Agenda item

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube.

The Environmental Health Manager presented the report to the Panel and explained the two air quality management areas in King’s Lynn which were Gaywood Clock and London Road. He informed the Panel the annual mean was 40µg/m³  which both areas had previously breached the standard.  He explained once areas had been declared then an air quality action plan was implemented.

He highlighted the air quality action plan included six priorities and thirteen measures which included increased active travel, public transport (bus) improvements, transport management, review new developments, public information and air quality project. He added measures included working with Norfolk County Council for the Southgates masterplan, low emission buses and modifying traffic lights to run efficiently.

He referred the Panel to the recommendations and highlighted the reasons for the London Road air quality action plan to be adopted. The Environmental Health Manager explained the gyratory review and Southgates Masterplan combined with other new developments; further air modelling would be carried out to assess the combined impact from new traffic flow. He added planning applications were considered as part of this action plan. He added further the reasons of the Gaywood Clock air quality management area to be revoked was due to the annual mean no longer exceeding 40µg/m³ .

The Chair thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Colwell expressed his concerns on revoking Gaywood’s air quality management area. He commented he had researched the data and there were periods during commuting hours where the annual mean would be exceeded. He asked with the Florence Fields developments and other new developments, what consideration had been given. He stressed this recommendation should be held off and reviewed in the future.

The Chair, Councillor Collop echoed Councillor Colwell comments and expressed her concern with revoking the Gaywood’s air quality management area.

The Environmental Health Manager clarified the monitoring data was in the annual states reports and confirmed the Statutory air quality objective of 40µg/m^3. had not been exceed over the last 5 years. He confirmed Gaywood measurements were currently all under 30µg/m³  and added the data was considered from a scientific point of view and based on human health. He added the Florence Fields was considered and was confident in revoking Gaywood Air Quality Action Plan

The Chair, Councillor Collop asked if what month of the year the data was collected and asked if this could be postponed for a year.

The Environmental Health Manager clarified the data was an annual mean therefore throughout the year data was collected. He added monitoring would continue in Gaywood and there were additional tubes to monitor. He added that further this was considered as part of the Florence Fields planning application.

Councillor Colwell thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the reassurance the monitoring would continue and understood the annual mean determined the air quality management area however wanted to highlight there was peaks throughout the day and year. He encouraged Councillors to promote active travel.

Councillor Kemp questioned if the budget for monitoring would remain without an air quality action plan and further questioned if the statutory government annual mean was 10µg/m³ rather than 40µg/m³ . She commented that revoking the air quality action plan at Gaywood would be premature.

The Environmental Health Manager explained to the Panel the air quality action plan was designed to mitigate against emissions from road transport. He added wider health benefits may come from working with public health on PM10 & PM2.5 project. He noted the concern regarding short term peaks, but these are monitored and had not exceed the 1 hour short-term objective of 200 ug/m3.  The air quality management area was declared due to exceedances above the 40 ug/m3 annual mean level and this was now no longer being breached.

Councillor Kunes commented this was an issue which was going away due petrol and diesel cars no longer being bought in five years’ time. He further referred to the life expectancy of cars and supported revoking the Gaywood air quality action plan.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Devulapalli, commented she was concerned the average mean was used for the air quality action plan. She added she wanted the air quality management area to remain in place due to the Florence Field development. Councillor Devulapalli added within the Borough there was lack of public transport and therefore the reason residents were car dependent.

The Environmental Health Manager brought to the Panel’s attention the air quality statutory guidance was set by central government and not set locally. He added transport was the main source and this was being reduced and the data supported this.

Councillor Long commented that there had been overall improvement on the data and if the decision was made to not revoke Gaywoods air quality action plan and criteria was not met, and funding cannot continue for monitoring stations.

Councillor Colwell sought clarification on the difference between the Gaywood area and the London Road area as neither of them had exceeded the national air quality strategy limit. He stressed his concern on residents’ health to the Panel.

Councillor Kemp explained the pollution caused by tyres and brakes and commented that Gaywood was a main area of King’s Lynn. She further commented on the World Health Organisation statistics and annual means. She proposed to not revoke the Gaywood air quality action plan.

The Environmental Health Manager responded to Councillor Kemp and clarified the correct annual means and statutory requirements. He clarified Gaywood had not exceeded the annual means. He further explained the difference between Gaywood and London Road which was highlighted in the report. 

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Devulapalli asked the Environmental Health Manager of the implications of the Gaywood air quality action plan to remain.

The Environmental Health Manager explained the monitor at Gaywood was old and needed ongoing funding to ensure that it remained operational. He added a third party was used and therefore the data was unbiased.

Councillor de Whalley, Portfolio Holder thank the Environmental Health Manager for the report and the attention of detail included in the report. He added post pandemic levels of air pollution had consistently remained below the statutory requirements due to changes in behaviour and clarified Gaywood would continue to be monitored with the air quality action plan being revoked. He highlighted recommendation six in the report and expressed his support.

A recorded vote was taken by the Environment and Community Panel.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet, as set out below;

1. Adopt the Air Quality Action Plan for Railway Road/ London Road attached as Appendix 1

2. Revoke existing Gaywood Air Quality Management Area