Second Round of Air Quality Review and Assessment 2003-2005

In 2003, the government introduced new guidance requiring all local authorities to re-examine their air quality and to review the work undertaken from 1999 to 2002. In fulfilment of this, Herefordshire Council undertook its “Updating and Screening Assessment” (USA) which investigated the air quality across the entire county. This report and appendices can be seen by downloading the appropriate files from the document box below.

The above “Updating and Screening Assessment” found that all the government objectives for air pollution are likely to be met across the county except at the Bargates area of Leominster and the A49 corridor in Hereford (the latter of course already being designed as such and subject to an “Air Quality Management Area”).

In order to investigate the air quality at Bargates, Herefordshire Council followed government guidance and undertook a “Detailed Assessment” (D.A.) for the Bargates area, in accordance with the relevant technical guidance. This report found that the nitrogen dioxide annual mean objective of 40ug/m3 (21ppb) for the year 2005 is unlikely to be met, primarily due to the traffic congestion and the high HGV percentage on the Bargates Road/Dishley Road junction in Leominster.

A copy of this “Detailed Assessment” report can be found in the document box below.

After full public consultation, the "Bargates (Leominster) Air Quality Management area (Nitrogen Dioxide) Order 2006" was designated in Leominster on 31st January 2006.

All these reports as well as the Air Quality Management area and Order can be found in the document box below.

The data for nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants from 2003 to 2005 can also be found in the document box below.