Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Consultation on Further Assessment of air quality in Abingdon

In 2006 the Council declared an “Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)” covering central Abingdon. This was required because the levels of nitrogen dioxide from traffic pollution were above the national objective at the residential premises along the affected roads.

We have now carried out a Further Assessment of air quality in the Abingdon AQMA. Our consultants looked at the situation following the implementation of the major traffic management changes required by the Abingdon Integrated Transport Strategy (known as AbITS) and report:

1. There has been a reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels in parts of central Abingdon.
2. The levels of nitrogen dioxide are still above the legal limit, so the AQMA is still required.
3. There is now evidence to suggest the AQMA should be extended along certain roads.
4. Different types of vehicle contribute different levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution.
5. The estimated reduction in pollution that would be required to meet the legal limit.
6. The Vale of White Horse District Council needs to prepare an “Air Quality Action Plan” in pursuit of the legal limit.

The Council has accepted the report and it has been approved by the Government’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

However, the Council feels it would be premature to extend the AQMA along Ock Street, as the report recommends. We wish to carry out further monitoring in this area before we can make a decision. At the moment we are in discussion with DEFRA about this particular point.

The Further Assessment report can be viewed or downloaded from the right of the page. Copies of the report are also available to view at the Council Offices and Abingdon Library. If you would like your own electronic or hard copy please get in touch using the contact details on the right.  

The Council would like to receive your comments on the report by 18 August 2008. Please send them to the Environmental Protection Team either by emailing or writing to the Team using the contact details on the right.   

Please note that the Council intends to carry out separate public consultation on the preparation of an Air Quality Action Plan later this year. We will contact you about this to seek your comments and ideas for improving the air quality in Abingdon. If you feel there is anyone else we should consult please let the Team know.