[cleanairuk_news] Government threat to air quality management in England/ Public consultation to 30 August 2013

[Network for Clean Air]

Air Quality in England under threat

The UK Government is consulting the public - you - on changing the  
regulation of air quality management in England. Please consider  
responding - the Government's consultation text is below and online.  
To make it is easier to respond, a few points are given below which  
you might like to raise.

While there is a need to improve the delivery of better air quality by  
local authorities, the Government is only proposing to reduce the  
monitoring of air quality by local authorities. It says the proposed  
changes are necessary as 'we face a significant challenge in meeting  
health based EU limits for air quality and also a significant  
infraction risk arising from that.'

A generous interpretation of this would be: 'We - the UK Government -  
have failed to meet the public health limits for air pollution and we  
are likely to face prosecution for our failure by the EU  
('infraction'). Therefore, we propose to remove the reporting of poor  
air quality so as not to provide evidence for legal proceedings  
against us'.

It is strongly recommended that you respond to the consultation. Your  
response should arrive by 30 Aug 2013 at the latest. You might like to  
mention some of the points set out below. However, please amend this  
text if you wish to use it in your response. Thank-you.

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Wood

Andrew Wood, Co-ordinator Network for Clean Air,
Network for Clean Air project,  Seeds for Change, Old Music Hall, 106  
- 108 Cowley Road, Oxford.  OX4 1JE.

Tel: 07973 953 446

Email: contact at cleanairuk.org
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cleanairuk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cleanairuk
Web: http://www.cleanairuk.org

----------------

(Source:  
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/communications/https-consult-defra-gov-uk-laqm_review/consult_view)

*Review of Local Air Quality Management in England*

Dates: Consultation is from 12 July 2013 to 30 August 2013

Overview

The purpose of this consultation is to invite discussion on the best  
way to address shortcomings identified in Local Air Quality Management  
(LAQM) delivery in England.


LAQM has been in place since 1997.  While it has greatly improved our  
knowledge of the sources and extent of air pollution it has proved  
difficult to quantify the impacts and effectiveness of measures  
introduced to improve air quality and very few authorities have been  
able to revoke any Air Quality Management Areas as a result of their  
interventions.


Furthermore, LAQM is very administrative and report and diagnosis  
driven. It also does not usually take into account compliance with EU  
limit values.  However, we face a significant challenge in meeting  
health based EU limits for air quality and also a significant  
infraction risk arising from that.  It is therefore perhaps more  
important that local authorities focus their actions on what is needed  
to achieve these obligations and to reduce the public health impacts  
of poor air quality rather than to continue their current focus on  
local assessment and reporting.


There is a need therefore to reinvigorate and refocus LAQM on action  
to help the UK meet EU air quality standards and to clarify its role  
alongside other actions to improve air quality (by national government  
etc) and to highlight what local authorities can do through working  
together to improve air quality.


A summary of  responses will be compiled based on comments submitted  
during the 6 week consultation period.   The consultation is aimed  
principally at air quality practitioners in England, but we want to  
hear views from as wide a range of interested parties as possible.  To  
this end we will also be holding a workshop to gather futher  
evidence/views.

For more information, please download our LAQM review consultation  
documents (below).

     * Consultation Letter
     * Consultation Document
     * Impact Assessment
     * Consultee List

Please answer the consultation questions using the online survey.   
This will make for greater consistency in responses and allow us to  
better analyse the results.  If you prefer, you may also send your  
response via email/post (refer to the consultation letter for further  
details).

We look forward to hearing from you.

Your response:  
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/communications/https-consult-defra-gov-uk-laqm_review/consultation/intro/view


-----------------


*Responding to the Government consultation. Points which you might  
like to make*

*Note: please amend this text if you wish to use it in your response.  
If you are not responding on behalf of an organisation then simply  
write 'Member of public' for the 'name of your  
authority/organization?'.*

1) You are concerned about air quality in *YOUR* neighbourhood, and  
local authority monitoring is essential for *YOU* to know if the legal  
limits for air pollution are being meet. Improved reporting to the  
public through websites, etc would be welcomed. The Government should  
provide more funding for this, and provide common services to deliver  
better value for money.

3) The monitoring of air quality is important if we are improve air  
quality and public health. Without adequate monitoring of air quality  
then the work of those seeking to improve public health will be  
hindered including for example, health professionals, the Health &  
Wellbeing boards, policy makes, etc.

4) There is a need for national guidelines for Low Emissions Zones -  
including common standards and signage, etc. Presently, there is  
confusion in the public and local authorities due to the lack of  
national guidance and common standards.

5) It is the responsibility of national Government to provide adequate  
resources for local authorities to meet the challenge of poor air  
quality. Ultimately, it is national Government which will be subject  
to legal proceedings and potential fines. It is more sensible to  
invest in better air quality than to spend money on fines.  Where a  
Air Quality Management Area is declared, national Government may need  
to actively intervene. Consideration should be given to a national  
body  - an 'Office for Air Quality Compliance' with powers to  
intervene in failing councils.

6) Proceeds from The Workplace Parking Levy should be available for  
measures to reduce traffic/traffic congestion and to improve air  
quality. Presently, the proceeds may only be used for improved public  
transport.

7) Removing the statutory requirement to adequately monitor air  
quality may subject the UK Government to legal proceedings for failing  
to meet its treaty obligations.