Epping Forest District Council 2019 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) In fulfilment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management November 2020 LAQM Annual Status Report 2019 Epping Forest District Council Local Authority Claire Jaggard Officer Department Public Health Team Civic Offices, High Street, Address Epping, Essex CM16 4BZ Telephone 01992 564000 E-mail [email protected] Report Reference WK/202044100 number Date November, 2020 LAQM Annual Status Report 2019 Epping Forest District Council Executive Summary: Air Quality in Our Area Air Quality in Epping Forest District Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also often a strong correlation with equalities issues, because areas with poor air quality are also often the less affluent areas1,2. The annual health cost to society of the impacts of particulate matter alone in the UK is estimated to be around £16 billion3. The Council continues to monitor air quality across the district, using nitrogen dioxide as the key indicator. Air quality in the district is reasonably good with only small pockets of increased concentrations of pollution related to vehicle emissions, which are limited to congested high street areas and busy junctions. The results for 2018 indicate an improvement in nitrogen dioxide concentrations across the district, with just one location measuring a slight rise in its annual mean concentration. The Council retains one small Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) near the B1393 / Theydon Road junction at Epping, Bell Common. Although the concentration measured here remains above the 40µg/m3 annual mean objective, it has reduced from 64µg/m3 to 55µg/m3. As this is below 60µg/m3 (the concentration used to determine if the hourly objective is likely to be exceeded) should we continue to measure concentrations at this level we will be able to consider a revocation of the AQMA in respect of the 1-hourly objective in the future. Details of the Epping Bell Common AQMA (No.2) can be found at: http://www.essexair.org.uk/AQInEssex/LA/EppingForest.aspx?View=aqma , alternatively a map showing its location can be found in Appendix D of this document. 1 Environmental equity, air quality, socioeconomic status and respiratory health, 2010 2 Air quality and social deprivation in the UK: an environmental inequalities analysis, 2006 3 Defra. Abatement cost guidance for valuing changes in air quality, May 2013 LAQM Annual Status Report 2019 i Epping Forest District Council At the start of 2018 additional nitrogen dioxide monitoring locations were set up in Buckhurst Hill and Ongar in order to better understand the concentrations in busy and congested areas. No new significant sources of emissions were identified, nor were any new AQMAs declared, however the results highlighted that additional monitoring would be prudent at further locations in Ongar and Chigwell to enable a better understanding of the concentrations in these areas. The Council continues to work with our partners including Essex County Council and the Environment Agency on environmental protection and air quality matters. Actions to Improve Air Quality Because the single largest influence on air quality in the District is from motor vehicles, the Council is generally reliant on national strategies and vehicle emissions regulations for the improvement of air quality. The Council is currently reviewing its Air Quality Action Plan with a view to introducing a new range of measures aimed at reducing concentrations of pollutants, both within the AQMA at Epping Bell Common, and across the district. Measures will be aimed at developing appropriate infrastructure to support the anticipated increased uptake in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as promoting sustainable transport choices by both local businesses and residents. In addition, we are still exploring possibilities of taking steps that will directly improve the traffic flow at the Epping Bell Common AQMA however we have been unable to progress this at this time. Conclusions and Priorities The results from diffusion tube monitoring undertaken show that the annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the district has reduced or stayed the same during 2018 at all except one location in Waltham Abbey (where the increase was just 1µg/m3). Concentrations at ‘3.Epping Bell Vue’ continue to be elevated due to the amount of road traffic using the B1393. The concentration here was significantly lower than that measured in 2017. Should it continue to be below 60µg/m3, we will be able to consider amending the AQMA to remove the designation in respect of the 1-hourly mean objective. The results continue to show that the annual mean objective LAQM Annual Status Report 2019 ii Epping Forest District Council concentration is still exceeded. No exceedances were identified outside of the Air Quality Management Area where relevant receptors were present. Particular challenges faced by Epping Forest Council include an ageing bus fleet which provides a rural transport service to the northern half of the district, where the London transport network ends. This also means that the motor car remains the first transport choice for many residents. At present local priorities are aimed at the overall improvement of air quality via a range of methods. These include raising awareness of the impact of log burners, idling vehicles, and changing habits especially with regards to the choice of transport methods. We are developing a new Action Plan in which we hope to introduce a more targeted focus on the AQMA. Local Engagement and How to get Involved Get involved – it’s easy! Ride your bike, walk or scoot to work, walk your children to school. Make it fun! If you must use your car and you are waiting for others or find yourself stuck in traffic, turn your engine off! As well as wasting money and polluting the environment, idling is illegal. Have you considered updating your vehicle to an electric or plug-in hybrid? There may be grants available to assist with the cost of doing so. The Essex Air Web site can provide you with useful information which may help you get out and about, see: http://www.essexair.org.uk/ LAQM Annual Status Report 2019 iii Epping Forest District Council Table of Contents Executive Summary: Air Quality in Our Area .......................................................... i Air Quality in Epping Forest District ..................................................................................... i Actions to Improve Air Quality ............................................................................................ ii Conclusions and Priorities ................................................................................................. ii Local Engagement and How to get Involved ..................................................................... iii 1 Local Air Quality Management ........................................................................ 1 2 Actions to Improve Air Quality ........................................................................ 2 2.1 Air Quality Management Areas .............................................................................. 2 2.2 Progress and Impact of Measures to address Air Quality in Epping Forest District ............................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 PM2.5 – Local Authority Approach to Reducing Emissions and/or Concentrations.................................................................................................................. 8 3 Air Quality Monitoring Data and Comparison with Air Quality Objectives and National Compliance .................................................................... 10 3.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken .....................................................................10 3.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites .......................................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites................................................................................... 12 3.2 Individual Pollutants .............................................................................................12 3.2.1 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)................................................................................................. 12 3.2.2 Particulate Matter (PM10) .............................................................................................. 13 3.2.3 Particulate Matter (PM2.5) ............................................................................................. 14 3.2.4 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) .................................................................................................. 14 Appendix A: Monitoring Results ........................................................................... 15 Appendix B: Full Monthly Diffusion Tube Results for 2018 ................................ 25 Appendix C: Supporting Technical Information / Air Quality Monitoring Data QA/QC ............................................................................................................. 32 Appendix D: Maps of Monitoring Locations and AQMAs ................................... 35 Appendix E: Summary of