Air Quality Assessment in Rhondda Cynon Taff

May 18, 2009 « Previous Page — Next Page »

A public consultation is underway in Rhondda Cynon Taf to determine the air quality of the county borough.

The Council has a statutory duty to monitor air quality in its area and periodically report on it to the community and statutory bodies.

The duty applies to seven pollutants found in outdoor air:

• Carbon Monoxide

• Benzene

• 1,3 Butadiene

• Lead

• Nitrogen Dioxide

• Sulphur Dioxide

• Fine Particles – PM10

In 2007 the Council completed the 3rd Stage Detailed Assessment for Nitrogen Dioxide which identified eight areas, within the county borough which were breaching the annual mean (long-term) AQO for Nitrogen Dioxide.

In accordance with its statutory duty the Council declared the following Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA):-

• Aberdare Town Centre

• Broadway, Treforest

• Cilfynydd, Pontypridd

• Mwyndy – A4119, Llantrisant

• Nantgarw

• Pontypridd Town Centre

• Tonteg – Church Village – Llantwit Fardre A473 Corridor

• East Road, Tylorstown

Following the declaration of an AQMA the Council is under a statutory duty to undertake a 4th Stage Further Assessment of Nitrogen Dioxide.

The remit of a Further Assessment is to confirm previous findings and examine in more depth the nature and degree of the breach of the AQO.

In accordance with the statutory timeframe the Council completed the 4th Stage Further Assessment of Nitrogen Dioxide in April 2009.

The findings of the Further Assessment were that:

• All areas which have been declared AQMA continue to be in breach of the annual mean AQO and the AQMA should remain.

• The Pontypridd Town Centre AQMA requires enlargement to take account of a larger area affected by a breach of the annual mean AQO for Nitrogen Dioxide.

• The Tonteg – Church Village – Llantwit Fardre A473 Corridor requires modification to take account of a breach of the 1 hour (short term) AQO for Nitrogen Dioxide.

• The following new areas are in breach of the annual mean AQO for Nitrogen Dioxide and require the declaration of Air Quality Management Areas: -

1. Mountain Ash Town Centre

2. Cymmer

3. Ferndale

4. Llwynypia

5. Nightingales Bush, Pontypridd

• Significant amounts of local road traffic often along congested narrow streets is the main causative factor at most locations. This situation is common to other similar areas of the country.

• Monitoring and analysis should be maintained to allow further understanding of local Air Quality and the impact of improvement measures.

The Council has commenced a three-month public consultation in regards to the findings of the 4th Stage Further Assessment of Nitrogen Dioxide which will be completed by August 18th 2009.

The Council will also commence production of individual Air Quality Action Plans for each of the AQMA. These Action Plans will examine all options for improving air quality within their areas and endorse cost effective solutions which the Council and its partners can implement.

The formulation of the Air Quality Action Plans will be undertaken by an Air Quality Action Planning Steering Group, led by Public Health and Protection and involving all relevant departments and stakeholders. The Steering Group will meet regularly to inform the development of the Action Plans and report on progress.

The 4th Stage Further Assessment of Nitrogen Dioxide can be viewed on the Council website at the Pollution Control – Air webpage or at Ty Elai, Dinas Isaf East, Williamstown, Tonypandy.

Any comments in regards to the public consultation should be made in writing to:-

Pollution Control

Public Health & Protection

Ty Elai

Dinas Isaf East

Williamstown

Tonypandy CF40 1NY

Tel : 01443 425777

Posted in Environment