Air quality management areas
The Council monitors air quality across the Borough, looking at a number of forms of pollution . If the pollution levels in a certain location do not meet standards set by the Government then the Council must declare that area as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). This is part of a process intended to protect the general population. Individual health concerns should always be raised with one's doctor.
The Council is already giving careful consideration to applications for planning permission for developments in or near AQMAs. This includes considering the possible impact of increases in traffic flows to, from or through the AQMAs that may result from a proposed development.
Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant associated with combustion, and with road traffic in particular. The Council has declared six AQMAs because of the long term average concentration of nitrogen dioxide in those areas is greater than the action level set by the Government.
The Council has published an action plan setting out the steps it will take to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide in the AQMAs covering parts of Salterhebble (Halifax), Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge: Air Quality Action Plan 2009 [PDF file 1371KB]|
The six AQMAs declared by the Council are set out below.
Salterhebble and Huddersfield Road
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Bristol Street, Chapel Lane, Crossley Hill, Doncaster Street, Dryclough Lane, Elm View, Exeter Street, Falcon Street, Heath Lane, Hillas Court, Huddersfield Road, Jubilee Road, Rookery, Salterhebble Hill, Salterhebble Terrace, Stafford Avenue, Stafford Green, Stafford Place, Westbourne Crescent, Westbourne Grove, Westbourne Terrace, Whinney Field.
Sowerby Bridge
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Back Wakefield Road, Bolton Brow, Canal Road, Carlton Mill, Church Bank, County Bridge, Greenups Mill, Holmes Road, Nichols Yard, Park Crescent, Park Road, Park Street, Park Villas, Plainfield, Pye Nest Road, Sowerby Street, Summerland Terrace, Tower Hill, Town Hall Court, Town Hall Street, Upper Bolton Brow, Wakefield Road, Walker Lane, West Street, Wharf Street.
Hebden Bridge
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Bankfoot Terrace, Heptonstall Road, Bridge Lanes, River Street, Market Street, Barker Terrace, Hangingroyd Road, Brunswick Street, Salem Street, Hilton Street, West End, Bridge Gate, New Road, Hope Street, Butlers Wharf, Tanpits, Albert Street, Crossley Terrace, Machpelah, Burnley Road.
Luddendenfoot
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Burnley Road, Dale View, Danny Lane, Denholme Mills Luddenden Lane, Mill Stream Drive, Tillotson's Buildings, Station Road, Victoria Buildings.
Stump Cross
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Bradford Road, Hough, Leeds Road, Park Grove, Park Terrace, Stump Cross.
Brighouse
Schedule: Extent of designated area
All or part of the following lie within the designated area:
Alegar Street, Atlas Mill Road, Bethel Street, Blackburn Buildings, Bonegate Road, Bradford Road, Bramston Street, Bridge End, Bridge Road, Briggate, Church Lane, Clifton Road, East Street, Elland Road, George Street, Halifax Road, High Street, Huddersfield Road, Lawson Road, King Street, Martin Street, Mill Lane, Mill Royd Street, Owler Ings Road, Parsonage Lane, Phoenix Court, Scotty Bank, St James Court, The Links, Thornton Square, Upper Bonegate, Wakefield Road.
The Council is working to complete the publication of further assessment reports for each of the six AQMAs. These reports will include the results of any further investigations undertaken by the Council to find out more about local pollution levels.
On completion of the further assessments for the AQMAs covering parts of Luddendenfoot, Stump Cross (Halifax) and Brighouse the Council will publish an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) containing measures the Council may employ to try to reduce local pollution. The Council's Highways Services and Environmental Health Services are working together to develop the action plans for Calderdale's AQMAs, because much of the nitrogen dioxide pollution in these areas is produced by road traffic.
