Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Air quality
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Air quality in Woking Borough is generally good and meets health-based standards set by the Government.
Local authorities are required to undertake periodic reviews of their local air quality to assess current levels of pollutants and review predicted future levels against Government health based standards.
Air quality assessment
The Council's Air Quality Review and Assessment Report (November 2001) provides information required by the Government's Air Quality Strategy, which sets national objectives for improving air quality.
It followed an investigation by the Environmental Health Service of current and predicted future air quality, through an examination of the principal pollution sources, reference to local and nationally monitored air quality data and the use of computer modelling.
The Council consulted local businesses, environmental groups, neighbouring local authorities, the community and other public bodies to seek their views and any specific areas of concern before submitting the report to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for their approval.
An Updating and Screening Assessment of local air quality was undertaken in December 2003. It identified that whilst for the majority of pollutants there was no significant risk of these levels being exceeded, the objective for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) might be exceeded in the Council's area, specifically close to Parvis Road, West Byfleet and Monument Road, Maybury.
A further Detailed Assessment (DA) was undertaken in April 2004 which used more sophisticated modelling methods to provide an accurate assessment of the likelihood of the NO2 objective being exceeded.
This assessment concluded that the 2005 Air Quality Standard for NO2 will not be exceeded and a progress report produced in April 2008 confirmed that this is still the case.
Air quality management areas
In areas where health based air quality standards are not expected to be met, the Government requires local authorities to establish Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).
DEFRA has agreed with the Environmental Health Service's DA findings that there is currently no need to establish AQMAs in Woking because air quality in the Borough is satisfactory.
The Council is required to assess local air quality at regular intervals andcarried out a full Review and Assessment in 2006.
Air quality in Surrey
An overview of the air quality in Surrey may be found in Surrey Your Air, alternatively contact us to request a paper copy.
Further sources of information
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
- Encyclopeadia of the Atmospheric Environment.
- London Air Quality Network - Environmental Research Group at King's College London. A 'not for profit' organisation monitoring air pollution over South-East England, disseminating real-time pollution information via their website.
- National Society for Clean Air.
- UK National Air Quality Archive.