Air quality management

Why it is needed?

Despite considerable improvements in air quality over the last 40 years, air pollution continues to affect human health, our countryside and our towns. The UK National Air Quality Strategy sets out the government's plans for improving the air we breathe. The plans focus on reducing concentrations of seven key pollutants by certain dates, to achieve specific health targets. They are:

Air quality management areas

Local authorities are responsible for managing air quality, working with local stakeholders. We review and assess air quality within our area to determine whether we are likely to achieve the targets set out in the National Air Quality Strategy. You can download these reviews (and our annual progress reports). If we think we will not meet a target, we have to declare an 'air quality management area' covering the part of the district where the problem lies. We must then draw up an action plan stating how we will meet the targets, consulting neighbouring local authorities, businesses, local people, the Highways Agency, the Environment Agency and others. South Gloucestershire declared an air quality management area along the M4, M5, M32 and M49 motorways in November 2001. Following more work, this was revoked in March 2004.