Council defends quality of air

Middlesbrough Borough Council has just produced its statutory air quality review.

The Government has ordered that places that are unlikely to meet national targets should be declared air quality management areas (AQMA).

The local authority in the AQMA would then be responsible for taking action to reduce pollution sources.

In a report to Middlesbrough council's cabinet, head of public protection and planning Phil Harper said council research showed the air in Middlesbrough was not heavily polluted and the town would not become an AQMA.

He said: "The judgment that Middlesbrough does not require an air quality management area will help challenge the myth that local air is grossly polluted and unhealthy."

Middlesbrough council issued two health warnings in the last week of June because of high smog levels. Those with respiratory problems were advised not to linger outside.

According to the National Asthma Campaign, one in seven children in the area suffer from the condition.

Middlesbrough's air quality review revealed that sulphur dioxide levels in the north-east of the town posed the most serious risk of breaching long-term air quality standards.

But council officers believe the levels will fall dramatically before 2005.

Mr Harper said: "The predominant source of this pollutant is industrial emitters outside Middlesbrough.

"Even so, if the legal standard were to be exceeded in Middlesbrough we must declare an AQMA, with an action plan. Continuous monitoring is taking place for a three-month period in north-east Middlesbrough."

Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide levels in the area are slightly above national standards, but Mr Harper said that after talks with neighbouring councils and the Environment Agency it had been decided not to declare an AQMA, because the council isconfident levels will be cut by 2005.

The new Town Centre Company agreed with the decision not to declare an AQMA