The Pioneers statue celebrates the canal builders who founded Ellesmere Port and was cast in bronze by Liverpool artist Stephen Broadbent.
Clean air for the 21st century, results of the Air Quality Review for Ellesmere Port and Neston borough
We would like to tell you about the Air Quality Review that the council has just finished carrying out
What is an Air Quality Review?
The Law requires local councils to review air quality in their areas. The council has therefore looked closely at the air quality in our borough. It has also looked at what the air quality might be like in a few years time.
The council has compared our air quality against national standards to see if it is better or worse. These air quality standards set by the UK Government are based on levels that would affect the health of sensitive people.
If the air quality in any residential part of the borough was worse than the national standards the council would have to designate the affected areas as Air Quality Management Areas. The council would then develop an Action Plan to reduce the air pollution in these areas.
What air pollutants were reviewed?
The air pollutants looked at by the council were sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, carbon monoxide, particulates (fine dust), benzene and 1,3-butadiene.
These air pollutants are the major air pollutants for the whole of the country. All local councils are carrying out a similar review for the same seven air pollutants.
How did the council carry out the review?
The Council looked at three main sources of information to carry out its Air Quality Review.
1. It made a list of the air pollution sources for the whole of Cheshire. This included air pollution from industrial plants, road traffic, railways and buildings (including residential homes).
2. It used a computer to calculate the level of air pollution at any part of the borough both now and for the future.
3. It looked closely at the results from its air quality monitoring equipment located at 28 sites around the borough.
From this information the council judged whether our local air quality was better or worse than the standard.
What is the air like in the borough?
The review has given us a very good picture of air quality for seven important air pollutants. The main conclusions from the review are:-
1. The air pollution in most of the borough is well below the standard set by the Government.
2. A few areas have been found where the air pollution levels are approaching these limits. These areas include:-
- The town centres of Neston and Ellesmere Port, and areas near the M53 motorway that are affected by traffic fumes.
- Areas close to our main industrial sites to the east of the M53 motorway.
3. We do not need to declare any Air Quality Management Areas because we do not think the air quality is worse than the standard anywhere in the borough especially where the public may be exposed.
What does it mean?
This is good news for residents of the borough as it means that local air quality meets the standards set by the Government. This is not the end of the story however.
The review has identified the areas of the borough that have highest air pollution. Even though the limits are not exceeded in these areas the council has prioritised these areas for further investigation and improvement if necessary. An update of this review will be completed by December 2003.
This bulletin aims to form part of the Air Quality Review process.
We want to know your views on the Air Quality Review findings and on any other air quality issues.
For further information please contact either:-
The Air Quality Officer Tel: 0151 356 6713
or
The Air Quality Co-ordinator Tel: 0151 356 6631
Fax: 0151 356 6432
E-mail: environmental.protection@epnbc.gov.uk
or write to:
Environmental Protection Unit
Council Offices
4, Civic Way
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 0BE
Air Quality Bulletins are designed as a series of regular information leaflets aimed at answering your questions on local air quality in simple understandable language. If you have an air quality question then please ask us and we will answer in a new Bulletin.
This project is part funded by the Epicentre Partnership.
