Contents Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan Part 1 Executive Summary Chapter 1 – The Background to the Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan • The Greater Manchester Area • National Air Quality Strategy • Health Effects of Poor Air Quality • Local Air Quality Management • The Greater Manchester Air Quality Strategy • European and National policies to reduce pollution • Links to other Greater Manchester Plans and Strategies • The Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan • Aims and Objectives of the Action Plan • Delivering the Action Plan Chapter 2 – Pollution Sources in Greater Manchester • Air Pollution in Greater Manchester • Emissions of Pollution in Greater Manchester • Source Apportionment Summary • Stage 4 Review and Assessment • Updating and Screening Assessment • Sources outside Local Authority Control Chapter 3 – Consultation and Participation – How the plan has evolved • Introduction • Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan Focus Group • Summary of the Results of the Focus Group • Transport Matters Newsletter • Comments on the Draft Action Plan from Defra • Further Consultation • Consultation with Health professionals Chapter 4 – Actions to Improve Air Quality • Introduction • Implementation of the Action Plan • Reducing Emissions from Traffic • Local Transport Plan Measures to Reduce Road Traffic Emissions • Additional Transport Measures Included in the Air Quality Action Plan • Protection of Air Quality Through Enforcement of Air Pollution Legislation 1 • Raising Awareness of Air Quality Issues • Action through Building Design and Land Use Planning • Energy Efficiency • Emissions Inventory Development • Action by Other Organisations • Action Plan Table • Table 4.3 – Proposed Actions Chapter 5 – Monitoring and Evaluation • Introduction • Air Quality Review and Assessment • Air Quality Monitoring in Greater Manchester • Air Pollution Emissions: EMIGMA (Emissions inventory for Greater Manchester and Warrington) • Monitoring Road Traffic Targets and Indicators • Monitoring Industrial Emissions • Monitoring Domestic Emissions • Monitoring and Reviewing the Action Plan Glossary Background Documents Part 2 Local Annexes (Appendix A1 –A10) • Introduction to the Area • Summary of Review and Assessment Results – Location of AQMA and Extent of the problem • Strategic Context Related to Air Quality • Sources of Pollution in the Area • What is Being Done Already • What Options are to be Introduced Locally • What Options Require Partnership/Action by Others • local consultation • A local Action Plan for the Local Authority Appendix A11 • Detailed Assessment for Each of the Proposed Actions in this Plan • Actions Not Currently Included in the Action Plan 2 Executive Summary The Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan Local Air Quality Management Greater Manchester, with a population of almost 2.5 million people, is one of the largest conurbations in the country. The 10 member authorities, Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan recognise that a joint approach to dealing with air quality in such a large conurbation is the best environmental option. The Local Authorities have cooperated in the production of their individual review and assessments of air quality, each of which showed that without any action to control air quality, exceedences of the annual average nitrogen dioxide objective and, to a lesser extent, the daily particulate objective are likely in many urban areas across Greater Manchester. Accordingly authorities have co-ordinated the declaration of AQMAs within their districts. The AQMAs reflect the highly built up areas of the conurbation and the major transport contribution to the elevated levels of air pollution. A study into the sources and concentrations of the pollution showed that for the nitrogen dioxide annual mean objective to be met by 2005, total nitrogen oxide emissions would need to be reduced by about 30% in town centres and central urban locations across the conurbation. The Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan The 10 Greater Manchester Authorities have worked together to produce an Air Quality Action Plan, which covers the whole of Greater Manchester and details the measures that will be taken across the area and summarises how the Plan will be evaluated. It is accompanied by related annexes for each of the 10 district authorities providing a more detailed, local focus to the wider actions and strategies. Annual ‘action programmes’ and progress reports on the Action Plan will be key to the success of the Plan. Consultation and Participation The views of a wide range of people have been sought throughout the preparation of the Action Plan. Consultation began with an information leaflet and questionnaire entitled ‘Clearing the Air’ circulated in November 2000; followed by a Focus Group with interested organisations in December 2001 and ‘Transport Matters’ Newsletters in May 2002 and in November 2003 as the Plan progressed. Comment on the final draft has also been sought from Defra. Views have in general been supportive of the action and have included comments and suggestions for actions which have been considered as part of the preparation of the Plan. Monitoring and Evaluation The primary objective of the Action Plan is to improve air quality to meet the Government’s health related standards by 2005. Changes in air quality within Greater Manchester will be measured directly at monitoring stations throughout the area. Data will be analysed and published as part of the ongoing annual Air Quality Progress Reports to Defra. 3 Progress in implementing the Action Plan will also be assessed by reviewing to what extent planned measures and actions have been implemeneted using key indicators for each ‘action area’ from within the Plan. Implementing the Plan The Plan is closely linked to other Greater Manchester plans, particularly the Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan (GMLTP), community and environmental plans including Local Agenda 21, development planning and energy conservation. This integrated approach founded upon partnership working between member authorities and between the relevant professional disciplines including environmental health, planning and transport engineers is seen as essential to the implementation of an effective Plan. The Greater Manchester Authorities are working with other agencies that also have a role to play in achieving better air quality. These include, the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the Motorway and Trunk Road network, the Environment Agency which has responsibilities for emissions from certain large industrial processes and Manchester Airport. The Air Quality Action Plan sets out in more detail the measures that are to be introduced by the 10 Greater Manchester Authorities and GMPTE to improve air quality. Many of these measures are taking place through existing plans and strategies, in particular the GMLTP. The actions set out in the Plan are predicted to improve air quality and make activities in the area more sustainable. They include: • Promoting the use of Public Transport • Cleaning up bus emissions • Encouraging walking and cycling • Travel Plans • Goods vehicle emission and routing efficiency through Freight Quality Partnerships • Traffic management and traffic calming • Improved Energy Efficiency • Enforcement of Pollution Control Legislation • Roadside Emissions Testing • Feasibility study into Low Emission Zones • Reviewing the Regulation of Taxi Exhaust Emissions • Air Quality Guidance for Developers • Actions by other Organisations 4 The Way Forward The Greater Manchester Authorities are fully committed to meeting the Government’s health objectives and intend to continue their joint working on the identified range of air quality improvements needed to deliver those targets. The success of the Plan will be founded upon: Development of a fully integrated public transport system, including a major expansion of Metrolink, which provides people with alternatives to the private car Demonstrating the value and tangible benefits of cleaner air in order to gain the active support of people who live and work in, or visit the Manchester area, recognising that everyone needs to participate in a successful Air Quality Action Plan Implementation of the Action Plan through targeted actions whose costs and benefits have been evaluated and are appropriate to the wider needs of the Greater Manchester. Integration of the air quality improvements into the wider context of safe, healthy and sustainable urban communities within the Manchester area. Co-operative working with relevant third parties, such as the Highways Agency in relation to the motorway network, to deliver air quality improvement related to national policy issues, which are largely outside the control of the Greater Manchester Authorities. 5 Chapter 1 The Background to the Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan The Greater Manchester Area 1.1 Greater Manchester is one of the largest conurbations in the Country, with a total population of almost 2.5 million. Historically employment in the area was based around heavy industry, particularly cotton and engineering works. Following the decline of traditional industry in the area, a significant amount of effort is being made to regenerate run down areas. 1.2 Much of the area is urban, with thriving residential, industrial and commercial areas. There are however substantial green spaces, including large parks and countryside. The transport network serving the area