Radford Avenue Air Quality Management Area

Introduction

Welcome to the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for Kidderminster page. The aim is to explain what is meant by an AQMA, how the proposal came about and how it impacts on the local community. All reports, data and maps are available to the general public.

Following recent detailed assessment work conducted during the third round of air quality review and assessment, the Council has identified an additional area in Kidderminster which is exceeding the current nitrogen dioxide annual average objective value of 40ug/m³. As a consequence the Council has amended the Horsefair Air Quality Management Area declared in 2002 to include The Ringway from Blackwell Street roundabout to South Street, Coventry Street from the roundabout to St. Ambrose Church and Radford Avenue from St. Georges Church to Coventry Street. 

Wyre Forest District Council Order designating an Air Quality Management Area  (856K)

Background

Since December 1997 each local authority in the UK has been carrying out reviews and assessments of the air quality in their area. This involves measuring air pollution and trying to predict how it will change over the next few years. The aim of the review is to make sure that the National Air Quality Objectives will be achieved throughout the UK. These objectives have been put in place to protect people's health and the environment.

If a local authority finds any places where the objectives are not likely to be met, it must declare an air quality management area. This could be just one or two streets or it could be a much bigger area. 

How are AQMAs declared?

The minimum criteria that must be met when drawing the AQMA boundary are the inclusion of all areas that have relevant receptors (schools, residential buildings etc.) where air quality objectives are unlikely to be achieved. In the case of annual objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), this translates to those locations likely to be above 40ug/m^-3 (micrograms per metre cubed or one millionth of a gram).

Aside from this minimum criteria there are no hard and fast rules on where an AQMA boundary can be plotted. There are currently 225 local authorities in the UK that have declared AQMAs. The size and shape vary widely between different local authorities, some councils have declared several small AQMAs, others one large AQMA and some have declared their entire council area as an AQMA.

It should be noted that the AQMA boundary does not represent a distinction between areas of good and poor air quality. The dispersion of pollution is more gradual and doesn't simply stop at the depicted line. The boundary however represents the area where it is unlikely that the air quality will meet health standards.

Dispersion Modelling

The results of the dispersion modelling exercise, completed in the Detailed Assessment in 2007, formed the basis of the decision making process. The output of the modelling exercise produced a contour map that plotted a line along the roads where it predicted the levels of NO₂ were likely to be 40ug/m^-3  and above. It also plotted a line where it predicted the levels of NO₂ to be 36ug/m^-3 and above. These contour maps can be viewed in the Detailed Assessment Report 2007   (1,155K)   and in the AQMA Contour Map   (273K)

AQMA Definition Using Modelling Data

Computer models by design are useful tools that are used to spatially plot information such as air quality problems, however they also present degrees of uncertainty in their conclusions. The Council has therefore adopted a precautionary approach in mapping its AQMA proposals, using the Environmental Protection UK recommended 36ug/m^-3 contour line for the purpose of setting out the declaration proposals.

Detailed Boundary Depiction

In addition to the above, the model contours do not solely provide a definitive means of defining the AQMA boundary. In determining the AQMA boundary, other factors such as the physical layout of the properties, the distance of the receptors from the road, the land use of the areas adjacent to the roads have all been taken into consideration along with a degree of professional judgement. All decisions as to where the boundary should be depicted have been done so in the most consistent way possible. Consideration has been given to the usefulness of the boundary line. The boundary has been depicted as simply as possible and has been depicted in the fairest way possible.

The modelled contours have been heavily relied upon and then the physical layout of the properties has further informed the decision, as far as possible the following rules have been applied:

• Straight boundary: The boundary has been kept as straight as possible for simplification and so that each property is treated as fairly as possible and to avoid singling out properties.
• Larger properties: Where the property is particularly large (extends more than 30 metres from the road and therefore extends far beyond the  40ug/m^-3 contour), the boundary crosses through the middle of that property. This is because it would be onerous and unrealistic to include the whole property in the AQMA. However, the property is classed to lie within the AQMA and any associated order would reflect this.
• Modelled contour crosses a property: In this case, the AQMA boundary is drawn to the rear of the property. There are a few exceptions where the AQMA boundary crosses through the middle of a property are either non-sensitive receptors (i.e. places of work) or are exceptionally long properties, where they extend more than 30 metres from the road.
• Modelled contour lies to rear of a property: Where this is the case, the AQMA boundary is depicted to the rear of the property and follows the modelled contour line. This is for three reasons; it adopts a precautionary approach to show the whole area that exceeds, provides a consistent approach to those areas where there are no sensitive receptors and provides a useful tool for Planning Development to know where the air is predicted to be breeching the NO₂ Air Quality Objectives.
• Row of houses: Where the modelled contour crosses a row of houses, stretching away from the road, only those houses that the contour crosses are included in the AQMA.

Feedback

We are very interested in your views and comments about Wyre Forest District Council's decision to amend the Air Quality Management Area in Kidderminster. We are also seeking your views and comments on what you think should be done to improve the air quality in this area and across the District.

If you would like to send us your questions, views and comments etc. then please contact us at pollution@wyreforestdc.gov.uk or write to us at:

Pollution Control Section
Environmental Health & licensing Department
Planning & Regulatory Services Division
Duke House
Clensmore Street
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY10 2JX