Air Quality

Air quality monitoring in Preston

We have two continuous air quality stations, known as Bootle Street and Meadow Street.

• Bootle Street measures - Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Particulates, Sulphur Dioxide and Ozone.
• Meadow Street measures - Nitrogen Dioxide

Air Quality Forecast

To find out a 24hr forecast for pollution levels within the North West region, view the UK Air Pollution Forecast.

District wide review and assessment

Every local authority in England and Wales has a statutory duty to review local air quality under the Environment Act 1995. The aim of the review process is to identify any areas where the Governments National Air Quality Standards and Objectives for 7 key pollutants are likely to be exceeded, to declare any such areas an 'Air Quality Management Area' and then to prepare action plans to show what can be done to improve air quality in these areas.

Air quality management areas

Following the results of the Detailed Assessment in 2004, we declared two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) in September 2005. In both these areas it is likely that levels will exceed those set by the National Air Quality Objectives for nitrogen dioxide.

Air Quality Action Plan

Following the declaration of the two Air Quality Management Areas for the pollutant Nitrogen Dioxide in September 2005, we are required to complete and implement an Air Quality Action Plan to reduce the levels of this pollutant.

During the last few months a number of meetings have been held with Lancashire County Council and others, to identify a number of actions that could improve the air quality. There are 18 actions included in the full action plan and a summary of these actions are:

• To review the highway network at AQMA 1.
• To further model the air quality at AQMA 2.
• To validate the software controlling the junctions at and around AQMA 2
• To provide high quality cycle parking in the Tithebarn Development.
• To provide a number of new cycle routes.
• To review the councils own transport plan.
• To review the displaying of real time air quality information to the public of Preston.
• To provide additional park and rides.