Management of Air Quality within our local area.
The management of local air quality is a statutory duty implemented through the Environmental Act 1995 (Part IV), The Act places a legal duty on all local authorities to regularly monitor both the current and future air quality within their areas. Monitoring in Middlewich is carried out by Cheshire East Council (CEC) and it must follow Government guidance.
- That sets health-based objectives, which are based on what is considered acceptable given the known facts.
Consequently, CEC has an Air Quality Action Plan 2020 to 2025 of how this monitoring is achieved. The full plan can be viewed here:
CEC Air Quality Action Plan 2020 2025
Although there are no statutory requirements, CEC has a Local Air Quality Strategy, published October 2018 and additionally a Low Emission Strategy, published August 2018. The strategies can be viewed/downloaded here:
CEC monitor air quality using Diffusion Tubes, passive measurement systems, relying on the diffusion of contaminant molecules in air to determine NO2 levels, situated throughout the town which are in place and changed monthly. The original ones are taken away for laboratory analysis and the result published on the CEC Air Quality web page as Datasets.
The History of Air Pollution
The history of air pollution can be traced back to the 13th Century. A more detailed account of this history from this time period onwards can be found here:
The History of Air Pollution
The Law
The public health catastrophe of the 1952 London Smog created the political momentum for the UK Government to pass the 1956 Clean Air Act. As years passed further legislations were introduced, based on the Environmental Act 1995 and the Air Quality Strategy 1997. You can view/download the strategy here:
National Air Quality Strategy RP97-33
UK National laws, standards, and policies
-
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
- Clean Air Act 1993
- Environment Act 1995
- Transport Act 2000
- The Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000
- The National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2002
- The Large Combustion Plants (National Emission Reduction Plan) Regulations 2007
- The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010
- The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010
- Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1995
- UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration 2017
- UK Clean Air Strategy 2019
AIR QUALITY IN MIDDLEWICH
Middlewich has two designated Air Quality Management
-
-
- Lewin Street
- Chester Road
-
Middlewich Town Council and Local Air Quality
At Middlewich Town Council (MTC) meetings, the issue of poor air quality had been raised on numerous occasions, more recently with fugitive emissions. An opportunity to raise these issues arose during an Air Quality Workshop at the Victoria Hall in September 2019, delivered by Cheshire East Council (CEC)
At the workshop questions were raised regarding the methodology and monitoring carried out by CEC of air quality. A decision by MTC to carry out a fundamental review of the CEC Policies and a physical mapping of air quality monitoring and reporting.
On completion the survey was presented to the External committee with recommendations to re-establish the Air Quality Working Group (AQWG).
Middlewich Town Council runs numerous subgroups that meet and feed back into either the Internal or External Committees, and if required to the main Town Council. It was decided after the report was reviewed by Councillors and Officers in November 2019 that the AQWG, which was originally formed in 2016, was to be reinstated and to include members of the community.
The AQWG first met in March 2021 and as with all Council Meetings or subgroups ‘Terms of Reference’ (TOR), a set of aims and objectives, were agreed on.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Middlewich Air Quality Group exists to reduce the adverse effects of poor air quality on the health of Middlewich residents
Purpose of Group
- To raise public awareness of Air Quality in Middlewich
- To engage with the Residents of Middlewich to bring an understanding of Air Quality and the methodology of monitoring.
- To keep residents informed of progress on Air Quality Management Areas and reported fugitive emissions.
- To work with CEC in identifying problem areas and the promotion of measuring Particulate Matter and fugitive emissions.
- To work with CEC and contribute to plans for improving Air Quality in Middlewich
- To establish base evidence as to current air quality levels by consideration of the purchase or hire of Air Quality measuring equipment working alongside CEC
Click here to view the latest Air Quality Presentation (Author Councillor Graham Orme)
Air Quality Master Presentation
Click here to read the latest Air Quality Report (Author Councillor Graham Orme)
Air Quality Report 2018 – 2023
MIDDLEWICH BYPASS
Full plans and details of the new Middlewich Bypass can be viewed on the Cheshire East website:
Middlewich Air Quality Datasets uploaded as of April 2023
MIDDLEWICH ROAD SAFETY
In most towns, including Middlewich, there is a perception of speeding. This was discussed by residents in the local Middlewich Town Council meetings on many occasions in the past
Consequently, it was decided to purchase two Vehicle-activated signs (VAS), or Speed Indicator Devices (SID’s) to be placed on specific roads, namely Warmingham Lane and King Street where residents and the Council believed there were major concerns.
The two were purchased from TWM based in Winsford who, after calibration at thirty miles per hour, installed them at the required locations in 2018
The added benefit was to advise motorists of the speed they were travelling at and to record actual speeds and traffic loading on a daily basis, over hourly intervals.
With this data now available (from to 2018 to present day) the Town Council have decided to re-position the SID’s to other ‘Hot Spots’ in the town.
Middlewich Town Council registered this request recently and in both asking for the SID’s to be-sited. Town Council wishes to collaborate with CEC the information from the data collected, which is in this presentation. The Council is willing to hold any discussions with CEC to find a way forward
The Town Council has asked Cheshire East Council Highways about the process for carrying out this request and potential timescale.
You can view the full Speeding Report here:
2018 – 2023 Speeding Report for CEC