Agenda item

RESOLVED that the Executive:

1)    approved commencement of the revocation process in respect of the Air Quality Management Area Order (AQMA) in Twyford Town Centre.

2)    approved commencement of the revocation process in respect of the Air Quality Management Area Order along the M4 motorway.

3)    delegated responsibility to the Director of Place and Growth in consultation with the Executive Portfolio Holder to progress the revocation process to conclusion of revocation of the Orders (in conjunction with legal services).

4)    noted that relevant stakeholders including the Act’s statutory consultees will be informed of the revocations.

5)    noted that the revocations, will impact on the review and update of the Air Quality Action Plan for Wokingham Borough Council (which will be subject to separate development and consultation in accordance with the Act)

6)    noted that Wokingham Borough Council will retain a statutory responsibility to have an up-to-date Air Quality Action Plan, as an AQMA will be retained for Wokingham Town Centre, but that under the LAQM framework an Air Quality Strategy is not a statutory requirement, where a Council has a statutory responsibility to have an Air Quality Action Plan.

The Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Leisure reported that air quality management areas (AQMA) were designated areas determined by the presence of nitrogen dioxide in excess of a government determined limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metres.

After a time period prescribed by Defra, if a designated area did not exceed the determined limit of nitrogen dioxide, the designation must be revoked. Wokingham borough had three air quality management areas. These were Wokingham town centre, Twyford crossroads and the third was alongside the M4, particularly around where it crossed the A329 in Winnersh.

Wokingham’s last annual status report was submitted to Defra in June 2023, which covered 2022. Their commentary set out that two of these areas should no longer remain with the designation of air quality management areas. 

The only air quality management area to remain was therefore Wokingham town centre. The Executive Member reported that whilst the Council could take the view that they would continue with monitoring in those areas, DEFRA had the power to override this and revoke AQMA’s. It was noted that Wokingham’s air quality monitoring was in tandem with the Public Protection partnership and therefore West Berkshire and Bracknell were included within this. Both of those authorities were also revoking AQMA's following DEFRA reports.

Executive Members raised that the figures referred to by DEFRA were from 2022, there had been significant changes in traffic flows since then particularly at the Twyford Cross roads. It could be said to have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The volume of electric cars had also increased significantly.

In response to queries from Executive Members it was reported that periodic monitoring would continue at the Twyford Crossroads as well as alongside the M4. If any areas exceeded DEFRA levels in the future, the Council would push for the redesignation of these areas.

Executive Members queried the frequency of monitoring for the areas where the AQMA was to be revoked. The Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Leisure advised that he did not have this information but stated that this could be determined by the Council.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

1)    approved commencement of the revocation process in respect of the Air Quality Management Area Order (AQMA) in Twyford Town Centre.

2)    approved commencement of the revocation process in respect of the Air Quality Management Area Order along the M4 motorway.

3)    delegated responsibility to the Director of Place and Growth in consultation with the Executive Portfolio Holder to progress the revocation process to conclusion of revocation of the Orders (in conjunction with legal services).

4)    noted that relevant stakeholders including the Act’s statutory consultees will be informed of the revocations.

5)    noted that the revocations, will impact on the review and update of the Air Quality Action Plan for Wokingham Borough Council (which will be subject to separate development and consultation in accordance with the Act)

6)    noted that Wokingham Borough Council will retain a statutory responsibility to have an up-to-date Air Quality Action Plan, as an AQMA will be retained for Wokingham Town Centre, but that under the LAQM framework an Air Quality Strategy is not a statutory requirement, where a Council has a statutory responsibility to have an Air Quality Action Plan.