options May/June/July 2012 – On target • Ratification of the Management Area by Area Board October 2012 – On target • ‘Further Assessment’ to be completed during the course of the following year October 2013 – On target • Development of Air Quality Action Plan March 2014 – On target

What Wiltshire Council is doing in the meantime - Update • Developing a county-wide Air Quality Strategy (Cabinet December 2011, Full Council in the new year) Complete • Working on a county-wide action plan for Air Quality On target • Producing a guideline for developers and Supplementary Planning Document for air quality. On target to be consulted on and adopted alongside the Core Strategy • Developing the Core Strategy to reflect the need for consideration of Air Quality Complete (Core Policy 55) • Working with local transport groups to improve traffic flows (DCAP) • Developing practical measures e.g. encourage walking, cycling, car sharing, green travel plans etc (DCAP, Transport Group)

Conclusions of the Detailed Assessment • the UK national Air Quality Objective (AQO) for the annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) of 40 µg/m 3 is likely to be exceeded at 5 sites in the town. • Shanes Castle, • The Nursery, • Northgate Street, • St James Terrace, • Southgate Roundabout. • Chantry Court, New Park Street ( Not formal exceedence when factored back to building facade)

Option 1 – Devizes Main Routes AQMA This option will mirror the area of + exceedence most accurately + Air Quality Action Planning will cover an area wider than the actual exceedences May result in ‘hot spot’ chasing if further - areas are found to fail the objective levels. - If an AQMA has to be extended the Council will have to go through the formal process of producing Detailed Assessments, Consultation on new AQMA boundaries and Further Assessment Reports (approx 3 year process)

Option 2 – Devizes Centre AQMA Air Quality Action Planning will cover + an area wider than the actual exceedences + All areas of exceedence covered, unlikely to have to extend area further Avoids ‘hot spot’ chasing if further + areas are found to fail the objective levels. - May be concerns from residents in roads where there are no exceedences

Option 3 – Devizes Extended AQMA + Hopefully any further exceedences within the town in the future are covered so the AQMA will not have to be amended. + Air Quality Action Planning will cover an area wider than the actual exceedences - This large area may detract from actual areas of exceedence. - This option extends out of the central town area up London Road ending by the exit of Hopton Industrial Estate where there are no exceedences. This could be challenged as disproportionately large when compared tp area of exceedence.

Richard – the voting slide • To enable us to get some idea of which option you prefer please use your voting buttons to vote on: • Option 1 (small and discreet) • Option2 (filled in centre of Devizes) • Option 3 (extended up to the top of London Road out towards Hopton Industrial Estate)

Timescale for amending the AQMA • The Council has 4 months from Defra approving the Detailed Assessment to declare/amend the AQMA boundary • There will follow a formal 12 week consultation period • The ‘Options’ document will be uploaded onto the Wiltshire Council Consultation website page. • Following consultation the details of the proposed AQMA will be brought back to the Area Board

How to make formal representation • Via email to: rachel.kent@wiltshire.gov.uk • In writing to: Wiltshire Council, Public Protection Services, Rachel Kent, Devizes Air Quality AQMA Consultation, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN • Via the Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal: • http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm • http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal