Agenda item

N Polden presented the Annual Air Quality Update and asked Members for any questions.

Cllr Hobson asked why it is taking so long dealing with air quality, especially in Apsley, and asked why we can’t do more and what’s being done about cycling options.  N Polden responded that it was frustrating and we do need to come up with solutions. Regarding trying to set emissions standards, we have put bids in to Defra for funding. Also it’s difficult to stop people driving and we have to put in the infrastructure for people to cycle safely,so it’s not a quick fix.

Cllr Silwal asked if we could add tree planting to the priorities for 20/21.  N Polden advised that he was aware that we were planting trees under climate change policies, but this was neither a proven or unproven solution for air quality and would continue to be looked at through climate change.

Cllr McDowell said that one accurate nitrous oxygen measurement in Northchurch had been mentioned and to downgrade all our other measurements due to one discrepancy, doesn’t make sense scientifically.  N Polden said that when we carry out diffusion tube monitoring there is plus or minus 20% of the actual mean, to overcome this we have a continuous analyser located in the district, with which we compare the performance of the diffusion tube and then it’s corrected for that bias.  This technique is recognised in the national guidance by Defra and they see the results to check they are accurate.

Cllr McDowellasked whether additional real time monitoring would be of benefit or improve accuracy, plus there is quite a lot of mention of PM2.5 in the report, and asked if this was something we need to look at.  N Polden advised that we only need one analyser. They are expensive to run and maintain, so we need to have some plans to replace when they need renewing.  N Polden added that with PM2.5 it is included the annual report that we have limited PM2.5 monitoring across Hertfordshire and again it’s a very expensive pollutant to monitor, what we’ve found is that where we have monitoring in place, it aligns quite well with the national monitoring undertaken by Defra.

Cllr McDowell said that there is a  reference in the report to High Street and New Road but there is only one monitoring piece of equipment in Northchurch.  N Polden advised that High Street Northchurch was the continuous analyser and New Road was the diffusion tube.

Cllr Beauchamp said ithe report mentioned the interlink and improving bus services and queried how we will be doing this.  N Polden advised that it wasn’t the services that will be improved, it was the air quality through emission standards.

Cllr Taylor highlighted that most of the problems have been caused by vehicles but there are not suitable options for electric vehicles and asked what can be done to support this.  N Polden replied that low emissions vehicles were part of the action plan. It was also included in climate change policy and we will be looking at the EV charging infrastructure strategy for Dacorum.

Cllr Taylor said that many of the challenges are in Berkhamsted where there is a lot of on street parking, also the current provider is very expensive. 

Cllr Timmis enquired why there was no monitoring equipment in Flamstead, as it’s close to the M1 and is overflown by aircraft from Luton Airport. There is monitoring equipment in Markyate where planes fly over, but nothing in Flamstead. N Polden confirmed that the proximity to the M1, which Flamstead is quite separated from so there wouldn’t be concerns over air quality, in terms of aircraft and receptors, it needs to be within 1km and Flamstead is not within that area.

The Chairman noticed that London Road Health Centre in the report appears to have no results. He has also asked on earlier occasions exactly where ithe monitoring equipment s on London Road, Lawn Lane 1a and Lawn Lane 3a. He said that responding by email is fine. N Polden agreed to email The Chairman.

Action: N Polden

The report was noted