Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 January 2002

Project Appraisal: Air Quality Equipment for the CHARTS Area

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 18

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN THE CHARTS AREA

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2002

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2001/02

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2001

(at 2001

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

0

0

Construction

43.6

43.6

Fees

42.4

42.4

86.0

86.0

Less developers/

other contributions

36.0

36.0

50.0

50.0

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

50.0

(b) Other

2.

From other resources

(a) DEFRA (SCA to EHDC)

36.0

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

86.0

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Nil

Nil

Capital charges

9

0.015

TOTAL net expenditure

9

0.015

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Since the Environment Act 1995 local authorities have been required to play a major part in improving both local and national air quality. This includes responsibilities to assess and manage local air quality having regard to standards and objectives for eight known pollutants. These are continually being tightened in line with EU limits.

In addition 'Our healthier Nation', published in 1999, places a duty on local councils to take action to improve air quality in their area, in order to decrease levels of related illness, eg asthma and chronic lung disease.

The monitoring of air quality on an ongoing basis is an important part of meeting these responsibilities. Within the CHARTS area there are no permanent air quality monitoring stations. Winchester City Council manages two sites in Winchester city centre, but the conditions there do not necessarily reflect those experienced in the wider rural area.

East Hampshire District Council has reviewed and assessed the local air quality over a four-year period, submitting the final report to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in December 2000. The principal finding of this report was that the air quality within East Hampshire would meet the current air quality standards and objectives for the year 2000 and the objective years of 2003/2004 and 2008 (dependent on the pollutant). However, it is anticipated that proposals to further tighten the standards and objectives, particularly for particulates, could cause local breaches in the more urban areas, primarily due to road traffic pollution.

Although the report was accepted by the Government, feedback was received that the approach was based on fairly low-tech monitoring techniques (seven diffusion tubes), supported by computer modelling techniques, thereby questioning the reliability of the results. In order to meet the continuing obligations to monitor and review air quality there is a need to obtain access to more sophisticated equipment capable of monitoring those pollutants of concern.

Monitoring air quality is of course only part of the picture. What is done with the data gathered is of clear importance. There are four main uses for the data as follows:

(i)

use the information as an integral part of the second review and assessment of air quality which is due to be completed by the end of 2003;

(ii)

raise public awareness through public information systems to encourage change in attitude and behaviour to transport options;

(iii)

influence the Local Transport Plan to ensure that air quality issues are considered and that proposals do not make air quality worse or conflict with initiatives to improve air quality; and

(iv)

develop informed air quality policies for the Local Plan to ensure that developments do not breach standards and objectives or compromise local authorities' ability to improve air quality.

It is important that the data produced by the stations is robust and therefore there is a need for regular station audits carried out by an independent company to ensure the analysers are operating within acceptable limits. Another key requirement is the management of data from the stations. This work needs to be carried out effectively and able to withstand scrutiny as many far reaching and costly actions may flow from it. The inclusion of station audits and data management within the project will enable the wider use of the data as there will be a higher level of confidence as to the accuracy. It will also ensure that the data produced is of high quality and meets Government standards.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The Government imposes a statutory duty on councils to review and assess local air quality against a set of national objectives. Local Transport Plans are encouraged to include objectives and programmes relating to the reduction of the impact on air quality through emissions from transport.

Details of scheme and design standards

It is proposed that the following air quality monitoring equipment and services be purchased:

Suitable enclosure (small portacabin type)

Particulate monitor (TEOM)

Nitrogen oxides monitor (Chemiluminesence)

Weather monitoring station

Mobile telephone link

Computer software

Five year maintenance contract

Five year quality assurance/quality control contract (QA/QC)

Five year contract for operation of 'Air-Quality.net'.

The above would provide precision information about air quality at one point in the district using Government approved methodologies (this would allow the comparison of information across Hampshire).

The highest risk of exceeding the standards and objectives for air quality is in Horndean, particularly with the proposed tightening of the particulate matter standards. The exact site for the equipment has not been determined, however it is the intention to find a site which provides data on the pollution due to both vehicle congestion in the centre of the village and the background levels of traffic pollution from the A3(M).

The information would be passed back to the District Council offices regularly and could be updated on the web page quickly, thus allowing schools, hospitals and medical centres to be kept up to date with current air quality information. It is imperative that when providing information to the public it can be relied on, hence the cost of maintenance and quality assurance/quality control has been built in. Without this, the information could be invalid and mislead the public and provide erroneous information for the review and assessment process.

The data collected by East Hampshire District Council will be made readily available to the County Council. A computer package, Enview, is already run by the County Council to analyse air quality information from the two Winchester air quality monitoring stations. As part of this project it will be possible to connect this system directly to the equipment so that updates can be provided on a daily basis. This will be particularly useful in informing the Annual Progress Report on the Local Transport Plan, which incorporates targets for air quality. The information will be an important element in monitoring progress against these targets.

Environmental impact

The impact of locating the equipment in Horndean is minimal. The availability of air quality information will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, by increasing awareness of air pollution and helping people to make informed travel choices.

Land requirements

The exact location for the air quality monitoring station has yet to be finalised. If it is not to be located within the highway boundary the intention is to locate it on local authority owned land.

Statutory procedures

None.

Public consultation

The Air Quality Review carried out by East Hampshire District Council is publicly available.

Facilities for the disabled

Not applicable.

Maintenance implications

The maintenance liability and consumables for five years is included within the overall contract. The District Council will seek to secure further funding from its own resources after that time.

Local Member's View

The views of the local Member will be sought when a preferred site for locating the equipment has been determined.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

No areas of concern have been identified.

Sustainability

Not applicable.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

The selection of suppliers has been constrained because there is a very limited number of companies who are able to supply equipment and manage the services.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

None