Regional developments in Air Quality Management (AQM) in the United Kingdom-evidence from a study of South West England

摘要

The UK National Air Quality Strategy initiated by the Environment Act 1995 gives local authorities the duty to review and assess air quality in their areas with respect to objectives for a number of pollutants. In areas where the objectives are not likely to be met by 2005, the authority concerned will have to designate that part of its area as an Air Quality Management Area, incorporating an Action Plan setting out how the authority intends to achieve the objectives. This study investigates a sub-set of authorities in South West England to firstly identify the current state of the review and assessment process. Secondly to investigate the extent to which air quality considerations are integrated into the existing decision making processes of local government, such as land use planning and economic development. This study will provide an early indication of how successful local authorities have so far been in fulfilling their duties under Part IV of Environment Act 1995.