Issue - meetings

This report details the continuing improvements in air quality monitored across York and progress on delivering the measures in York’s third Air Quality Action Plan, and recommends that the Air Quality Management Area in Fulford be revoked.

Resolved:

(i)           That the contents of the report be noted, including the continuing trend in air quality improvements in York.

(ii)         That the decision to revoke the Fulford Road Air Quality Management Area (Order No. 2) (subject to any comments by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)), be approved.

Reason: Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) monitored in the Fulford Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) remained well below the health based objective in 2018.  Annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide monitored in this area have not exceeded 35?g/m3 in the last 2 years (the objective level is 40?g/m3)

The Executive Member was asked to consider a report that detailed the continuing improvements in air quality monitored across York and the progress on delivering the measures in York’s Third Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP3) to deliver further improvements. As a result of these improvements, the Executive Member was recommended to revoke the current Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Fulford whilst retaining the current air quality monitoring network there.

The Assistant Director of Economy and Place and the Public Protection Manager gave an update on the air quality in York following submission of the Annual Status Report to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in June 2019. They confirmed that air quality was improving across York and that:

·        The concentrations of NO₂ monitored in Fulford over the last 2 years had not exceeded 35.3?g/m3.

·        The concentrations of NO₂ monitored in Salisbury Terrace AQMA continued to remain well below the health based annual mean objective of 40?g/m3.

·        The annual mean NO₂ concentrations monitored at all but one real-time monitoring station, around the inner ring road, either decreased or remained the same apart from Gillygate, where annual mean concentrations of NO₂ had increased by 7.8%.

·        The city centre AQMA would be extended to include Coppergate and the breaches of the short-term hourly objective along George Hudson Street/Rougier Street/Bridge Street would be removed, based on recent monitoring results in this area.

·        National air quality objectives for Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) were currently met at all monitoring locations in York and health based objectives levels for fine particulates (PM₂₅) had not yet been set for local authorities but were well within the EU limit value.

·        The World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines were currently under revision and would be published in 2020.

The Executive Member noted the actions, priorities and challenges going forward and she welcomed the improvements made across the city. 

She thanked officers for their report and

Resolved:

(i)           That the contents of the report be noted, including the continuing trend in air quality improvements in York.

(ii)         That the decision to revoke the Fulford Road Air Quality Management Area (Order No. 2) (subject to any comments by Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)), be approved.

Reason: Concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) monitored in the Fulford Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) remained well below the health based objective in 2018.  Annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide monitored in this area have not exceeded 35?g/m3 in the last 2 years (the objective level is 40?g/m3).