The Environment Act 1995 introduced the system known as Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) which requires local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved.  Where the air quality objectives are considered likely to be exceeded, the local authority must then declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place to meet the objectives.