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Has UK Local Government Action Improved Local Air Quality? A Bristol Case Study

Barnes, J. H.; Hayes, E. T.; Longhurst, J. W. S.

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Authors

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Enda Hayes Enda.Hayes@uwe.ac.uk
Prof in Air Quality & Carbon Management/School Director (Research & Enterprise)



Contributors

C. Capilla
Editor

C. Brebbia
Editor

Abstract

© 2015 WIT Press. In 2013, the UK exceeded the EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) annual mean at 31 of its 43 zones and agglomerations. Current government predictions are that full compliance will not be achieved until after 2030, with 65% zones still expected to be exceeding in 2020. In February 2014, the European Commission launched legal proceedings against the UK for its failure to cut excessive levels of NO2. However, there is an increasing onus on local authorities to manage air pollution locally and a legal threat in the Localism Act 2011 that may make them liable for any EU fines. This research has examined Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) reports and monitored concentrations of NO2 over the last 14 years for all local authorities with exceedances due to road traffic and, as previously reported to this conference series, found that there is insufficient appropriate data available to evaluate the LAQM process as a whole on this basis. Instead, six case study local authorities, for which sufficient data were available, were individually evaluated to determine whether any action plan measures could be associated with changes in local NO2 concentrations. This paper describes the methodology and findings with respect to the implementation of action plan measures, using Bristol City Council as an example. It examines some of the challenges of quantifying air quality impacts and attributing changes to implementation of measures, and makes recommendations for improvements to UK air quality management.

Citation

Barnes, J. H., Hayes, E. T., & Longhurst, J. W. S. (2015). Has UK Local Government Action Improved Local Air Quality? A Bristol Case Study. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 198, 243-254. https://doi.org/10.2495/AIR150201

Journal Article Type Article
Conference Name 23rd International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution
Conference Location Valencia, Spain
Start Date Jun 1, 2015
End Date Jun 3, 2015
Publication Date Jun 1, 2015
Deposit Date Oct 2, 2015
Publicly Available Date Feb 22, 2016
Journal WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
Print ISSN 1746-448X
Publisher WIT Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 198
Pages 243-254
Series Title WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
Series Number 198
Book Title Air Pollution XXIII
ISBN 9781845649647
DOI https://doi.org/10.2495/AIR150201
Keywords LAQM, action plans, local government, NO2, air quality objectives, limit values, traffic measures, local transport plans
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/840767
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/AIR150201
Additional Information Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Air Pollution XXIII

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