About Us: Sussex Air Quality Strategy

SUSSEX AIR QUALITY STRATEGY – (May 2007)

In response to increasing concern about the air we breathe, there have been many changes nationally and locally to how we assess and manage this most vital of our environmental resources. As we begin to understand more fully the pollutants in our air and their effects on health, action needs to be taken to ensure that air quality is properly regulated and protected. This document sets out our current understanding of air quality in Sussex , describing the tools used to assess and monitor air quality, and how we affect air quality both beneficially and adversely. The document explains policies and actions currently in place to protect air quality and the possible “threats” to our current levels of air pollutants (housing allocations and associated infrastructure).

The aim of the document is to act as an Air Quality Strategy template for the agencies in Sussex that belong to Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex-air). The National Air Quality Strategy recognises that every local authority can make a contribution to continued improvements in air quality by the development of their own strategies. By developing and implementing local air quality strategies an integrated approach to air quality can be obtained. By providing an air quality template, each authority can adopt it and modify it according to their authority circumstances and role. Much of the template will be common to many authorities in Sussex .

All of this work is set against new and changing policy, economic and technical background and therefore it is vital that any strategy is reviewed, updated and implemented. Sussex-air will continue to review these strategies regularly to ensure it is in-line with current local, regional, UK and EU policy.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE

AIMS

• To maximise the opportunities for improving air quality throughout Sussex.

• To engage in the and respond to the development of local, regional, UK and EU air quality related legislation and strategies.

• To provide a framework for dealing with Sussex air quality issues in partnership with regional stakeholders.

• To ensure air quality is fully considered by public authorities when carrying out their functions and duties.

• To encourage air quality to be considered by residents, businesses and organisations when making decisions about their behaviour.

• To promote the importance of air quality as a determinant of public health and well being.

• To integrate air quality more widely into sustainability and climate change policies.

Objectives:

In line with these aims, the Partnership has adopted the following objectives.

•  Sussex-air will support local authorities in their duties under LAQM by:

•  Continuing to engage the services of a suitably qualified and experienced project officer.

•  Providing, through the project officer, air quality information, technical consultancy, project support and training,

•  Continuing to negotiate centralised contracts for services, such as air quality data, forecasting, quality control and assurance of data,

•  Developing and maintaining an Emissions Inventory for Sussex .

•  Sussex-air will promote air quality by:

•  Maintaining the Sussex-air website to a recognised high standard.

•  Responding to national and regional consultation on air quality issues.

•  Improving and expanding the “airALERT” system for persons sensitive to air pollution episodes.

•  Developing an annual business plan of the Partnership's activities to be presented before and agreed by the Sussex Chief EHOs.

•  Providing an air quality perspective on issues of national policy, such as climate change.

•  Organising an annual seminar on air quality-related topics.

•  Sussex-air will provide a framework for partnership working by:

•  Arranging at least 6 meetings for member's throughout the year.

•  Exploring and developing opportunities for air quality projects and funding involving members and other organisations, including those from the EU.

•  Representing the Partnership at relevant meetings, seminars and conferences.

 

Link to the full Sussex Air Quality Strategy