Reigate Hill and Redhill air quality management areas
This page is about the air quality management areas (AQMAs) proposed for Reigate Hill and Redhill Town Centre.
Why we are monitoring pollution on Reigate Hill and in Redhill
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has an on going statutory duty to assess air quality within the Borough and this includes air quality monitoring. The results of the monitoring are compared to Government objectives and European limit values.
The problem
Monitoring data collected between 2007 and 2009, and computer modelling in 2010, indicates that parts of Reigate Hill and Redhill Town Centre exceeded, or were close to exceeding, the UK Government’s annual average objective for nitrogen dioxide (a pollutant derived from vehicle exhausts) of 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).
Is it a health risk?
The levels of nitrogen dioxide measured on Reigate Hill and in Redhill are unlikely to pose a significant health risk to the vast majority of people, and concentrations are projected to fall and meet the air quality standards by 2015/16. Although in parts of Redhill the modelled nitrogen dioxide concentration in 2016 is 40 µg/m3, and so only just meets the air quality standard.
Air quality management area (AQMA)?
Under section 83(1) of the Environment Act 1995 local authorities have a duty to designate air quality management areas (AQMAs) where the air quality objectives are not being met. Consequently the following air quality management areas are being proposed:
What we are going to do about the pollution
Once an air quality management area is declared, the next step will be to complete more detailed computer modelling work to examine the pollution split between cars and lorries. The council is then under a statutory duty to draw up an action plan stating how it intends to help the UK Government meet the air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide.
Businesses
The air quality standards only apply to residential properties and not business premises.
The full report
A full copy of the latest air quality assessment for Reigate Hill and Redhill can be downloaded here:
Contact
If you would like to comment on the detailed assessment report and the proposed air quality management areas for Reigate Hill and Redhill as part of the formal consultation process, please send your comments in writing by email to:
environmental.protection@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Or by post to:
Air Quality Consultation,
Environmental Protection,
Reigate and Banstead BC,
Town Hall,
Castlefield Road,
Reigate,
Surrey,
RH2 0SH.
Please note the formal closing date for the consultation is the 8 October 2010.
Last updated : 13/09/2010
