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Telephone: 01353-665555
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Online: Latest Information on Air Quality in the District
The recent data indicates that the air quality in East Cambridgeshire is within the objectives set by the government. The information is obtained from a number of sources. Firstly, a number of small Nitrogen Dioxide diffusion tubes are positioned in various locations around the district. The information provided by these diffusion tubes gives us an indication of the impact on air quality from road traffic. The Council also has a permanent station for monitoring levels of PM10, which are very fine particles in the air.
We take into account new developments, such as roads, landfill sites, industrial sites and any mineral sites. We also look at previous years data and apply guidelines set by the government to make predictions for air quality in the coming years.
For more information please view the Air Quality Report 2011 document provided and the associated DEFRA assessment:
What is the air quality like in East Cambridgeshire?
As East Cambridgeshire is a rural district, the air quality is relatively good.
The main source of air pollution in Cambridgeshire is motor vehicle emissions. Understandably, other, more urban districts in Cambridgeshire have encountered air quality problems resulting for motor vehicle emissions. In certain cases, they have had to declare what's called "Air Quality Management Areas". These are areas where the air quality consistently presents a problem according to government guidance. East Cambridgeshire has not had the need to declare any of these areas as yet. All of the national air quality targets look set to be achieved in 2005.
The weather conditions do always affect air quality and do make it difficult for Councils to attribute the problem to a specific source, such as vehicle emissions. This is why problems must be looked at over a period of time, to see consistent exceedances. The hot summer of 2003 had a large impact on air quality in this region.
Industrial processes that discharge emissions to the atmosphere do have the potential to impact on air quality. However, as we don't have a huge amount of these processes and what we do have are operated in a responsible manner, we do not currently have any significant air quality problems related to industrial processes.
Improvements in air quality are predicted and the air quality targets set by the government become slightly lower every year to accommodate this. The improvements are expected as a result of improved engine technology, traffic reduction schemes etc. The recently completed Fordham by-pass is expected to have a significantly beneficial effect on air quality in Fordham. Exactly how much of an improvement will be shown through the Councils roadside monitoring scheme, which is reported upon annually.
For additional information on air quality, relevant publications or to see details on the air quality in our neighbouring districts (in Cambridgeshire); please follow the link below to the Cambridgeshire County Council website:
Predictions about levels of air pollution for future days, is also available on the above website. This information about air pollution forecasts for Cambridgeshire is issued by the Met. Office.
A lot of the air quality reporting for Cambridgeshire is carried out in a "County-wide" approach; therefore you will see the results for East Cambridgeshire alongside Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Cambridge City.
To find out "What you can do to reduce local air pollution"; please follow the link below:
Does the Council regulate industrial processes in the district (LA-IPPC, Part A(2)'s and Part B's)?
Certain industrial processes have the potential to cause air pollution. Since 1990, many of these processes have required an 'authorisation' from the Local Authority or the Environment Agency (EA) to allow then to operate the proscribed process.
Since 2000 these authorisations, issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have been transferred to permits under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. This was undertaken to comply with the European Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control. Generally, processes have to comply with very detailed guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
There are currently three types of process classifications. A1 processes are regulated by the EA, while A2 and Part B processes are regulated by the Local Authority. Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) cover A1 and A2 processes and it requires all environmental emissions and impacts to be considered together, including; Noise, Energy consumption, Land contamination, Sustainable practices and Environmental accident prevention. Currently we do not have any A2 processes in East Cambridgeshire.
Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC)
The Part B Processes are covered under Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC), which looks at potential releases to air.
Prescribed Processes
The Pollution and Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 prescribe the industrial processes, which are required to hold permits. These can be found on DEFRA's website. An operator of a prescribed process which does not hold a permit is committing an offence and companies can be fined up to £50,000. Prior to commencing the operation of a prescribed process, the operator must submit an application, with a fee to the regulating authority. The authority must then consult statutory bodies for any comments on the application. A permit must then be issued or refused within a set time period. East Cambs District Council currently regulates over 20 prescribed processes across the district ranging from Petrol Stations to concrete batching plants. The public register is available for download below:
Role of The Council
The Council administers the permitting system in all cases where it is the lead authority (A2 & B). Its role is to prepare and issue permits, to ensure that all processes requiring a permit hold one, to monitor compliance with the conditions within the permit and to take any enforcement action that may become necessary. Each permit contains a number of conditions, which regulate the way a process operates. These conditions can include emission limits and improvements required to achieve national standards in accordance with relevant government guidance as well as many others, which apply to a wide range of things, such as maintenance and good housekeeping. Generally, depending on the nature of the process, the LAPPC permit will concentrate on reducing releases of volatile organic compounds (VOC's), organic solvents, dust and odour (smell).
Routine inspections are carried out and complaints investigated to check compliance. If the agreed emission limits are being exceeded the council can take enforcement action against the operator.
The Council must also maintain a public register of all Part B and A2 processes permitted by the authority. The EA maintains the public register for all A1 processes, but a duplicate copy is maintained by the Local Authority. If you wish to view this register please contact the Council to make an appointment.
Industrial processes that discharge emissions to the atmosphere do have the potential to impact on air quality. However, the processes in the district are generally operated in a responsible manner, and we therefore do not currently have any significant air quality problems related to industrial processes.
- Link to Environment Agency website : http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
- Link to DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/pollution/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/manuals.htm
I operate a process under Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Contro/Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control is there any advice?
Process Guidance Notes
The Process Guidance (PG) Notes are issued by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. They form statutory guidance on what constitute the Best Available Techniques (BAT) for LAPPC installations (Part B processes). A list of all the available PG notes are available on the DEFRA website at
Applying for a Permit
The application forms needed to apply for a permit, are available from the DEFRA website. Guidance on the policy and procedures to be followed when applying for a permit can also be found on the DEFRA website. If you have any concerns please contact the Environmental Health department of the Council on 01353 665555
Making Changes
Whether it is on the initiative of the operator or to implement a requirement of the Council, companies holding permits have to follow legal procedures when making changes to their process. Any changes should be discussed with the regulator before they are made and where the proposed change is classed as a 'substantial change' as defined in the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000, a formal application for permission must be made to vary the permit.
Transfers and Surrender of Permits
Where a holder of a permit wishes to sell the business or transfer the permit to another person both parties must jointly apply to the enforcing authority to transfer the permit. If a prescribed process is to cease operation then the permit holder must notify the enforcing authority of the date that the operations will cease and complete a surrender form which can be found on DEFRA's website.
Fees & Charges
The fees and charges for operating a prescribed process are set by DEFRA and the current level of fees can be found on their website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/pollution/ppc/localauth/fees-risk/fees.htm. The Council sends out invoices at the start of each new financial year.
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