Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive seeking Members’ approval to amend the Market Hill Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

The report provided background information regarding AQMAs which were declared by local authorities when air quality objectives were not being achieved in a certain area. In 2018 Maldon District Council declared an AQMA at Market Hill Maldon due to exceedances of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂). It was noted that where there had been no exceedances over the previous five years local authorities must make plans to revoke or amend the AQMA.

The report detailed the monitoring of the Market Hill AQMA NO₂ levels over the last five years which it was noted had produced results below the relevant threshold. The Council was therefore proposing to amend the AQMA and remove the 1-hour mean declaration for NO₂. The proposal to amend the AQMA had been submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of the Council’s annual Air Quality Status report and this had been formally accepted in June 2024.

Following the Officers’ presentation, Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the recommendation be agreed.

In response to a question regarding monitoring, the Technical Lead – Environmental Protection advised Members that the Council would continue to monitor levels on Market Hill, the proposed amendment was in relation to the hourly mean and the Council did not have an automatic monitoring station to monitor this directly. Air quality would continue to be monitored and reported to DEFRA. Although there were still some exceedances of the annual mean these levels were monitored monthly and the Council would continue to address the areas showing exceedances.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation which was duly agreed. Councillor K M H Lagan asked that his dissent be recorded.

RESOLVED that the Air Quality Management Area Amendment Order 2025 is approved, effectively removing the nitrogen dioxide 1-hour mean objective, leaving the annual mean objective as designated.