Carmarthenshire County Council Carmarthenshire County Council 2018 Air Quality Progress Report In fulfillment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management September 2018 LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 Carmarthenshire County Council Local Authority Lisa Jones Officer Alun Rees Department Homes and Safer Communities Town Hall, Iscennen Road, Ammanford, Address Carmarthenshire. SA18 3BE 01267 288 910 Telephone 01269 598255 [email protected] E-mail [email protected] Report Reference 2018 Annual Progress Report number Date September 2018 LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 Carmarthenshire County Council Executive Summary: Air Quality in Our Area Air Quality in Carmarthenshire The main air quality pollutant relevant to Carmarthenshire is Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and the main source of NO2 emissions in the County is road traffic. We have developed a monitoring network that follows some of our busiest roads and most congested streets to enable us observe trends in NO2 concentrations and assess the effectiveness of any changes made in attempt to improve air quality in those areas. The trends observed over the last year have slightly decreased in comparison to 2016, however four sites within our Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA’s) (two in Llanelli, one in Carmarthen and one in Llandeilo) have exceeded the Air Quality Objective for 2017 with a number of sites remaining borderline. There has not been a significant reduction identified over the last three years and during 2017, the winter months experienced a warmer climate which may account for this reported trend. Therefore it is too early to predict whether we will continue to see a downward trend at the end of 2018. Carmarthenshire currently has three Air Quality Management Areas in Llandeilo, Carmarthen and Llanelli. Further details can be found on our website: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/environmental- health/air-quality/#.W46Mg-mQzIU The second year review of phase 1 of the Llandeilo action plan was conducted in 2017 and included in the 2017 Air Quality Progress Report. The outstanding options of the Llandeilo Action plan phase 1 has been assessed and is included in Appendix H of this progress report. The AQMA’s for the towns of Carmarthen and Llanelli were designated and Orders issued in August 2016. Action Plans for both towns were subject to public consultation during 2017. Responses were reviewed and the final draft Action Plans were submitted to Welsh Government late 2017. LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 i Carmarthenshire County Council No new major sources of uncontrolled pollution or fugitive emissions have been identified within the County during 2017 and although a number of developments are underway, some of which have required air quality impact assessments to be conducted, no significant impacts have been identified. Nevertheless, collaboration work with planners and developers continues and wherever possible further measures are encouraged to mitigate any impact that development may pose on air quality. We continue to work closely with a number partners to manage local air quality in Carmarthenshire, including Natural Resources Wales, the Planning Authority, the Highways Authority, SWTRA, local schools, Swansea University. Actions to Improve Air Quality During 2017 one new process for a mobile plant was granted an Environmental Permit in order to control emissions. However, as it is a mobile plant with the flexibility to move locations, it has the potential to move to other locations outside of the County depending on where it is used. Carmarthenshire also received nine planning applications for new developments that carried out Air Quality Assessments, of which eight stated that any impact would be negligible and one was refused. An additional seven applications were also able to justify no that AQA was necessary. However, in support of the sustainable development principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and Welsh Government policy guidance to reduce air pollution as far as possible, every opportunity is taken to implement measures to improve air quality through the development process. For example by promoting the use of sustainable transport methods and the consideration of Electric Vehicle infrastructure. Air quality screening exercises were performed during 2017 at various locations and details of these exercises can be found in Appendix G of this report. Monitoring did not identify any breach of the Objectives. Further monitoring at other locations is being performed through 2018 and the results will be reported in the 2019 Progress Report. LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 ii Carmarthenshire County Council Three unannounced visits to check on the compliance with restricted steam locomotive idling times for Gwili Railway Company were carried out and identified compliance during two out of three visits. However, no emissions of dark smoke was observed during the time of the visits. No PM10 monitoring was carried out during 2017 because no significant dust issues have been identified within the previous 12 months. Local Priorities and Challenges In Carmarthenshire, the main pollution sources relate to traffic emissions and this is where the air quality work is concentrated. However, industrial sources are kept under review along with the working practices at Gwili Railway Station. Priorities for the coming year in Carmarthenshire will largely be focussed on assessing the feasibility of the proposed actions for the Carmarthen and Llanelli AQMA’s, whilst also trying to progress the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Llandeilo. Screening exercises will also be planned to assess the positive impact that should be brought by the Cross Hands Economic Link Road and further monitoring of NO2 will be carried out in Carmarthen to ensure that any action plan work carried out does not move the problem to another location. Where possible, efforts will be made to engage with schools located within our AQMA’s in order to raise awareness of local air pollution and encourage active travel. By working in partnership with Swansea University, it is planned to monitor levels of Nitrogen Dioxide around the school gates for a couple of schools within the County that are located within our AQMA Towns. How to Get Involved There are many ways that you can help improve their local air quality in your area. Try reducing the use of cars for single person journeys, by car sharing, using other sustainable modes of transport such as electric vehicles and public transport, cycling or walking to work. Travel more actively by getting involved in national walking and cycling LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 iii Carmarthenshire County Council weeks and make good use of the improved cycle routes across the Carmarthenshire. Improve pollution at the school gates by not idling car engines and improve walking and cycling routes for schools by signing up to schemes such as living streets to encourage children to travel actively. For further information on air quality within Carmarthenshire please visit: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/environmental- health/air-quality/#.W46Mg-mQzIU or https://www.sirgar.llyw.cymru/cartref/gwasanaethaur-cyngor/iechyd-yr- amgylchedd/ansawdd-aer/#.W46YkumQzIU Or contact 01267 234567 Use of an AQMesh Automatic Use of a diffusion tube to monitor roadside Analyser to monitor road side NO2 levels from the façade of a property. Pollution levels. LAQM Annual Progress Report 2018 iv Carmarthenshire County Council Table of Contents Executive Summary: Air Quality in Our Area .......................................................... i Air Quality in Carmarthenshire ............................................................................................ i Actions to Improve Air Quality ............................................................................................ ii Local Priorities and Challenges ......................................................................................... iii How to Get Involved.......................................................................................................... iii 1. Actions to Improve Air Quality ........................................................................ 1 1.1 Previous Work in Relation to Air Quality ................................................................ 1 1.2 Air Quality Management Areas .............................................................................. 5 1.3 Implementation of Action Plans ............................................................................. 9 2. Air Quality Monitoring Data and Comparison with Air Quality Objectives ............................................................................................................... 24 2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken in 2017 .........................................................24 2.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites .......................................................................................... 24 2.1.2 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites................................................................................... 24 2.2 2017 Air Quality Monitoring Results .....................................................................37 2.3 Comparison of 2017 Monitoring Results with Previous Years and the Air Quality Objectives ............................................................................................................45 2.3.1 Nitrogen Dioxide