Town’s air quality ‘getting better’

Environment protection manager Jill Reeves says: “In general the district has seen a decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentrations (from traffic pollution) when compared to 2009 figures and that there are no new locations breaching the air quality objective.”

However, she says that some locations within the air quality management areas at Bond End, Knaresborough, and Low Skellgate, Ripon, which were found to be breaching the objective last year are still doing so.

Harrogate’s main source of pollutants, which are likely to have an effect on air quality objectives, is the road network, which includes the A1(M) motorway, A1 dual carriageway and a small part of the A168 dual carriageway.

Other sources are agricultural activities – not surprising given the district’s overwhelmingly rural composition – and a number of industrial installations and waste facilities.

Harrogate Council is involved in drawing up a development control policy covering air quality and this is set to be discussed further in the next round of assessment.

The council has also drawn up a list of important planning applications where air quality issues were considered. These include a proposed Tesco store in Harrogate; change of use of ammunition store to composting of green waste at land at Hutton Hall; and outline applications for residential development at Irongate Bridge Reservoir depot and the former Harlow Hill depot.

But it is said that none are considered to have the potential for a seriously detrimental effect on air quality and will be kept under review where necessary.

Monitoring has shown that the Woodlands public house at Wetherby Road/Hookstone Drive junction has not breached the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide, but the monitoring is to be continued.