Review & Assessment in Buckinghamshire
The Environmental Act 1995 introduced legislation for local management of air
quality. Part IV of the Act introduced a statutory duty for local authorities to review
and assess the air quality within their districts and to identify those areas where
further local measures will be required to achieve the air quality standards and
objectives.
The National Air Quality Strategy was published in March 1997, establishing
standards for eight key pollutants and outlining national and international policies
to reduce air pollution levels. The Air Quality Regulations 1997 set the statutory
objectives for local authorities for 7 air pollutants, with ozone being omitted, to be
achieved by 2005. The objectives have been set based on the pollutant effect on
human health. Thus the result of the regulations is to diminish the impact of air
pollution on humans and those particularly those susceptible to elevated pollution
levels by 2005.
Each District Council is required to review and assess the air quality within its
boundaries. The primary objectives for the review and assessment is to identify
those areas where national policies alone appear unlikely to deliver the national
air quality objectives and to ensure that air quality considerations are
integrated into local authority policies and decision making processes.
The review and assessment currently is a 3 phased approach. The first stage
involves identifying sources of the pollutants, which may affect national objectives being
met within the District. For any pollutants identified as possibly being a problem,
then a more detailed second stage is required which would identify any requirements for advanced
monitoring and modelling in a 3rd stage review to assess whether the air quality standards and
objectives are being achieved. Areas where standards fall short must be identified.
The Bucks Air Quality Management Group is pleased to report that each of its members continues to comply with
all requirements.
Overview of 1st Round of Review & Assessments:
AREA
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
AQMA
Stage 4
Action Plan
Chiltern DC
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Aylesbury Vale
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
N/A
South Bucks
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wycombe DC
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Milton Keynes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A - Indicates that this stage is not required for this particular area.
Yes - Indicates this section was required and has been completed to schedule.
2nd Round of Review & Assessments (2003/4)
Each District has also completed its USA report and have completed 2003/4 Progress Report. In
addition Wycombe has completed an 'Action Plan Progress Report'.
Overview of 2nd Round of Review & Assessments (2005):
AREA
2nd Progress report
Detailed
AQMA
Action Plan
Chiltern DC
Yes
Being Done
No
No
Aylesbury Vale
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
South Bucks
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Wycombe DC
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Milton Keynes
Yes
No
No
No
Overview of 3rd+ Round of Review & Assessments (2006/7/8):
AREA
3rd Progress report
Detailed
AQMA
Action Plan
Chiltern DC
Yes
Yes
Designated late 2007
Aylesbury Vale
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
South Bucks
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Wycombe DC
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Milton Keynes
Yes
No
No
No
Overview of 2009 Round of Review & Assessments :
AREA
Progress report
Detailed
AQMA
Action Plan
Chiltern DC
Yes
Existing
In development
Aylesbury Vale
Yes
Yes
Existing
Existing
South Bucks
Yes
Yes
Existing
Existing
Wycombe DC
Yes
Yes
Existing
Existing
Milton Keynes
Yes
No
No
No
2012/13 Review & Assessments :
AREA
Progress report
Detailed
AQMA
Action Plan
Chiltern DC
Yes
Existing
Existing
Aylesbury Vale
Yes
No
Existing
Existing
South Bucks
Yes
No
Existing
Existing
Wycombe DC
Yes
No
Existing
Existing
Milton Keynes
Yes
No
No
No
Each Districts Review and Assessment Documents are available to dowload below:
