Details about Air Quality Management Areas in Aylesbury

What are we doing?

Our first review and assessment, completed in December 2000, found that the risk of the air quality objectives being exceeded for all but one of the seven pollutants was unlikely, and no further action was required. For nitrogen dioxide (NO2), more information was required in the form of continuous roadside pollution monitoring and detailed traffic data, before conclusions could be made. When this was undertaken in 2001 at one of the two (traffic) hot spots identified during the initial assessment, the results clearly demonstrated that levels of NO2 were well below the air quality standard.

Continuous monitoring at the second hot spot in Aylesbury was the focus of our second review and assessment program completed in June 2003. Again the results showed that there was no need to declare any air quality management areas.

Detailed Assessment work continued at a traffic hot spot identified along a stretch of the A41Tring Road, Aylesbury. Automatic monitoring of nitrogen dioxide began in February 2004 for a period of six months. Followed by additional monitoring between October 2004 and February 2005. From the results it was concluded that the annual mean air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide was likely to be exceeded near where houses are near to kerbside. The source of the pollution was vehicle emissions.

Due to this monitoring, in July 2005 an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was formally declared along the A41Tring Road between the junction with Oakfield Road and Queen Street to the West. See plan attached.

In April 2006 our Updating and Screening Assessment was completed. This study recommended a further Detailed Assessment to be undertaken at two additional traffic hot spots in Aylesbury. The subsequent Detailed Assessment was submitted to DEFRA for their approval in April 2007. The report recommends the declaration of a further two AQMAs in Aylesbury Town’s busy gyratory system.

A report recommending the declaration of two new AQMAs was heard at Cabinet in March 2008, and is due to be considered at Full Council. See provisional AQMA maps.

Aylesbury currently has three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) all located in the town, and all declared because of higher than normal vehicle emissions.

Tring Road AQMA

This short stretch of the A41 Tring Road was declared an AQMA in July 2005. We have been monitoring this area for a number of years using a number of diffusion tubes and more recently automatic real time monitoring. See the Tring Road AQMA Action Plan in the review and assessment pages.

Friarage Road AQMA

Due to be declared in 2008 and located at the junction with Oxford Road. We are working in partnership with Bucks County Council  to create an action plan aimed at addressing the issue.

Stoke Road AQMA

Due to be declared at the same time as Friarage Road AQMA in 2008. This AQMA covers the area of the Gyratory system covering parts of the Old Stoke Road, Wendover Road and Walton Street. We are working in partnership with Bucks County Council to create an action plan aimed at addressing the issue.

Background Legislation

• The U.K Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Regions introduced a National Air Quality Strategy. It sets out specific air quality standards and objectives for air pollutants, which are to be achieved by specific dates. 
• The Environment Act (1995) requires all Local Authorities to undertake an air quality review and assessment. In areas where the air quality objectives are not anticipated to be met by the year 2005, LAs are required to establish Air Quality Management Areas.

Date Updated: 25/04/08