The Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process (as set out in Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and the relevant Policy and Technical Guidance documents) places an obligation on all local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. Where there is an exceedance or it is considered likely an exceedance will occur, the local authority must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives.

Monitoring of pollutants within Herefordshire up to 2018 has shown an exceedance of the NO2 Air Quality Objectives at both Air Quality Management Area (AQMA’s) (Hereford 42 µg/m3 and Bargates 45.1 µg/m3).

An AQMA is declared where the national ‘air quality objective’ set by the Government is exceeded.

The major source of air pollutants in Herefordshire is vehicle emissions, specifically the emissions from the A49 Road through Hereford and Bargates Road junction in Leominster have been identified as significant.
This decision will approve expenditure on the purchase and installation of Air Quality Monitoring Station Resource Improvements. With the intention to update the equipment on Victoria Street, Hereford with DEFRA approved air quality monitoring equipment and to expand the Air Quality Monitoring Station, network to include a second Air Quality Monitoring Station in Leominster. To ensure that the council is able to meet its statutory obligations.

Benefits of this asset investment will:-
• significantly improve the scope and reliability of air quality monitoring data capture
• provide real-time DEFRA approved monitoring within the Hereford and Leominster AQMA
• utilise, integrate and promote this information directly to the public through:
o the ‘Destination Herefordshire’ active travel behavioural change campaign to further influence travel choices and behaviour,
o the Council’s Health & Wellbeing Board, and
o Council media and the Council’s website
• demonstrate the Council’s commitment and compliance with statutory provisions within Part IV of the Environment Act 1995
• develop new air quality monitoring capabilities in Leominster by installing an AQMS in the Leominster AQMA,
• modernise the existing AQMS asset in Hereford,
• improve reliability of the existing AQMS asset in Hereford,
• reduce escalating maintenance costs of aging and outdated air quality monitoring equipment in Hereford, and
• Reduce escalating need for Environmental Health staff intervention / resource to address breakdowns of the AQMS asset in Hereford.

Documents relating to this decision are available at https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=8261