In December 2003 the Council created an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), due to the higher than normal levels "particulate" (PM10) along the A259 (Bexhill Road). As a result we must produce a plan that outlines how we intend to reduce pollution levels.
The only two sources of PM10 that we can try to reduce are direct exhaust emissions from vehicles and roadside dust (appendix 2). The dust probably originates from the waste handling and disposal facilities next to Bexhill Road. Once deposited on the road surface, it's ground finer and lifted into the atmosphere by passing traffic in a process known as the "resuspension" of roadside dust.
Since Spring 2004 PM10 levels have fallen significantly. It's possible that increased road cleaning and improved wheel washing at the landfill have contributed to this significant improvement. If so, this demonstrates how well we can work with our partners (the Environment Agency and the landfill operator) to achieve positive results.
We need to continue our monitoring of PM10 to determine the extent and possibly confirm the cause, or causes, of this improvement.
We've considered every possible measure that could reduce vehicle numbers and PM10 emissions within the AQMA (Appendix 5).
We propose three kinds of action for this plan:
Those that arise as a result of the improvement in PM10 levels. These are mainly technical and will make sure we expand our understanding of the improvement, and how this may be maintained.
Those that are targeted at the reduction of vehicle emissions including:
Those targeted at the reduction in levels of "resuspended" roadside dust, such as:-
The organisation responsible for carrying out each of these actions is identified within the plan (Appendix 8)
The possible reasons behind the recent improvements are discussed within the report. It may be that these are a result of actions already taken by us and our partners (the Environment Agency and the landfill operator).
In addition to the potential causes for the improvements, we operate a highly effective scheme for the removal of untaxed and abandoned vehicles. Such vehicles are likely to be older than the average and therefore a more serious cause of pollution. In removing over 3000 from the roads since 2002, we have contributed further to the improvement in air quality within the AQMA.
The Bexhill- Hastings Link Road will reduce PM10 levels within the AQMA and it remains the action with the greatest identifiable impact.
The other actions will also have a role to play in reducing PM10 levels from vehicle exhausts.
Further work is needed to resolve issues around the resuspension of roadside dust.
This must include continued monitoring of PM10, an assessment of existing actions that may have already reduced levels, and consideration, if it proves necessary, of ways in which further reductions might be achieved.
Regardless of the outcome of the above, the closure of the landfill operation at Freshfields, expected in 2008, will reduce the amount of material available for resuspension as road dust. It's anticipated that this will also reduce levels of PM10.
The Action Plan also considers actions that we'll need to take to prevent the creation of potential new sources of material for the resuspension process.
The draft plan shows how its proposed measures could reduce particulate levels but their exact impact will be hard to quantify because of the lack of understanding surrounding the resuspension process. This makes it difficult to formally state that the plan will achieve the Air Quality Objective (but it should be noted that monitoring results show this is currently being met within the AQMA).
The draft plan draws together all the issues arising from the existence of the AQMA. Notwithstanding the improvement that has occurred since the declaration of the AQMA, we're committed to continuing to work with our partners to achieve the appropriate Air Quality Objective. Given that traffic growth is likely to continue and national air quality standards are likely to become more stringent, this commitment remains of paramount importance. We recognise that there are currently areas of uncertainty within the draft plan, which arise from the current monitoring results and the lack of available knowledge relating to the resuspension process. As a result, we'll produce an annual progress report.
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This page last updated: 06/09/2005