Agenda item

The Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services introduced the report submitted to the Committee and thanked the Environmental Protection Lead and the Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, for their work.  She highlighted the collaborative actions relating to air quality mitigation on the A3 Guildford by National Highways, the Council, and Surrey County Council.  The Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services noted the Council’s statutory duties in relation to air quality and the submission of an Air Quality Annual Status Report.  In addition, she spoke of the health risks from air pollution and the importance of measures such as Ella’s Law. 

The Environmental Protection Lead referred to smoke control areas in the Borough and particulate pollution, before indicating that the current main pollutant of concern in Guildford was nitrogen dioxide.  The Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, informed the Committee that nitrogen dioxide levels were provided from fifty-five diffusion tubes at sites in the Borough.  The Environmental Protection Lead indicated that diffusion tubes provided monthly readings of nitrogen dioxide levels and confirmed that the Council had ceased real time monitoring many years previously.  He advised that National Highways did undertake some real time monitoring at sites in the Borough. 

The Committee was advised the Committee of the three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in the Borough.  The Environmental Protection Lead outlined the Electric Towns and Cities Initiative Guildford scheme for a section of the A3 trunk road in Guildford.  He advised that the scheme for the A3 had a total funding of £11 million; by way of comparison, the meeting was advised that the funding available through Defra’s air quality grant scheme, for which local authorities in England could apply, totalled £6.5 million for the year.  The Environmental Protection Lead advised that National Highways was responsible for addressing the exceedance on the A3.

The Environmental Protection Lead advised the Committee that the air quality action plans for Guildford town centre and for Shalford were challenging.  He indicated the value of improving air quality across the Borough as well as within AQMAs.  In addition, the meeting was advised of officers’ enforcement duties.

During the ensuing discussion several points were raised and clarifications offered as follows:

•          In reply to questions, the Environmental Protection Lead indicated real time monitoring of air pollution in the Borough had ended because it had been judged as not cost-effective.  The meeting was advised that the running costs of each of the two real time monitoring units in the Borough had been approximately £20k. 

•          In response to a question on the most importance actions to take to tackle air quality, the Environmental Protection Lead suggested the value of raising public awareness and education about air quality issues, rather than a focus on enforcement.

•          With reference to schools hosting pupils from schools that have RAAC, a member of the Committee asked if the Council had the ability to measure the impact on air quality of such an increase in traffic around a school or whether the Council was dependent on gathering monthly data from diffusion tubes.  In reply, the Environmental Protection Lead noted that such circumstances could cause an hourly exceedance of air quality standards.  He advised the meeting that relatively low-cost, real time monitoring equipment existed, but was not Defra approved. 1.22

•          In response to suggestions, the Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services agreed the value in an anti-idling campaign targeting schools and advised that there was a communications strategy in place to highlight the issues at the beginning of the school year.  She indicated the merit in considering an anti-idling policy for Council staff, visitors, and contractors and agreed that green infrastructure could help reduce exposure to particulate matter in appropriate locations.  The Environmental Protection Lead outlined the process for extending the boundaries of the smoke control areas in Guildford.  The Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, advised the meeting that Defra was encouraging local authorities to review their smoke control areas.  The Environmental Protection Lead indicated the value in linking Air Quality issues with Climate Change.

•          In response to a comment from a Committee member, the Environmental Protection Lead noted that the neighbouring Waverley Borough Council did not have smoke control areas.

•          The Environmental Protection Lead advised the meeting that an economic feasibility study of proposed air quality work should be published in the mid-summer and would be considered by the Council’s Executive. 

•          In answer to questioning, the Environmental Protection Lead informed the Committee that the action plan for Guildford town centre AQMA contained seven key measures, including the potential introduction of charging zones or a low emission zone.

•          The Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, advised the meeting of the variation in background levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Borough and the factors affecting air pollution exceedances near roads.  She explained Defra studies showed an exponential decrease in air pollution from traffic, with levels dropping considerably at a distance of 4-5 metres from the road.  The Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, advised that exceedances in the Compton and Shalford AQMAs were at sites where residential properties were within one metre of the road.

•          With reference to Farnborough Airport, the Environmental Protection Lead informed the meeting that pollution from passenger road traffic was probably greater than the air quality impacts of the aircraft.

•          With reference to the St. Mary Wharf town centre development and the Dunsfold Park site, a Councillor raised the issue of the likely increase in traffic volume and air pollution in Shalford.  In reply, the Environmental Protection Lead advised the meeting of his views on a Construction Traffic Management Plan for the St Marys Wharf development. 

•          The Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Housing advised the meeting of initiatives and measures relating to air quality and indicated the importance of working together to tackle the issue.

•          In reply to a question on the Electric Towns and Cities Initiative Guildford scheme for the A3 trunk road in Guildford, the Environmental Protection Lead confirmed that eligibility for the scheme was not restricted to van owners in the Borough.

•          The Chairman suggested the value of the council adopting an anti-idling policy for staff using vehicles on Council business, Council contractors, and visitors to Council premises and referred to the example of Colchester Borough Council. 

The Chairman thanked the Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services, the Environmental Protection Lead, and the Compliance Officer, Environmental Control, for attending.

RESOLVED:  (I)  That the actions and progress on air quality matters contained in the 2023 Air Quality Annual Status Report be noted.

(II)  That the proposed review of the Air Quality Strategy 2017-22 be endorsed.

(III)  That the collaborative actions and proposals relating to air quality mitigation on the A3 Guildford by National Highways, Guildford Borough Council, and Surrey County Council be noted.

(IV)  That the Executive be requested to adopt a Motor Vehicle No Idling policy for staff, contractors and visitors on Council premises, and staff using a vehicle for conducting Council business.

(V)  That the Executive be requested to improve the Council’s communications on air quality, particularly the air pollution concentrations in the Borough and the benefits of clean air.