Issue - meetings

D Newnham introduced the report to members and ran through the key points:

• Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires Local Authorities to review air quality within their area. If it appears that any air quality ‘objective’ prescribed in the regulations and in the National Air Quality Strategy is not likely to be achieved then the Local Authority must designate the affected areas as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). The Act then requires that an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) be produced for any areas designated as AQMAs, setting out the actions that the Council intend to take to achieve the air quality objectives. 
• In June 2012 Dacorum Borough Council formally declared three identified areas where it was likely that the annual mean air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (40µg/m3) would not be met, these areas are:

AQMA 1: Lawn Lane, Hemel Hempstead

AQMA 2: London Road, Apsley

AQMA 3: High Street, Northchurch 

• With regards to the Lower Kings Road monitoring site, the monitoring data for 2014 to 2016 has indicated exceedances of the annual mean NO₂ concentration in 2014 and 2015. The annual mean NO₂ objective was not exceeded in 2016. In terms of the further action, Defra have advised Regulatory Services should await the results of the 2017 data before taking further action. An exceedance for 2017 would form a just cause to declare an AQMA.

Councillor Birnie referred to the 20 mitigation measures included in the report but it doesn’t contain anything truly proactive and relies on the vague hope that people will give up their cars. People’s health is in danger and pollution is increasing. Apsley and Lawn Lane are the most polluted areas in the borough and there is a proposal to build hundreds of new flat which is inappropriate and dangerous.

D Newnham said air quality was a material planning consideration. She said she had made comments on the Two Waters Masterplan consultation. The national planning guidance informs when to ask for an air quality assessment.

Councillor Birnie said assessments are not needed. Electric vehicles will not be common place until 2030.

D Newnham said conditions can be put on major applications if it will worsen the air quality situation.

Councillor Birnie said the council have admitted that traffic contributes to the problem yet there is constant static traffic in Apsley. The road structure is the problem.

The Chairman said the Vice-Chairman who represented Apsley and he were grateful that they were invited to participate in the workshops conducted to draft the Two Waters Masterplan.  Apsley High Street was the way in to and from Hemel Hempstead for Councillor Anderson's consitituents and the road had largely become impassible due to congestion.  As a result of the workshops, the draft Masterplan contained a proposal for the widening of the bridge in Durrants Hill, which ultimately could be paid for by developer contributions.

Councillor Birnie said that perhaps DBC should liaise closely with HCC on the design of the roads.

D Newnham  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154