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The Environment Act 1995 (Part IV) requires Babergh to carry out periodic reviews and assessments of current and likely future air quality in its area under the Local Air Quality Management regime. These reviews follow regulatiions made in 2000 and 2002, which set health-based air quality objectives for seven key pollutants and target dates for their achievement.
Latest Review and Assessment of Air Quality
The Government has set out a phased approach to local review and assessment that becomes increasingly more detailed. At the end of a review and assessment, if any of the objectives are not likely to be achieved by the target dates, the Council must designate the location as an Air Quality Management Area and prepare an action plan to make improvements.
We commenced the latest round of review and assessment work in 2009 and the Air Quality Reports from this may be viewed or downloaded here.
Whilst our investigations have found that the air quality objectives are being met across most of the district, they have culminated in the designation of an Air Quality Management Area for Cross Street in Sudbury.
Cross Street, Sudbury – Public Consultation
The Council has designated part of Cross Street in Sudbury as an Air Quality Management Area because nitrogen dioxide levels, arising mainly from traffic emissions, are above the Annual Average Objective near some homes.
We have produced a draft Air Quality Action Plan (PDF, 1.41Mb) for public consultation. This draft plan aims to address a very specific air quality problem on certain sections of Cross Street related to the narrow, ‘canyon’-like nature of the road, rather than providing a solution to wider traffic congestion in Sudbury.
The draft Air Quality Action Plan (PDF, 1,41Mb) has been produced in partnership with other relevant agencies and Suffolk County Council’s Transport Department in particular. It has also been approved by the Government’s air quality experts.
The draft Air Quality Action Plan (PDF, 1.41Mb) sets out a package of measures and joint working with other agencies aimed at addressing the nitrogen dioxide levels. A paper copy is also available to view in the reception at Sudbury Town Council, Old Market Place, Sudbury.
It is recognised that Action Plans should have the support of the public, businesses and other stakeholders. This consultation document seeks the views of those stakeholders, and your comments on the draft Action Plan are welcomed. If you wish to make any comments, please write to us at Babergh District Council (address given below) or email air.quality@babergh.gov.uk by Monday 30 January 2012. As this consultation process is extensive and involves a large number of individuals and groups, please do not expect an individual response to your submission, but be assured that all responses will be taken into account.
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