Air Quality Data Management Service - AWARD

Local Authorities are required by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to undertake monitoring of the national air quality objectives within their area. This has been ongoing in the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council area since December 1997. There are legally binding limits and target values for concentrations of major air pollutants. These are translated in UK legislation in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 (as amended). The Council declared the entire borough an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) under s.83 of the Act due to exceedance of the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide. The borough remains an AQMA and operates an Air Quality Action Plan to introduce measures to reduce and mitigate levels within the borough. The data from the five (5) air quality monitoring stations will enable continued reporting on trends in pollutant levels and therefore help to review the effectiveness of the Council's actions to reduce emissions and therefore improve air quality.