Kelechi Nnoaham (Director of Public Health) submitted a report on a proposal to declare a single Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in accordance with the Environment Act 1995, covering five identified sites not meeting current air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide, and the interlinking roads.

The five sites would be two existingAQMA’s in Exeter Street and Mutley Plain, and three additional areas at Royal Parade, the junction of Molesworth Road and Devonport Road in Stoke and the Tavistock Road and Crownhill Road junction.  

The declaration of AQMA’s meant that the Council had to consider what steps it would implement to improve air quality in these areas.  A single AQMA would benefit the Council by enabling it to manage the areas with one encompassing Action Plan and to report to Defra on one AQMA instead of five. A citywide approach would also prevent individual traffic improvements schemes impacting upon other areas. 

Councillor Vincent (Cabinet Member for Environment) introduced the proposals and Kelechi Nnoaham indicated that the city was above the England average in protecting the health of the city’s citizens from exposure to air pollution from particulate matter and the proposal would enable the council to continue the good work. Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Transport) reported that he was fully supportive of the proposal.

Robin Carton (Public Protection Service Manager) attended the meeting for this item.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that a single Air Quality Management Area is declared covering the following sites not meeting current air quality standards for NO₂, and the interlinking roads –