Local AirQuality in

Cambridgeshire2000

Non-Technical Summaryof the Stage 3

Review and AssessmentConsultation Document

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Contentsi) Foreword 2

ii) What is air quality and why is it of concern? 3

iii) Sources of pollution 4

iv) The Government’s Air Quality Strategyand Local Air Quality Management 5

v) What’s going on in Cambridgeshire 7

vi) District-by-District

Cambridge City 8East Cambridgeshire 10Fenland 12Huntingdonshire 14South Cambridgeshire 16

vii) What happens next? 18

i ) ForewordIn Cambridgeshire, a partnership of the fiveDistrict Councils and the County Councilhas been set up to tackle the issue of airquality by carrying out a review andassessment of certain pollutants. Thepartnership, called the Air Quality Reviewand Assessment Working Group, wasformed in 1997 to undertake the technicalaspects of carrying out new duties theGovernment had given them. Review andassessment is the first step in a processknown as Local Air Quality Management.This will help air quality considerations tobe taken into account during land use andtransport planning processes and providethe basis for action where improvementsare found to be necessary.

The review and assessment work has beencarried out in stages and a first report wasproduced in December 1998 covering theresults of the first two stages. The thirdstage has involved sophisticatedmonitoring and computer modellingtechniques to evaluate the extent of anypollution “hot spot” areas. The partnershipauthorities have now published the resultsof Stage 3 in a technical report, which canbe viewed at local authority offices andpublic libraries throughout the County. Alist of local authority contact detailsappears on the back cover of this summarydocument.

This booklet highlights the main findings ofthe report and looks forward to what willhappen next in the ongoing work to improveair quality.

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ii) What is air quality and whyis it of concern?

Air is a complex mix of gases, particles andwater vapour.

Poor air

Poor air quality results from the additionof substances in such quantities and of suchduration that they may cause harm to human,plant or animal life, and materials orstructures. Polluted air may also bringabout changes in the weather or climate.

Air pollution tends to be worse in heavilycongested areas, where there is pollutionfrom traffic fumes, and in heavilyindustrialised areas. Smoke and SulphurDioxide, produced by the burning of fossilfuels e.g. wood, oil and coal, were the mainpollutants up until the middle part of the20th century. In the past few decades,“modern” pollutants from transport andindustrial sources e.g. nitrogen oxides,carbon monoxide, ozone and very FineParticles have come to prominence.

Health effects

Air pollution can affect our health. The old,the young, and those suffering from asthmaand heart and lung diseases are the mostsusceptible and at risk. Whilst the effectsof air pollution on human health haveprobably spanned many centuries, it wasnot until the Industrial Revolution in the 19th

century that poor air quality becameassociated with urban life.

Occupational studies and laboratoryexperiments have shown that manycommon air pollutants have the potentialto damage animal and human health byaffecting lung function, the immuneresponse, or by causing cancer. However,there is still some debate about these healtheffects and research is ongoing.

The views of the health authorities, withregard to the impact of various pollutantson the health of Cambridgeshire’sresidents, form an important part of takingforward work on air quality.

Sunrise over the Fens

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iii) Sources of pollutionPollution may be produced byhuman activity or from naturalprocesses such as volcanoes,forest fires or wind blown dusts.In the UK, the most importantsources of pollution areemissions from industry,transport and domestichouseholds.

In Cambridgeshire, the majorsources of air pollution are motorvehicle emissions, especially inthe urban centres and along itsmajor trunk roads, together witha number of industrial processes.The most important source of airpollution from domestichouseholds arises from theburning of fossil fuels to produceheat or power.

Most pollutants dispersenaturally in the atmosphere thefurther you move away from thesource. The rate that they aredispersed depends upon theweather, local landscape andbuildings. However, somepollutants are formed bychemical reactions in theatmosphere and can be carriedlong distances, even acrosscontinents e.g. ozone.

Source: Adapted from the UK National AtmosphericEmissions Inventory (NAEI) Eleventh Annual Report

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iv) The Government’s AirQuality Strategy and LocalAir Quality Management

There are 3 main stagesto Local AirQuality Management:

• Review and Assessment

Your city and district councils have to reviewand assess air quality within their areas todetermine whether the Government’s airquality objectives for each of the keypollutants are likely to be met by set dates.

• Designation of AirQuality ManagementAreas

Where your city and district councilsconclude that one or more of the objectivesare unlikely to be achieved, it must declarean Air Quality Management Area (a legalprocess) covering the part of its districtwhere the problem lies.

• Development of ActionPlans or Local Air QualityStrategies

Where an Air Quality Management Area hasto be declared your city or district councilmust draw up an action plan setting out howthe objectives will be achieved within thisarea. If there is no Air Quality ManagementArea the Government recommends that yourcity or district council draw up a Local AirQuality Strategy to ensure that the pollutantlevels do not rise and cause problems in thefuture. Both of these courses of action haveto be carried out in consultation withneighbouring local authorities, businesses,local people, the Environment Agency andthe Highways Agency.The Strategy has also set two objectives forthe protection of vegetation and

The Government has produced an AirQuality Strategy for England, Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland. This states thatair quality in the UK is generally very good,but there are still sometimes unacceptablyhigh levels of air pollution that have thepotential to harm human health and theenvironment.

The Strategy has set health basedobjectives for eight pollutants. Seven of theeight pollutants have objectives set inRegulations for Local Air QualityManagement which started at the beginningof 1998. This means that your city and districtcouncils are required to identify and takeaction to tackle any local air quality problemsarising from these seven pollutants.Although ozone is included in theGovernment’s strategy it is recognised thataction will have to be taken at a national levelto control this pollutant due to itstransboundary distribution.

The Governments Strategy Leaflet

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ecosystems. However, these objectives arenot set in the Regulations for Local AirQuality Management and do not form partof this review and assessment. Your districtcouncil may carry out monitoring in rurallocations, away from trunk roads andindustry, to make assessments againstthese objectives in the future.

REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT :THE SEVEN POLLUTANTS CONSIDERED

Pollutant Main Source Objective Measured As Date to beConcentration achieved by

Benzene Petrol vehicles 16.25µg/m3 (5ppb) Running 31/12/2003annual mean

1,3-Butadiene Road transport 2.25µg/m3 (1ppb) Running 31/12/2003annual mean

Carbon Petrol vehicles 11.6mg/m3 (10ppm) Running 8 31/12/2003Monoxide and industry hour mean

Lead Petrol vehicles 0.5µg/m3 Annual mean 31/12/2004and industry 0.25µg/m3 Annual mean 31/12/2008

Nitrogen Road transport and 200µg/m3 (105ppb) 1 hour mean 31/12/2005Dioxide power generation not to be exceeded

more than 18times a year

40µg/m3 (21ppb) Annual mean 31/12/2005

Fine Particles Road transport, 50µg/m3 not to 24 hour mean 31/12/2004(PM10) power generation be exceeded more

and industry than 35 times a year

40µg/m3 Annual mean 31/12/2004

Sulphur Power generation 350µg/m3 (132ppb) 1 hour mean 31/12/2004Dioxide and industry not to be exceeded

more than 24times a year

125µg/m3 (47ppb) 24 hour mean 31/12/2004not to be exceeded

more than 3times a year

266µg/m3 (100ppb) 15 minute mean 31/12/2005not to be exceeded

more than 35times a year

Key: mg/m3 = milligrams per cubic metre; µg/m3 = micrograms per cubic metre; ppb = parts per billion;ppm = parts per million. Conversions of ppb and ppm to µg/m3 and mg/m3 at 200C and 1013mb.

Houghton Meadows - a Site of SpecialScientific Interest

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v) What’s going on inCambridgeshire?

The city and district councils in the Countyhave been monitoring various air pollutants,at a variety of locations, for several years.Sites have been chosen either becausethey are near major transport routes orindustrial sources, or because they providea more general picture of background levels.

Review and Assessment

Reviewing and assessing air quality iseasier said than done!

The partnership authorities started gatheringinformation in 1997 and produced acomprehensive report on their initial findingsin December 1998. These findingsprovided the benchmark for measuringfuture air quality in Cambridgeshire. Itestablished that the pollutants causing mostconcern in the County were NitrogenDioxide, Sulphur Dioxide and Fine Particles(PM10).

The city and district councils have nowcarried out further work on these 3 pollutantsto determine any pollution “hot spot” areasin the County. Concentrations of future airpollution levels have been estimated usinga sophisticated computer programme. Thisis a dispersion model known as ADMS-Urban. The results of this work are now outfor consultation and have been published inthe Stage 3 technical report. The mainfindings for each district follow in Section (vi).This latest work has been complex andhighly technical.

The main factor that affects air quality is theweather. Short term pollution episodes,winter and summer smogs, occur whenthere are long periods of sunshine and lowwinds in summer and when there is a

temperature inversion, which preventspollutants from being dispersed, in winter.The computer model was set to takeaccount of the worst meteorologicalconditions, which have occurred within thelast ten years. The model also requirestraffic flow data and estimates of emissionsfrom vehicles. Hence, uncertainties canarise connected with predictions of futuretraffic flows, numbers of heavy goodsvehicles and reductions in emissions dueto improved technology.

Pollutant Stage 3 Report Findings

Benzene The Air Quality Strategy (AQS)objectives are likely to be met by theend of 2003 throughout the County

1,3- By the end of 2003 the AQS objectivesButadiene are likely to be met throughout the

County

Carbon The AQS objective is likely to beMonoxide complied with by the end of 2003

throughout the County.

Lead The two AQS objectives are likely tobe complied with by the end of 2004and 2008 respectively throughout theCounty.

Fine See details in following districtParticles sections(PM

10)

Nitrogen See details in following districtDioxide sections

Sulphur See details in following districtDioxide sections

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vi) District-by-District

Cambridge City

The Stage 3 technical report includesdetailed assessments of Sulphur Dioxideand Nitrogen Dioxide and an intermediateassessment of Fine Particles. The latterassessment was deferred from the firstreport due to a lack of Government technicalguidance. These assessments have reliedon monitoring data from our 5 automaticmonitoring sites (Parker Street, SilverStreet, Gonville Place, Regent Street andMarshall’s Engineering Works) andcomputer modelling to predict futureconcentrations. Allowances have beenmade for traffic growth, improvements inemissions due to development in vehicletechnology, weather conditions and theimpact of industry.

Sulphur Dioxide

Cambridge City Council carried outresearch on the air quality implications ofSulphur Dioxide emissions from individualsources, including small boiler plants usingfuel oil or coal. Every major employer wasquestioned. Significant emissions ofSulphur Dioxide were found to occur atMarshall’s Engineering Works and atCambridge University Press.

Cambridge University Press uses heavy oilwith a permitted sulphur content of fivepercent. European legislation will ensurethat the content of this fuel is reduced toone per cent by 2003, which meanspollutant levels will be reduced and nofurther action will be necessary.

Congested City Centre Street

Section of narrow street which hindersdispersion.

Up-to-date information on airpollutant levels in the City isavailable on the Internet athttp:\\www.io-ltd.co.uk/ccc.html

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Marshall’s Engineering Works have beenworking together with Cambridge CityCouncil and South Cambridgeshire DistrictCouncil to measure the current levels ofpollution and a continuous Sulphur Dioxidemonitor has been installed and running sinceNovember 1999. Marshall’s has alsoproposed to replace the oil-fired boilerswith gas boilers, which will reduce SulphurDioxide emissions to a fraction of theirpresent rate.

Cambridge City Council will continue tomonitor Sulphur Dioxide levels and theprogramme for changing the boilers toensure objective levels are met. If theCouncil feels that at any time the objectivewill not be met by the due date then an AirQuality Management Area will be declared.

Nitrogen Dioxide

At present Nitrogen Dioxide levels areknown to be above objective levels in theCity Centre at Parker Street, GonvillePlace and Silver Street. However,Cambridge City Council officers havecalculated that the risk of exceedence of theobjective for Nitrogen Dioxide by 2005 islow as “worst case” figures have been usedin their calculations. Nevertheless they areconcerned about meeting the objectives in

the City Centre, and areas next to feederroads into the centre, so have decided toincrease existing monitoring to help trackcomputer model predictions.

To help ensure that Nitrogen Dioxide levelsdo not rise it is vital that action which isalready being undertaken to help reducecongestion, e.g. traffic managementmeasures, like the Core Scheme, and Parkand Ride, continue as these also help toimprove air quality in the City Centre.

Fine Particles (PM 10)

Four sites in the City Centre at ParkerStreet, Regent Street, Silver Street andGonville Place have been regularlymonitored for Fine Particles. The resultsindicate that the objective is likely to be metby 31 December 2004. However, theGovernment is undertaking a review of thisobjective and it is likely to change. In viewof this the City Council will continue tomonitor the sites and undertake a furtherreview when these changes are known.

Fine Particles Monitor

Monitoring in-takes, Regent Street

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East Cambridgeshire

Although East Cambridgeshire is a ruraldistrict there are still areas of concernrelating to air quality. These have beenconsidered during the review andassessment process and in more detail atStage 3. The Chairman of the EnvironmentPanel, Councillor Donald Adey, says:

“I would hope that the county-widepartnership work to which EastCambridgeshire has contributed incarrying out the Review andAssessment of Air Quality willcontinue since air pollution crossesdistrict boundaries.

The work so far, which has attractednational recognition for itsexcellence, has provided a soundbasis to move forward locally.

Although air quality in EastCambridgeshire is withinthenational objectives we arecommitted to furtherimprovements.”

Sulphur Dioxide

East Cambridgeshire District Councilcarried out a survey of local majorbusinesses and schools to determine howmuch fuel oil and coal were used by thesepremises. From the replies received, it wasdetermined that there were no installationsin the area that would emit excessiveamounts of Sulphur Dioxide. There is noevidence to suggest that the air qualityobjectives for Sulphur Dioxide are likely tobe at risk.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen Dioxide has been monitored inEast Cambridgeshire since 1996 atroadside locations in market towns and nextto heavily trafficked trunk roads. This hasshown that there could be possibleexposure to Nitrogen Dioxide above theprescribed limits. For these reasonsdetailed computer modelling wasundertaken for Fordham and Kennett whichallowed more robust analysis, and for theresults to be compared against objectives.

East CambridgeshireDistrict Council

Fordham High Street

Rural monitoring site, Coveney

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Although model predictions showed that theobjectives are likely to be met throughoutthe area by the due date, monitoring willcontinue. Council officers are aware thatpossible increases in passenger travel andfreight movement by rail over the next fewyears may add to pollutant levels and theeffects of this change will requiremonitoring.

Fine Particles (PM 10)

Council officers assessed the levels ofparticles on the most heavily used highwaysin the East Cambridgeshire district. Thesewere the A142 at Fordham and the A14 atKennett. Detailed calculations showed thatfor both these sites objectives are likely tobe met and no further action is required.

However, the proposed straw-burningpower station in Sutton, which is fullyauthorised by the Environment Agency, isof special interest. This is due to becommissioned in September 2000 andstraw burning will commence in early 2001.Although the computer dispersion modelindicates that emissions will not lead toexceedences of the air quality objective forFine Particles, the operators will carry outcontinuous monitoring of emissions fromthe process. Short periods of monitoringhave already been undertaken by theoperator at Sutton, Witcham, Mepal andCoveney, which will provide a useful guideto background levels of pollutants beforethe power station is commissioned. These

results can be viewed at EastCambridgeshire District Council offices oron the Internet at www.chemex.com.

Dr Nick Irish from the CambridgeshireHealth Authority, reported:

“As a result of [EastCambridgeshire District Council’s]work it is clear that there is nowherein East Cambridgeshire wherelevels of air pollutants exceed, orare likely to exceed, the National AirQuality Standards. The standardsare set on health-based criteria, and,therefore I’m pleased to note thelack of risk to the health of thepublic from air pollution in EastCambridgeshire.”

However, air quality has been identified asone of the key issues in the EastCambridgeshire’s Local Agenda 21Workshops and Strategy and it will continueto be monitored and reviewed. The DistrictCouncil is planning to develop a local airquality strategy. This will set out ways inwhich the air quality in the district cancontinue to be improved. Achieving this willdepend on action by all who have an interest- if you would like to be involved, contacteither Teresa Isaacs or Phil Wright (detailson back cover), or visit our exhibition in Elyand surrounding villages during the thirdweek of September 2000.Wicken Fen Monitoring Station

NO2 Monitoring tube

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Fenland

Although Fenland is predominantly anagricultural area there are majoremployment centres e.g. Wisbech,Chatteris, March and Whittlesey, andindustrial processes, such as brick makingin the west of the district.

Nitrogen Dioxide has been monitoredthroughout the district since 1996. As aresult of this review and assessmentmonitoring has been increased to coverSulphur Dioxide and Fine Particles. Inaddition, the partnership is actively seekingthe views of the Cambridgeshire HealthAuthority and NHS Primary Care Trusts onthe possible health effects of SulphurDioxide and Fine Particles levels currentlybeing experienced in the centre of Wisbech.

Sulphur Dioxide

Fenland District Council sentquestionnaires to all major employers in thedistrict concerning the type of fuel they usedand all replied. Analysis revealed one userof high-sulphur fuel (coal) in multipleboilers in Wisbech. This has the potentialto emit sufficient quantities of SulphurDioxide to place the air quality objectivesat risk. Currently, there is no proposal toregulate the sulphur content of coal.

At present, the objective levels of SulphurDioxide emissions are being exceeded.However, the Council has been liaisingclosely with the boiler plant operator, whois currently investigating options to replacethe boilers with new, gas-fired plant. TheCouncil is satisfied that it is likely that thenew plant will be operational by 2004 and,therefore, it has decided not to declare anAir Quality Management Area in Wisbech.

Also, a programme of continuousmonitoring of Sulphur Dioxide at a site inthe centre of Wisbech has started. Theresults of this will form the basis of furtherreview and assessment of air quality in thearea.

The other significant source of SulphurDioxide emissions in Fenland is the brickmanufacturing plant in Whittlesey. The levelof emissions from this plant is expected tofall by 2005 due to changes in themanufacturing processes. In addition, theEnvironment Agency is set to launch newemissions limits for the brick manufacturingprocess. Fenland District Council believesthat these limits will ensure that theobjectives will be met in 2004 throughoutWhittlesey.

Monitoring equipment

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Nitrogen Dioxide

With regards to industrial sources, the mainarea of concern in Fenland, where there maybe possible exposure to Nitrogen Dioxidelevels above the legal limit, is at the coal-fired boiler plant in the centre of Wisbech .However, predictions have shown that theobjectives are likely to be met throughoutthe area by the end of 2005.

Fine Particles (PM 10)

The centre of Wisbech is considered tobe at risk from high levels of Fine Particles.This is due mainly to the burning of coal inthe boilers previously referred to.Although, reductions in levels of pollutionare to be expected following theimplementation of the new PollutionPrevention and Control Regulations, it isunclear whether, or when, this plant will beregulated under the new regime. However,because of the proposed changes toreplace the old boilers the Council hasdecided not to declare an Air QualityManagement Area in Wisbech in relation toFine Particles.

Monitoring started in the town in April 2000at the same location as for Sulphur Dioxideand data will be used for further review andassessments.

Overall conclusions

The Stage 3 Report for Fenland concludesthat high levels of Sulphur Dioxide and FineParticles are present in Wisbech as aresult of emissions from an industrialsource. The review also concludes that thenational objectives will be met elsewherein the district by the target dates, both forthese pollutants and for Nitrogen Dioxide.However, the Council remains concernedabout the perceived levels of trafficpollution in the four market towns and isconsidering how traffic management can bebest addressed in the area. Councillor PamPotts, Chairman of the Council’sEnvironmental Services Committee, said:

“The main report is a very complextechnical document, which cannotreflect the Council’s continuingconcerns about pollution from roadvehicles. I hope the public willrespond to the informationcontained in this document and usethe leaflet being circulated to everyhome in the district, to let us havetheir views about the air we allbreathe in Fenland.”

Industrial smoke pollution

Air quality monitoring station Wisbech

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Huntingdonshire

During all of the stages of this review andassessment of air quality HuntingdonshireDistrict Council have used continuous andpassive monitoring techniques. The passivemonitoring undertaken is in the form ofNitrogen Dioxide diffusion tubes, locatedstrategically at 20 sites throughout thedistrict. Continuous monitoring using stateof the art equipment is also undertaken attwo sites for Nitrogen Oxides and FineParticles (PM10). The longest establishedsite for continuous monitoring is atPathfinder House, adjacent to the busy ringroad in Huntingdon, whilst a more recentacquisition is the mobile monitoring unitwhich presently monitors at a locationsuitable for providing background readingsof air quality.

Further to the monitoring undertaken,sophisticated computer modellingtechniques have been used during the thirdstage of the review and assessmentprocess. This mathematical modelling hasbeen carried out for three of the prescribedpollutants - Sulphur Dioxide, NitrogenDioxide and Fine Particles.

Sulphur Dioxide

The Council’s Environmental HealthServices Division sent out questionnairesto all major employers in the districtconcerning the type and quantity of fuel inuse at their premises and all responded.Analysis of the questionnaires revealed thatthere were two users of medium fuel oil in

multiple boilers each with the potential toemit sufficient quantities of Sulphur Dioxideto place the air quality objectives at risk.Based upon fuel usage data for typicaloperating conditions the computersoftware programme, ADMS-Urban, wasused to estimate ambient concentrationsof Sulphur Dioxide in the vicinity of the twosites for comparison against the air qualityobjectives. This indicated that, on balance,the air quality objectives for SulphurDioxide are likely to be met throughoutHuntingdonshire by the due dates. Theconclusions are based upon robustscientific calculations, which are informedby expected operational changes at thesites.

Nitrogen Dioxide

There are four point sources, two of whichare in the district, which could potentiallyemit significant quantities of oxides ofnitrogen, to place the Nitrogen Dioxide airquality objectives at risk.

The site in Huntingdon, which is regulatedby the Environment Agency, was examinedand satisfied the required standards. Theoperators of this site are also planning toupgrade equipment, which will furtherreduce emissions.

The site near Kimbolton was found to emitvery low levels of oxides of nitrogen due tothe high temperature of the discharge, whichsignificantly enhances pollutant dispersion.

A power station in Peterborough is morethan five kilometres away from theHuntingdonshire border and levels are,therefore, not significant.

Another power station near St Neots hasbeen monitored closely by National Power,and test results confirm earlier findings ofthe Council that no further action isrequired.

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However, the levels of Nitrogen Dioxidearound some of the district’s roads are ofconcern, and assessment using monitoringand modelling techniques was carried outon the most heavily used roads in the area.

The results showed that the air qualityobjectives for Nitrogen Dioxide are likelyto be met by the due date. However, theCouncil is continuing to monitor air quality,and will develop a local air quality strategyto ensure that land use and transport usecan incorporate the necessary actions andpolicies to ensure delivery of the air qualityobjectives.

A14 - about a quarter of the traffic is heavygoods vehicles

Fine Particles (PM10)

Monitoring and modelling of the mostheavily used roads in the district indicatesthat the air quality objectives for FineParticles are likely to be met throughoutHuntingdonshire by the due dates.

This conclusion is based upon evidence thatthe objectives are currently being met andwill therefore be met in the future.Particulate emissions from vehicles arepredicted to decrease as a result ofadvancing technological controls and futureemission factors were incorporated in tomodelling undertaken. Of course, this couldbe slightly offset by increased traffic flowsand the Council will periodically assess thesituation.

Fine Particles monitor at Huntingdon Ring Road

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South Cambridgeshire

South Cambridgeshire is primarily a ruraldistrict with a buoyant economy. Ratherthan having one industrial centre, a numberof small industrial areas are spread aroundthe district. Commuting to work is acommon characteristic of SouthCambridgeshire residents, placing pressureon the transport network. Additionally, theA14, which is part of the road network inthe district, is a strategic transport routecarrying intercontinental freight to and fromthe port of Felixstowe, and the M11 linksthe north and Midlands with StanstedAirport and London. Both industrialprocesses and transport emissions affectthe quality of the air in SouthCambridgeshire. The review andassessment that has been carried out hasattempted to identify the major risks to airquality and to quantify their impact usingcomputer models and also by taking actualmeasurements.

Air quality monitoring in SouthCambridgeshire includes: -

• Continuous monitoring ofSulphur Dioxide in two locationsto measure the contributionmade by two separate industrialprocesses;

• A high-tech roadside laboratorythat measures oxides ofnitrogen and Fine Particles fromCambridgeshire traffic andrelays results automatically tothe central office;

• Passive diffusion tubes to givea long-term indication ofNitrogen Dioxide levels.

Dale Robinson, Chief Environmental HealthOfficer, said:

“The information that is collectedenables the Council to check thatair quality in the district meetsnational standards to helpsafeguard the health of ourresidents.”

The issues outlined below are a summaryof those topics discussed in greater depthin the technical report.

Sulphur Dioxide

Industrial pollution is the main source ofSulphur Dioxide emissions in the district.These sources include processes closelygoverned by legislation, and smallerprocesses that can operate without the needto obtain permission from pollution controlauthorities.

Sulphur Dioxide Monitor

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Regulated processes

Rugby Cement in Barrington is regulatedby the Environment Agency, who allows thecompany to emit a certain quantity ofSulphur Dioxide as a by-product of thecement-making process. Monitoring iscarried out in Barrington to measureSulphur Dioxide concentrations at groundlevel. To date there have been nomeasurements recorded above thestandard.

Unregulated processes

Analysis of fuel-use across the district hasidentified several users of medium andheavy fuel oil, which have the potential tocause Sulphur Dioxide pollution at a levelabove the limits. These boiler plants arebeing operated within current standards,but are unregulated so far as pollutioncontrol legislation is concerned.

Modelling of emissions at the PapworthTrust factory complex at Papworth Everardhas shown that there is a residential area

surrounding the premises that could beaffected by levels of Sulphur Dioxide abovethe objective. However, the plant is in theprocess of being closed down, and itsoperations will move to modern premiseson the outskirts of the village. The newfactory will be connected to mains gas forheating purposes.

Monitoring and modelling of SulphurDioxide emissions at Marshall’sEngineering Works have shown there to behigh concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide,around the works and surroundingresidential area, originating from severalboiler installations on site. The companyhas reacted positively to this informationand has plans to implement a capitalinvestment programme to replace severalboilers with a more localised natural gasheating system.

As both the above companies will beimplementing measures to reduceemissions, South Cambridgeshire DistrictCouncil anticipates that air qualityobjectives are likely to be met, and hastherefore decided not to declare any AirQuality Management Areas at this time.

Nitrogen Dioxide and FineParticles (PM10)

Research into traffic flows has shown theheaviest flow to be along the A14 betweenBar Hill and Girton. Modelling of thissection, taking into account background andlocal industrial sources, indicates thatnational air quality objectives are likely tobe met here and throughout the district.Whilst there is a substantial contributionto Nitrogen Dioxide and Fine Particlespollution from the traffic, pollutant levelsdecrease rapidly with increasing distancefrom the roadside. Monitoring of bothtraffic figures and air quality will continuein order to ensure that the predicted levelsare accurate.

Industrial Chimney

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vii) What happens next?Display trailer timetable

Phone the contact officer to find out the exactdates and times and where the trailer willbe parked.

Date Location1st week South Cambridgeshireof September - Tesco, Fulbourn

- Tesco, Milton- South Cambs DC Offices- Swavesey Village College- Comberton Village College- Melbourn Village College- Sawston Village College

2nd week Cambridge Cityof September - J Sainbury, Coldhams Lane

- Grafton Centre

3rd week East Cambridgeshireof September - Ely

- Soham- Fordham- Stetchworth- Sutton

4th week Fenlandof September - Wisbech

- March- Chatteris- Whittlesey

1st week Huntingdonshireof October - Huntingdon

- St Ives- St Neots- Yaxley

Overall the results of the review andassessment for Cambridgeshire haveindicated that we are likely to meetGovernment objectives but there is no roomfor complacency. Action which is alreadybeing undertaken in connection withimproving air quality needs to continue.Monitoring of pollutant levels is essential toensure computer predictions are correct.

Consultation

The partnership authorities take the issueof air quality very seriously and plan to holdwidespread consultation with organisations,businesses and residents throughoutCambridgeshire.

Copies of the full technical report can beviewed at your local library or local authorityoffice. In addition to this non-technicalsummary, a leaflet and questionnaire havealso been produced which can be obtainedfrom any of the local authorities listed on theback cover.

Make your views known.All responses to be

received before Friday13th October 2000

Throughout September and to mid-Octoberthe partnership authorities will be seekingyour views on their work and the bestcourse of action for the future. A displaytrailer will visit every local authority areain the County, which will provide anadditional opportunity for you to make yourviews known.

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Doing your bit

We can all“do our bit” by:

§ Making our views known duringthis consultation

§ Participating in action such as:

§ Sharing your car andcombining journeys with others

§ Making fewer journeys by car

§ Maintaining your car correctly

§ Driving smoothly - this reducesfuel consumption and pollution

§ Reporting HGV diesel vehicleswith smoky exhausts to theHotline (Tel: 0116 276 2411)

§ Getting on your bikes orwalking - especially for shortjourneys

§ Using public transport whenpossible.

Finding out moreabout air quality

There’s a wealth of information on theInternet at http:\\www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual/welcome.html. Information aboutpollutant levels in Cambridge City can befound at http:\\www.io-ltd.co.uk.

What the local authoritieswill be doing

Your city and district councils will continueto monitor air pollutants and to work with theCounty Council. Monitoring is beingincreased in certain “hot spot” areas suchas the roads leading into Cambridge City,along the A14 and in some market towns.

Progress on monitoring activities will bereported regularly and used to inform thevarious land use and transport plansproduced by local authorities.

Your local authorities will continue to work inpartnership to improve air quality andestablish and maintain Local Air QualityManagement Strategies.

Cambridge City CouncilMandela House4 Regent Street

CambridgeCB2 1BY

Contacts: Jo Dicks orIeuan EdwardsEnvironmental Health andProtection Service

Telephone No:01223 457892

East CambridgeshireDistrict Council

East CambridgeshireDistrict Council

The GrangeNutholt Lane

ElyCB7 4PL

Contacts: Teresa Isaacs,Phil Wright or Julia AtkinsEnvironmental HealthDepartment

Telephone No:01353 665555

Fenland District CouncilFenland HallCounty Road

MarchPE15 8NQ

Contacts: Graeme Carsonor Toby LewisEnvironmental ServicesDivision

Telephone No:01354 622431 or 622434

HuntingdonshireDistrict Council

Pathfinder HouseSt Mary’s Street

HuntingdonPE29 3TN

Contacts: AdrianBeeching or Chris WatkinEnvironmental HealthServices Division

Telephone No:01480 388363

South CambridgeshireDistrict Council

South Cambridgeshire Hall9-11 Hills Road

CambridgeCB2 1PB

Contacts: Susan Boundyor Allan HodgsonEnvironmental HealthDepartment

Telephone No:01223 443124 or 443132

CambridgeshireCounty Council

Shire HallCastle HillCambridgeCB3 0AP

Contact: Janet MartinEnvironment and TransportDepartment

Telephone No:01223 717831

This leafet has been produced by the AirQuality Review and Assessment Working Group