Revocation of air quality management area (AQMA) in Sicklesmere Road consultation 2024

Audience: Residents and businesses in the Air Quality Management Area; councillors, Highways England, Suffolk County Council, Bury St Edmunds Town Council and other statutory consultees

Open: 10 May 2024 to 7 June 2024

The council has a legal duty under the Environment Act 1995 to monitor air pollution and take action where levels of pollutants are found to exceed nationally set levels.

In 2017, levels of Nitrogen Dioxide along part of Sicklesmere Road, Bury St Edmunds were found to be above national thresholds and an Air Quality Management Area was subsequently declared and an action plan adopted.

Since then levels have reduced. Once levels are consistently below the threshold for three years, councils are normally required by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to revoke the AQMA.

West Suffolk Council has announced its intention to revoke the Sicklesmere Road AQMA and is now consulting on this. Even with the revocation, the council will continue to monitoring of pollutants at this and other locations. The council remains committed to monitoring and reducing pollution in Bury St Edmunds and throughout West Suffolk for the benefit of residents and their health.

Find out more: Revocation of air quality management area (AQMA) in Sicklesmere Road

Anyone who wishes to make a representation with regards to these proposals, should email their comments to environment@westsuffolk.gov.uk by 5pm on the 7 June 2024.