Introduction
Air quality is an issue of public concern. Although air pollution levels within the Borough are generally low, certain areas suffer elevated levels of pollution, principally from traffic-generated sources.
The need for a local air quality strategy is brought about by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 which requires local authorities to undertake a review and assessment of the air quality in their area and to produce a local air quality strategy. If it appears that the objectives specified in the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) and the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 are unlikely to be met by the appropriate target dates, the local authority is required to declare one or more Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) together with an Air Quality Action Plan in order to address the problems identified.
The need for action on air quality is also reinforced by Government guidance on the preparation of Local Transport Plans (LTPs). The guidance states that air quality is likely to be a major driver of LTPs, particularly in the larger urban areas. Doncaster has completed it first round of review and assessments and declared 3 AQMAs.
Sources of Air Pollution emissions arise from 3 sources:
- Domestic
- Industrial
- Traffic
Domestic Emissions
The entire Borough became the subject of Smoke Control Areas by April 1994, which has been the major factor in reducing air pollution from domestic chimneys to negligible levels. The only area of action considered necessary within the Borough's boundaries is the continuing and rigorous policing of the provisions of the Clean Air Act 1993 in respect of smoking chimneys and the delivery of unauthorised fuel to householders.
The Energy Team
To assist with the Local Air Quality strategy and the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 we have our own dedicated Energy Team. As part of this act it requires that all Local authorities to try to achieve a 30% Energy Saving by 2010. Consequently, the Energy Teams main function is to reduce CO-2 emissions and fuel poverty, to increase the energy efficiency and Affordable Warmth Indices of properties across the Borough and to monitor progress towards such improvements.
Such improvements are achieved primarily via provision of energy efficiency advice to householders within the Borough of Doncaster and, via the South Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre service, to householders across South Yorkshire. Methods include: freephone advice, tailored home energy reports, one-to-one home energy advice visits, presentations, training sessions and offer bulk discount insulation and heating scheme.
Why do we have to be energy conscious?
Using up natural resources.
Fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) are running out and we do not get enough energy from alternative sources to give us the amount of energy we need.
Acid rain
Burning fossil fuels to produce energy produces oxides of nitrogen and sulphur. These dissolve in rain to produce acid rain. Acid rain damages trees, plants, wildlife and buildings.
Global warming
The Earth absorbs radiation from the sun. The Earth warms up and gives out heat - some of this escapes into outer space but some is reflected back towards the Earth. This effect warms the Earth's atmosphere. The global warming problem has got worse in the last 100 years. This means that more radiation is reflected back – which means the Earth's atmosphere is getting warmer and warmer.
What are the effects of global warming?
- Average global temperature rise of 3°C in the next 100 years.
- Sea levels rising – islands may disappear
- Freak weather – drought and floods
- Diseases – tropical diseases may spread
The Greenhouse effect is produced by several gases the most important is carbon dioxide (CO2). When fossil fuels are burnt to produce energy CO2 is produced consequently, whenever we use energy we contribute to the problem of the greenhouse effect.
25% of CO2 produced in the UK comes from fuel use in homes. We must continue to saving energy in our homes to contribute to the battle against global warming.
The Costs
£6.5 billion of energy is wasted each year by households.
25 million Tonnes of CO2 are emitted unnecessarily.
Local Authority Housing
In an effort to improve Energy Efficiency within Council Housing and in line with the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, the Housing department also carries out an Insulation / Energy efficiency programme as part of its Fabric Maintenance Programme.
Industrial Emissions
There are 9 Part A processes within the Borough, which are controlled by the Environment Agency (E.A.). Doncaster Council is reliant on the EA to produce substantially improved emissions controls and to impose adequate controls on new processes. Doncaster Council is responsible for controlling the emissions to air of 113 Part B processes.
In order to minimise these processes impact on air quality a rigorous regime of inspection and monitoring will be carried out together with prompt process authorisation updating.
Transport Emissions
This is by far the most important area of the air quality strategy and the most difficult to effectively control. Road traffic currently generates the major proportion of a number of pollutants (e.g. benzene 60%, 1, 3 - butadiene 68%, carbon monoxide 75%, lead 61%, nitrogen dioxide 50 % and particulate matter (PM10) 25%).
Current Government projections are that the objectives contained in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 will be met for carbon monoxide, lead, benzene and 1, 3 - butadiene; principally as a result of advances in vehicle engine technology and tailpipe emission reduction technology, together with their aspirations for a reduction in road traffic, principally private cars.
The Government consider it likely however that the objective for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and possibly also the recently revised objective for PM10 will be exceeded at busy roadside locations in many urbanised areas. In Doncaster's case the review and assessment of the air quality within the Borough has shown that the objective for nitrogen dioxide is likely to be exceeded in 3 areas in and around the town of Doncaster. This has led to the declaration of 3 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs)and the proposed declaration of a fourth.
Health Effects
Benzene and 1, 3 - butadiene are recognised genotoxic human carcinogens.
Carbon monoxide combines with red blood cells to form carboxyhaemoglobin, which substantially reduces the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to tissues. People who have an existing disease which affects the delivery of oxygen to the heart or brain (e.g. angina) are particularly susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide.
Exposure to high levels of lead may result in toxic biochemical effects which can result in kidney, intestinal tract and nervous system damage. There is also a possible effect on brain development in children.
Particulate air pollution is associated with a range of effects on health PM10s and other fine particles can penetrate deep into the lung tissue and as such can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and also lead to increased mortality rates.
Sulphur dioxide causes constriction of the airways by stimulating nerves in the lining of the nose, throat and lung airways, exacerbating existing asthma and chronic lung conditions.
At relatively high concentrations, nitrogen dioxide causes inflammation of the airways. There is evidence to show that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide may affect lung function and enhance the response to allergens in sensitised individuals. Nitrogen dioxide also reacts with other gases and pollutants to form ozone, which is the main component of summer smogs and can lead to irritation of the eyes and nose followed by inflammation and damage to the lining of the airways to the lungs if prolonged exposure is experienced. Ozone is not included in the Local Air Quality Strategy as there are no measures that can be taken locally to deal with this pollutant, other than reducing the levels of ozone precursors in the area.
Aims of the Local Air Quality Strategy
- To ensure that the air breathed by the residents of the Borough is of the highest quality achievable.
- To protect and enhance the environment of the Borough in order that the various eco-systems and the human population of the Borough are free from the consequences of air pollution.
- To ensure that visitors to the Borough experience high air quality.
Objectives of the Local Air Quality Strategy
- To meet the air quality objectives contained in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000.
- To meet the air quality standards laid down in the National Air Quality Strategy.
- To reduce air pollution to the lowest levels that can be reasonably achieved, in accordance with the underlying principles of the European Directive.
Review and Assessment of Air Quality
A 4-stage process is required for the review and assessment of air quality.
Stage 1
Stage 1 consists of an inventory of all the polluting processes that may affect air quality within the Borough, including the emissions from traffic on major roads, area sources such as housing estates and quarries etc. and all industrial processes authorised under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Stage 2
This consists of an approximation of the effects of emissions on air quality in the relevant objective year, and gives a strong indication of whether the air quality objective will be met. If it appears likely that the objectives will not be met for one or more pollutants then a Stage 3 assessment is required.
Stage 3
Stage 3 involves detailed monitoring and modelling of those pollutants thought likely to breach the air quality objectives. More accurate predictions of the air quality in the relevant objective year are produced and if it appears that the air quality objectives will not be met in certain areas then Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) must be declared and an Action Plan produced detailing the steps to be taken in order to ensure compliance with the relevant air quality objectives.
Stage 4
Stage 4 takes place after the declaration of an AQMA and is a refining and rechecking of the monitoring and modelling processes which identified the need to declare an AQMA.
Doncaster has completed Stages 1 to 4 of the review and assessment process. This identified that the air quality objective for the annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (40mg/m3) was unlikely to be met in certain areas of Doncaster town and its surrounding suburbs by the qualifying year of 2205. The primary cause of the predicted breach of the objective was traffic emissions.
As a result 3 AQMAs were declared, the details of which are as follows:
| AQMA | Declared | Primary Cause of Pollution |
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Air Quality Management Area (No 1)
Order 2001 | 1 August 2001 | A638/A630 Road Traffic |
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Air Quality Management Area (No 2)
Order 2001 | 1 August 2001 | A1/A630 Road Traffic |
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Air Quality Management Area (No 3)
Order 2001 | 1 August 2001 | A18 Road Traffic |
Doncaster has recently completed the Stage 4 assessment and is in the process of formulating the Air Quality Action Plan. The result of the reassessment of air quality within the Borough carried out under Stage 4 has led to the proposed declaration of a further AQMA in the Hatchell Wood area of Cantley adjacent to the M18 where it is crossed by the A638.
Strategy Principles
It is proposed that the following principles will underpin the development of the Action Plan in order to meet the objectives of the strategy:
- The support of the general public, voluntary and special interest groups, industry and the business community will be elicited in order that the wider community within the Borough can assist in meeting the objectives.
- The support of all Directorates and disciplines within the authority will be required in order for the Strategy to become a meaningful initiative.
- The authority must set an example of good practice, for example by the use of such initiatives as green commuter plans and the use of low emission vehicles in its fleet.
- The local air quality strategy will need to be linked closely to the Local Transport Plan, together with traffic reduction targets and the methods of achieving these targets.
- The local air quality strategy must be given a high degree of consideration in the authority's planning and development control decisions and should influence the council's comments and planning conditions imposed upon development applications.
Implementation Mechanisms
- The action plan will be based on the following implementation mechanisms
Domestic - Rigorous policing of the Borough coupled with strict enforcement of the provisions of the Clean Air Act 1993.
- Analysis of the areas where the highest number of offenders are found leading to intensive "blitzing" of those areas in order to check compliance with the above act.
- Vigorous publicity campaign aimed at householders and solid fuel merchants in order to educate them to the benefits of burning smokeless fuel and the penalties for non-compliance with the Clean Air Act provisions.
Industrial
- Regular inspection of the Part B processes coupled with strict enforcement of the Authorisation conditions in order to ensure that the emission limits are complied with.
- Maintenance of a close working partnership with the Environment Agency in order to ensure that the emission limits of those Part A processes located within the Borough are complied with.
Transport
- Institution of programmes to reduce the volume of car journeys within the Borough, with a particular emphasis on short trips, e.g. travel to work, in view of the reduction in efficiency and effectiveness of catalysts under such conditions. These programmes will include such initiatives as green commuter plans, car sharing schemes, safer routes to school, cycling and walking promotion and infrastructure establishment and improved public transport availability.
- Traffic management measures and the use of new technology to combat pollution "hot spots".
- Monitoring of site specific and area - wide traffic management schemes for their effect on air quality.
- The requirement for Environmental Impact Statements in respect of those developments which could have an impact on air quality to assess such impacts in respect of traffic.
- More assertive use of air quality and health data to heighten the public’s awareness of the air quality and health issues associated with traffic emissions.
- The implementation of measures to reduce the emission from the Council’s own fleet operations including the use of cars for official purposes.
- The promotion of Travel Awareness campaigns.
Future Programmes
The subsequent key stages in the development of the Local Air Quality Strategy are:
- Consultation on draft Stage 4 review and assessment report
- Development of draft Air Quality Action Plan
- Consultation on draft Air Quality Action Plan
- Publication of final Air Quality Action Plan
