This report summarises the few changes since the Updating and Screening Assessment was published in 2009.

Continuing diffusion tube monitoring again demonstrates that concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide are below the statutory limit, and that therefore there is no requirement to proceed to a Detailed assessment.

The Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England. There are urban areas at Newport, Ryde, and the south-east coastal strip between Sandown and Shanklin. However, the majority of the Island is rural in character.

Tourism is a major contributor to the Island economy. It is estimated that the population is approximately double during the holiday season, with a large influx of visitors. It would be expected that this would result in significant differences between air pollution levels between winter and summer. Diffusion tube monitoring has not borne this out.

Progress Reports are required in the intervening years between the three-yearly Updating and Screening Assessment reports. Their purpose is to maintain continuity in the Local Air Quality Management process.

They are not intended to be as detailed as Updating and Screening Assessment Reports, or to require as much effort. However, if the Progress Report identifies the risk of exceedence of an Air Quality Objective, the Local Authority (LA) should undertake a Detailed Assessment immediately, and not wait until the next round of Review and Assessment.

The air quality objectives applicable to Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) in England are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 928), and the Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 3043). They are shown in Table 1.1. This table shows the objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre μg/m3 (for carbon monoxide the units used are milligrammes per cubic metre, mg/m3). Table 1.1. includes the number of permitted exceedences in any given year (where applicable).

First Round Air Quality Review

The first round of the review in 2000 gave results that indicated that it was not necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment, as the specified pollutants were predicted to be below the Air Quality Objectives.

The report of the 2000 review is not available on-line.

Second Round Updating and Screening Assessment 2004

During the second round, the Updating and Screening report 2004 identified that there was a possibility that, for two of the pollutants, concentrations may exceed the Objectives in specific areas.

A Detailed Assessment was carried out in 2004, examining two pollutants. Since the first round of assessment, a new housing estate had been built close to the petrol storage depot at Kingston, East Cowes. Computer modelling was therefore carried out, to predict benzene concentrations in the area. This was supplemented by diffusion tube monitoring for a short period. The results of the monitoring were reported in an Air Quality Progress Report in 2005. The modelling, together with the diffusion tube results, showed that the benzene concentration in air close to the site was very unlikely to exceed the Objective. There was therefore no need to declare an Air Quality Management Area for Benzene.

In addition, the modelling for sulphur dioxide emissions from the three cross-Solent ferry terminals also showed that there would be no exceedance of the short-term Objective for SO2.

Third Round Updating and Screening Assessment 2006

During the third round, in 2006, it was identified that, at two of the sites (Fairlee Road and Lake Hill) there is a possibility that the Air Quality Objective for Nitrogen dioxide may be exceeded.

It was therefore decided to increase the number of diffusion tubes placed at the two sites, to monitor nitrogen oxides. Diffusion tubes are not as exact as they could be, so there was some doubt about the actual concentrations measured. Using three tubes at each site gives a more reliable result.

Detailed Assessment for Nitrogen Dioxide

This was carried out using additional monitoring, using diffusion tubes. The 2007 Detailed Assessment Report concluded that there were unlikely to be exceedances of the guideline standard for Nitrogen dioxide at either of the two sites referred to above.

A Progress report was submitted in 2008.

Fourth Round Updating and Screening Assessment 2009

This concluded that the air quality guidelines were unlikely to be exceeded, and that there is therefore no requirement to proceed to a Detailed Review.

Figure 1.1 Map of AQMA Boundaries (if applicable)

There are no Air Quality Management Areas on the Isle of Wight.

There are no automatic monitoring sites on the Isle of Wight.

Previous rounds of diffusion tube monitoring at various locations have resulted in the conclusion that the critical area is along Fairlee Road, Newport. This is the main link between the towns of Newport and Ryde. It is also the main route between the cross-Solent vehicle ferries at East Cowes and at Fishbourne, and that half of the Island that lies to the West of Newport.

Figure 2.2 Map(s) of Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites (if applicable)






Monitoring locations at Fairlee Road, Newport




Monitoring locations at Lake Hill, Lake

The Nitrogen dioxide diffusion tube monitoring during 2009 demonstrates that the concentrations of this pollutant are below the statutory limits.

During 2009, diffusion tube monitoring was continued.

The bias adjustment factor used was taken from the latest spreadsheet published on the Review and Assessment web site. Isle of Wight Council uses Bureau Veritas (Gradko 50% TEA in acetone). The spreadsheet gives a factor for this method of 0.99.

There are no automatic monitoring stations on the Isle of Wight.

Raw data is listed in the table in Appendix A.

No monitoring was undertaken in 2009.

No monitoring was undertaken in 2009.

No monitoring was undertaken in 2009.

None.

Isle of Wight Council’s Local Transport Planner reports as follows:

Are there any other highway developments in the pipeline that may affect traffic flow, and therefore air quality?

No

Traffic Flows

(see attached spreadsheet)

Local Transport Plan

Our second Local Transport Plan (2006-2011) includes a target to have no designated AQMAs during the plan period. The LTP seeks to tackle congestion and increase accessibility by offering travel choice and promoting sustainable transport (which indirectly affects air quality). The plan does not include a specific strategy to deal with air quality in Fairlee Road.

We are currently preparing our third LTP for adoption in April 2011 and will soon be in the process of considering suitable targets.

In addition, Isle of Wight Council has recently confirmed that we have we have received approval for a Highways PFI initiative. This will result in a major programme of renewal of our worn-out road network.

Work on this is anticipated to start during 2013. A rolling programme of road closures will be needed to accomplish the necessary highway renewals, which will have the effect of changing traffic flow patterns for variable durations in different places.

The consequence may be that pollution from traffic sources will be temporarily changed, for better or for worse, for short periods.

A major development has recently been approved, which will involve the construction of 846 new houses on the outskirts of Newport. This also includes the construction of the roads to serve the housing, including junctions with existing roads.

An Environmental Statement was submitted with the application, which included consideration of the impact on Air Quality of an estimated growth in traffic consequent upon the development. Full details can be found at http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=20295

The conclusion of the assessment was that there would be no likely exceedances of air quality standards as a result of the development.

Planning Officer’s justification for the decision

Noise and Emissions from the Development - The Environmental Protection Officer has
commented that he has reviewed the supporting documents and also referred to the “Unit Conversion
Screening Tool” on the LAQM pages of the University of the West of England. This has been
produced on behalf of HM Government to give guidance in assessing the air quality impact of point
sources of pollutants. Having entered the relevant data (as given in the Chimney Height report from
GF Environmental, the result shows a predicted ground level concentration of pollutants that are well
below the statutory guideline limits of the Air Quality Regulations.

The current planning application will be accepted by Environmental Health as an application for a
Chimney Height Determination in accordance with section 14 of the Clean Air Act 1993. The
information supplied also satisfies the Local Authority that the requirement to fit grit arrestment plant,
in accordance with section 6 of the Act, is also satisfied. Therefore the Environmental Health Officer
concludes that the development will not have a significant adverse effect on local amenity, or on local
air quality, subject to the imposition of conditions relating to; development to be completed in
accordance with the submitted plans; chimney to be a minimum of 9 metres above ground level, and

See the Local Transport Plan 2006 – 2011 Part I “Improving Air Quality and the Environment”. This was covered in the 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment. There are no additional comments since the publication of that report.

Isle of Wight Council is a signatory to the Nottingham Convention. Work is in progress towards the publication of a Climate Change Strategy. This was due to be completed in March 2010; however, the Strategy had not yet been published by the time this report was prepared.

It is hoped to be able to report on this in next year’s Progress Report.

There are no Air Quality Management Areas on the Island, and therefore no Action Plans.

New monitoring data demonstrates that the monitored pollutant (NO2) is unlikely to exceed the guideline value, and therefore there is no need to proceed to a Detailed Assessment.

New local developments have been assessed during the Planning stage for their potential impacts on local air quality. A proposed biofuel plant to provide heat and power to the proposed Pan Extension housing development has not been fully assessed. This will be addressed, and included in a subsequent report.

Continuing monitoring at roadside sites identified has identified that there is no need to proceed to a Detailed Assessment. However, there remains concerns, particularly along Fairlee Road.

NO2 diffusion tube monitoring will be continued, and results used to inform future reports.

The various tools and spreadsheets published on the Air Quality Helpdesk web sites have been used.

The data has been checked for precision, using the spreadsheet, and found to be “good”.


IW11 was discontinued after March 2009. A period adjustment was applied, using the method in Box 3.2 of LAQM.TG(09).

There are no co-location studies on the Island.

The laboratory used in Bureau Veritas, using the Gradko 50% TEA in acetone method. For 2009, the Bias Adjustment Factor given in the spreadsheet is 0.99.