Decision details

The Environment Act requires the Council to review and assess air quality. Where air pollution exceeds or is at risk of exceeding health objectives, an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) must be declared and an Air Quality Action Plan developed within 18 months to reduce pollution.

The report seeks Cabinet approval to revoke the urban AQMA, which is no longer appropriate as measured levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are well below nationally set health based Air Quality Objective (AQO) levels, and declare a smaller area from St Lawrence to Shah Place, Ramsgate where pollution levels are at risk of exceeding health based objectives for NO2 due to the area being heavily trafficked.

Cabinet approved the revocation of the Urban AQMA Order (Annex 3 to the report) and approved the declaration of a smaller defined St Lawrence AQMA (Annex 4 to the report) and authorised the application of the Common Seal to the Order.

The revocation of an AQMA after 5 years in areas where there are no exceedances of the Air Quality Objective levels, and declaration of a minimum AQMA where there are potential exceedances, is a statutory requirement.

Alternative not to approve was rejected as it may place the Council in breach of the Environment Act 1995 and the recommendations from Defra.