Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) 2011 Air Quality Progress Report for Rotherham MBC In fulfillment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management Date (April, 2011) Progress Report i Date (April 2011) Rotherham MBC - England Department Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Community Protection Report Reference number Date April 2011 ii Progress Report Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) Executive Summary This 2011 Air Quality Progress Report of the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham has been undertaken as part of the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS), published by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The purpose of the NAQS is to ensure that specific pollutants within the air we breathe remain within concentrations where the risk to health is extremely small. The strategy aims to reduce concentrations of air pollutants. Rotherham MBC has declared seven Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) to date. Air quality review and assessment is a continuous process. The object of this Progress Report for National Air Quality Strategy pollutants is to report on air quality in the borough, and establish whether a detailed assessment may be required. Where a detailed assessment is found to be necessary, the local authority will complete this before April 2012. The conclusions of this report are that it is not necessary to proceed to a detailed assessment for any of the NAQS pollutants. Progress Report iii Date (April 2011) Rotherham MBC - England Table of contents 1 Introduction 6 1.1 Description of Local Authority Area 6 1.2 Purpose of Progress Report 6 1.3 Air Quality Objectives 7 1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments 8 2 New Monitoring Data 10 2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken 10 2.2 Comparison of Monitoring Results with Air Quality Objectives 17 3 New Local Developments 24 3.1 Road Traffic Sources 24 3.2 Other Transport Sources 24 3.3 Industrial Sources 24 3.4 Commercial and Domestic Sources 25 3.5 New Developments with Fugitive or Uncontrolled Sources 25 4 Local / Regional Air Quality Strategy 26 5 Planning Applications 26 6 Air Quality Planning Policies 26 7 Local Transport Plans and Strategies 27 8 Climate Change Strategies 29 9 Implementation of Action Plans 34 10 Conclusions and Proposed Actions 44 10.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data 44 10.2 Conclusions relating to New Local Developments 44 10.3 Other Conclusions 44 10.4 Proposed Actions 44 11 References 45 iv Progress Report Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) Appendices Appendix A QC/QA of Monitoring Appendix B ECO Stars Environmental Evaluation Progress Report v Date (April 2011) Rotherham MBC - England 1 Introduction 1.1 Description of Local Authority Area Rotherham Metropolitan Borough has a population of around 250,000. Contained within the Borough’s boundary are large areas of countryside and small rural villages together with densely urbanised communities. The town of Rotherham has excellent transport links to the rest of the country, served by 2 motorways (M1 and M18) and an extensive network of rail and bus services. Map of the Borough of Rotherham, showing the route of the M1 and M18 Motorways Map 1 6 Progress Report Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) 1.2 Purpose of Progress Report Progress Reports are required in the intervening years between the three-yearly Updating and Screening Assessment reports. Their purpose is to maintain continuity in the Local Air Quality Management process. They are not intended to be as detailed as Updating and Screening Assessment Reports, or to require as much effort. However, if the Progress Report identifies the risk of exceedence of an Air Quality Objective, the Local Authority (LA) should undertake a Detailed Assessment immediately, and not wait until the next round of Review and Assessment. 1.3 Air Quality Objectives The air quality objectives applicable to Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) in England are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 928) and the Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 3043). They are shown in Table 1.1. This table shows the objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre g/m3 (for carbon monoxide the units used are milligrammes per cubic metre, mg/m3). Table 1.1. includes the number of permitted exceedences in any given year (where applicable). Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of Local Air Quality Management in England. Pollutant Date to be Concentration Measured as achieved by Benzene 16.25 µg/m3 Running annual mean 31.12.2003 5.00 µg/m3 Running annual mean 31.12.2010 1,3-Butadiene 2.25 µg/m3 Running annual mean 31.12.2003 Carbon monoxide 10.0 mg/m3 Running 8-hour mean 31.12.2003 Lead 0.5 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004 0.25 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2008 Nitrogen dioxide 200 µg/m3 not to be exceeded 1-hour mean 31.12.2005 more than 18 times a year 3 40 µg/m Annual mean 31.12.2005 3 Particles (PM 10) (gravimetric) 50 µg/m , not to be exceeded 24-hour mean 31.12.2004 more than 35 times a year 40 µg/m3 Annual mean 31.12.2004 Sulphur dioxide 350 µg/m3, not to be exceeded 1-hour mean 31.12.2004 more than 24 times a year 125 µg/m3, not to be exceeded 24-hour mean 31.12.2004 more than 3 times a year 266 µg/m3, not to be exceeded 15-minute mean 31.12.2005 more than 35 times a year Progress Report 7 Date (April 2011) Rotherham MBC - England 1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments The concept of Local Air Quality Management was introduced in Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. Under section 82 of this Act, local authorities are required to review air quality and assess whether the air quality standards and objectives are likely to be achieved by their target dates. The publication of the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) laid down a number of air quality standards and objectives. The Air Quality Regulations 1997 formalised the air quality objectives. The primary objective of the 3-stage review and assessment process is to identify those areas of the local authority where the air quality is unlikely to meet these objectives. Section 83 of the Environment Act requires a local authority, for any area where air quality standards are not being met, to issue an order designating it an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was revised in 2007 and sets out the air quality objectives and policy options to further improve air quality in the UK from today into the long term. Air quality review and assessment in Rotherham MBC is managed as a continuous process and the following Air Quality Management Areas have been declared: M1 AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide (July 2001) Wales M1 AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide (July 2003) Brampton Bierlow AQMA for 15 minute and 24 hour sulphur dioxide (July 2003) St Ann’s AQMA for 24 hour PM10 (LTP) (November 2004) A630 AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide (LTP) (November 2004) A6021 (Wellgate) AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide (LTP) (November 2004) A629 (Bradgate) AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide (LTP) (November 2004) Amendment to the M1 AQMA for annual average nitrogen dioxide to include the additional area of Blackburn (March 2010) The following Air Quality Management Areas have been revoked: Brampton Bierlow AQMA for 15 minute and 24 hour sulphur dioxide (September 2007) St Ann’s AQMA for 24 hour PM10 (LTP) (October 2010) The Air Quality Action Plan for the area covered by the M1 AQMA was published in July 2003 and fully revised and re-published in 2007. The Air Quality Action Plan for the area covered by the town centre and therefore the Local Transport Plan AQMA was published in July 2007. Revision will take place during the first period of LTP3 once a programme of schemes has been finalised. 8 Progress Report Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) The last Rotherham MBC Updating and Screening report was produced in April 2009. A further Assessment for hourly and annual mean nitrogen dioxide was completed in March 2011 covering the M1 AQMA amendment (2010). Figure 1.1 Map of AQMA Boundaries – 2011 (This does not include the Wales AQMA which is to the south close to the M1 motorway) Progress Report 9 Date (April 2011) Rotherham MBC - England 2 New Monitoring Data 2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken 2.1.1 Automatic Monitoring Sites The Rotherham automatic monitoring sites are shown on the following map. Figure 2.1 Map of Automatic Monitoring Sites 10 Progress Report Rotherham MBC – England Date (April 2011) Table 2.1 Details of Automatic Monitoring Sites 2010 Relevant Exposure? Distance to Worst- (Y/N with kerb of OS Grid Pollutants case Site Name Site Type In AQMA? distance nearest road Ref Monitored Location (m) to (N/A if not ? relevant applicable) exposure) Special 438696 NO2 N Y (0m) 46m N (Proximity to PM Blackburn 392816 2.5 M1 motorway) Roadside 441006 NO2 Y (for Y (0m) 3m N Bradgate 393338 PM10 annual (A629) mean NO2) Special 442993 NO2 Y (for Y (0m) 73m N (Proximity to 389129 PM annual Howarth 10 M1 mean motorway) NO2) Wales Roadside 447368 NO2 Y (for N (28m) 2.5m Y (village) PM10 annual 382900 mean NO2) Rotherham Urban 442994 NO2 N Y N/A N centre background SO 392972 2 O3 Waverley Roadside 441513 NO2 N N 3m N 387804 (Develop- ment site) Quality Control Routine calibrations are carried out every two weeks by the Local Authority.