Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report advising members of the findings of the Annual Status Report (ASR) in terms of air quality within the Borough in respect of transport related Nitrogen Dioxide levels and also particulate matter exposure during 2022.

The Council’s Environmental Health Team Manager reminded members that there were four Air Quality Management Areas(AQMA): Town Centre; Porthill-Wolstanton-May Bank; Kidsgrove and Little Madeley.

At the last meeting, it had been resolved to revoke the Little Madeley AQMA so there were three active ones at present.  Across the areas, the Council was compliant with the UK objectives for Nitrogen Dioxide.

DEFRA had advised that the Council should now look to revoke the Porthill-Wolstanton-May Bank AQMA.  This would be reported on at the next stage of the ASR.

Particulate matter had also been looked at and the actions that the Council were taking to reduce emissions were included in the ASR.

Councillor Brown asked, in relation to Walleys Quarry how overall air quality was affected.

The Environmental Health Team Manager stated that in previous years, emissions from the landfill had been looked at which included particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.  Previous reports had considered that the quarry was not a cause of concerning emissions from those pollutants, however that did not mean that other pollutants were not of concern.  Officers were going out regularly to assess emission levels of hydrogen sulphide.  

Councillor Brown asked how Newcastle was doing in comparison to Staffordshire as a whole, in terms of air quality.

There was an area of concern on Etruria Road which was subject to a ministerial direction.  In relation to Nitrogen Dioxide in general, it tended to be the more urbanised Council’s in Staffordshire that experienced issues.  With fine particulate matter, councils did coordinate actions and there was commonality of approach.  Newcastle took account of air quality at the planning stage.  For example, with the Council’s aspirations for the town centre – that was a significant issue that had been addressed and similar development applications for housing development or industrial applications across the Borough.

Councillor Sweeney referred to paragraph 2.3 of the report regarding DEFRA’s advice to revoke the May Bank, Wolstanton and Porthill AQMA and asked if this would be kept running for another year.

It was confirmed that discussions were taking place with DEFRA regarding the Council’s wish to maintain that AQMA for good reasons.  Committee would be updated once a firm answer had been received.

Councillor John Williams asked id assessments had been carried out on Grange Lane and Porthill bank in respect of traffic dispersal as a result of the bus gate on Basford bank.

It was believed that an assessment had been done.  The Service Director for Regulatory Services was the project lead for this and a report was due to go to Full Council in the near future.

Councillor John Williams asked if the Service Director could give a report to this Committee on the alternative routes.  The Chair agreed with this point stating that shoppers and people making deliveries into the town centre should not be ‘barred off’ from entering.

The service Director had scheduled reports going to various committees in the new year so updates would be given to members.

Councillor Adcock asked how the nitrogen dioxide was measured at the landfill site and reassure members that it was calibrated correctly.

The Environmental Health Team Manager advised, in regard to the work undertaken by the Council, diffusion tubes were placed onto key buildings and lamp posts across the Borough.  Every month, the tubes were submitted to a laboratory and the results were analysed and compared against the UK’s annual mean.

At the previous meeting of this Committee members had been made aware of the Councils submission of a bid to DEFRA to install a number of monitors on lamp posts across the Borough which would give a real time picture of what was happening – particularly around school runs.  The data could then be used to potentially influence changes in how people get to school.

The Chair stated that it would be useful to have reassurance that the monitoring mechanism was valid.  This would be relayed to the Service Director and reported back to Members.

Resolved:     That the contents of the report be noted.

Watch the debate here