Purpose

To consider formal revocation of the Air
Quality Management Area ( AQMA) in Swaffham

Decision

RESOLVED that:
 
1)   
the information in this
report, and that contained in the detailed assessment attached at
Appendix B to this report be received and
considered.
 
2)   
the existing Air Quality
Management area order be revoked with immediate
effect.
 

Reasons for the decision

The Council is required by DEFRA to review air
quality monitoring results and where there are three or more years
where the levels are below the threshold requirements, Local
Authorities should consider if the AQMA is still needed. Due to the
Covid 19 pandemic and ‘lock down’ periods it was
appropriate to extend this period to 5 years, as levels through the
pandemic may not have been representative. Levels have been
improving since the AQMA was introduced and levels have
consistently been below the threshold requirements. Officers and
the detailed assessment conclude that it is no longer necessary to
have an AQMA. Based on the data available, the model results
indicate the AQMA can be revoked without risk of future
exceedances.
 
Based on all available data, it is no longer
necessary to have a formal air quality management area, and this is
supported by the Detailed assessment carried out by experts and
contained at Appendix B.
 
Air quality will still be measured and actively
managed via other means, such as the ‘New Swaffham –
Historic Marketplace Scheme and our Environmental Protection
Team.
 
The revocation of
the AQMA will help to assure local residents and visitors to
Swaffham that the air quality in Swaffham is not above threshold
levels.
 

Alternative options considered

·        
Do nothing- This would mean that the AQMA would remain in
place.

 
·        
Revoke the Air Quality Management Area
Order- This will mean the
current AQMA would cease to remain in place. This is the preferred
option.