Pollution zones set to be scrapped after improvement in air quality
The air quality management areas look set to be scrapped
Measures to tackle pollution in seven areas across the Wakefield district are set to be lifted due to improvements in air quality.
Wakefield Council put eight air quality management areas (AQMAs) in place between 2004 and 2013 in a bid to tackle rising pollution.
Under the Environment Act 1995, local authorities are required to improve air quality within AQMAs, with work including “extensive and continual monitoring” of nitrogen dioxide emissions.
The council’s cabinet members have been asked to approve proposals to revoke AQMAs in Pontefract, Knottingley and Castleford centres.
Senior councillors are also expected to sign off on plans to scrap the zones in Featherstone, the Cross Hills area of Hemsworth, as well as those in place next to the M1 and A1 motorways.
The remaining AQMA in Wakefield city centre is likely to stay in place because it failed to meet pollution targets in 2023.
A report said it was the first time since 2018 that the city centre had fallen below the air quality threshold and the area was “on course” to being revoked at a later date.
The report said: “Revoking the AQMAs will help to demonstrate that the air quality within these areas has improved significantly and is now within nationally set targets.
“This can improve community confidence in local environmental policies and help build trust in governmental efforts to protect public health.
“Revoking the AQMAs is confirmation of sustained improvement to air quality in Wakefield which is good for health and something that the council and residents can be proud of.”
The proposals follows guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which recommends at least three consecutive years without a breach in an AQMA before revocation.
The report said residents and councillors in the affected areas had also been consulted.
The document added: “At present there are no proposed major developments, which are considered likely to generate significant additional nitrogen dioxide in any of the seven AQMAs or adjacent areas.
“In addition, the Department of Transport has predicted that vehicular emissions of nitrogen dioxide will continue to fall between 60% and 90% by 2050, which is likely to continue the trend in improved air quality.”
Cabinet members will consider the report at a meeting on September 22.