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Council Services

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Home Page > Environment and Planning > Environmental health > Pollution > Air Pollution
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Pollution Control - Air

The main air pollutants of concern are:

  • nitrogen dioxide - associated with vehicle exhausts, combustion processes and some industrial processes
  • sulphur dioxide - mostly from the combustion of oil and solid fuel, but also from diesel vehicles
  • carbon monoxide - from vehicle exhausts and poorly operated boiler plant particles very fine particles emitted from vehicle exhausts, combustion processes and industrial sources Usually referred to as'PM10'- particles less than 10 microns in diameter A micron is a thousandth of a millimeter
  • Benzene - an organic chemical emitted in exhausts and also during refueling
  • 1,3 Butadiene - another organic chemical emitted in exhausts and also from some industrial processes
  • Lead - mostly from leaded petrol

 

Air Monitoring

We presently monitor around the Borough for nitrogen dioxide in line with a national program of monitoring. The levels of nitrogen dioxide which have been detected within the Borough are low. Levels of the other pollutants have also been established to be minimal and as such routine monitoring is not carried out.

 

Smoke Control

Smoke Control Areas are designed to control emissions from domestic chimneys caused by the burning of coal and wood inside domestic dwellings. We do not have any smoke control areas within the Borough.  Smoke control legislation does not apply to garden bonfires, we do however discourage people from having garden bonfires which can cause serious nuisance to neighbouring properties. In these instances legal action may be taken.

 

Air Handling Units 

Air handling units within buildings may be linked to air conditioning systems. Some air conditioning systems e.g. those which use evaporative cooling, may pose potential health risks if not properly maintained. The message is therefore "make sure your ai rhandling units are serviced at appropriate intervals, and follow the instructions by the supplier or manufacturer".

 

Clean Air Act Approval 

The control of chimney heights enables local authorities to take into account a number of relevant factors in determining the height of a chimney. Under section 14 of the Act, unless the height of the chimney has been approved by the local authority and any conditions attached to approval adhered to, it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit a furnace to be used to: burn pulverised fuel burn at a rate of 45.4 kg or more an hour any other solid matter or burn at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kW or more any liquid or gaseous matter.

 

An application for chimney height approval must contain adequate information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out.The local authority must consider an application for approval for chimney height for a furnace and give a written decision within 28 days of receipt, unless it is agreed in writing between us and the applicant that a longer period is allowed. If we fail to deal with the application within this time period, then approval without qualification is given

 

Please see the links below for further information on permits and pollution.

 

Pollution Prevention and Control permits

What we do in Pollution Control

LA-IPPC Public register

Applying for a Permit

Environment Agency permits

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