Consultation on changes to the Air Quality Management Area in Newmarket
Audience: Stakeholders with an interest in the air quality of Newmarket (Statutory consultees, Newmarket Town Council, district/county councillors for Newmarket, Newmarket BID, Jockey Club, Newmarket and District Chamber of Commerce, residential/business properties
This consultation is now closed.
It was open from 12 December 2016 to 3 February 2017.
Forest Heath District Council is consulting on a reduction in size of the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Newmarket town centre.
The council has been working to improve the quality of air within the currently declared Air Quality Management area and the levels of the pollutant of concern, Nitrogen Dioxide, have been below the target level for five consecutive years and it should be noted that the original decision to declare the AQMA was marginal. The levels of Nitrogen Dioxide have reduced because:
- traffic travelling to Newmarket races is directed away from the High Street
- sequencing of traffic lights on the High Street has been improved
- emissions of Nitrogen Dioxide have decreased in newer vehicles
The council is now confident that the levels of pollutants are not posing a significant long term risk to human health in this area. A detailed assessment (presented as Appendix F in our Annual Status Report) has shown that the objective has been met for the last five years at relevant locations along the High Street. Guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recommends a minimum of three years of compliance prior to revoking an AQMA.
Removing this designation from the High Street will give residents and visitors confidence that the air quality is not posing a significant risk to their health and that this will in turn improve the reputation of the town.
This consultation does not propose to completely remove the AQMA as there is not robust evidence available to demonstrate long term compliance for a section along Old Station Road. Further monitoring points have been introduced in this area to allow the council to gather sufficient information to revoke the AQMA in line with DEFRA guidance.
The council is committed to continuing to monitor the air quality within Newmarket and will continue to promote and work towards the general improvements to air quality within the district through, for example, promoting low and zero emission vehicles.
Maps of the existing and proposed new extent of the AQMA:
If you wish to make any representation with regards to these proposals, please complete the consultation online by clicking on the Have your say button above. Consultation closes 5pm 3 February 2017.