Agenda and minutes

No apologies had been sent.

No interests were declared.

Purpose.

In 2013, with the aid of funding from DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs), Environmental Health and officers from the Transport and Environment Service carried out an ambitious city wide project named ORTMCS (Optimisation of Road Traffic Management Control Systems (ORTMCS) to understand and qualify the impact that local road traffic management control systems has on local road traffic congestion and the resultant levels of air pollution it causes.

This pioneering desk top study, took the form of a set of complex feasibility studies focused on testing ways to regulate and improve road traffic fluidity management to achieve an improvement in local air quality without creating new air pollution hotspots.

Following completion of the project in 2015 the results of ORTMCS have been used to complete a Detailed Assessment of air quality for submission to DEFRA in accordance with Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.

Following the declaration of 13 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) in 2005 as a result of levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) above those prescribed by the National Air Quality Objectives (NAQO) and the revocation of seven of these areas in 2010, the information obtained from ORTMCS has enabled PCC to publish the first assessment of air quality in Portsmouth since 2011.

The conclusions reached therefore have some considerable significance in relation to the council meeting its objective, as set out with the 2010 Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP), to deliver cleaner air across the city and to target the ‘hotspot’ areas where pollution is highest.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Environment & Community Safety:

1.    Acknowledge the conclusions reached in respect to ORTMCS and how changes in the management of traffic control systems could improve air quality. Appendix 1;

2.    Acknowledge the conclusions reached in respect to the Detailed Assessment of air quality in Portsmouth and approves its submission to DEFRA. Appendix 2;

3.    Acknowledge the need to continue to review and assess the quality of air in Portsmouth in accordance with statutory requirements and adequately resource our ability to validate the modelled conclusions of ORTMCS with monitored data. 

Richard Lee, Environmental Health Manager introduced the report and in response to questions, clarified the following points:

·         Predictions of air quality levels were evident across the city. In the London Road corridor this may, in part, be due to HGVs being required to use alternative routes when accessing the IFP. Other HGV prohibitions were in place in others areas close to sensitive receptors (such as along Anchorage Road). 

·         DEFRA had been informed about the 55 measures that the council is trying to implement across the city in order to tackle air quality issues and reduce congestion. All are multi-functional; as well as reducing air pollution they have a positive impact on other aspects including pedestrian safety and parking. Although these will contribute to improving air quality levels, the primary reason for the downward trends in levels of pollutant is likely to be because abatement technologies have improved within vehicular exhaust systems.

·         Air quality levels are published on the council's website three times a day.

·         The figures shown in the report relate to annual averages.

·         Monitoring is essential to ensure that the predictions are accurate.

·         Despite the conclusions of the 'optimisation of road traffic management control systems' PCC transport engineers are trying to adopt positive measures within the report when possible. 

·         Local Authorities are held to account if they exceed air quality levels. Significant fines can theoretically be levied where breaches of the EU limit Values are occurring.

Councillor Chowdhury commented that more should be done to improve cycle facilities and safety. 

Councillor Swan asked whether it would be possible to encourage people to use low emission cars with incentives such as cheaper parking.

Councillor New explained that:

·         Whilst he shared Councillor Swan's aspiration, he did not feel that that would be an appropriate course of action for the council. 

·         He was pleasantly surprised with the air quality results shown in the report and noted that annual monitoring is essential.

·         London Road and Fratton Road used to have more than 1,000 lorries a day travelling through it and Anchorage Park residents complained that they were not able to use their gardens in the summer because of fumes and noise. Since the HGVs had been diverted, air quality, noise and the smell have improved.

·         Penny Mordant is trying to work with the university bicycle to set up a bicycle hire scheme. 

·         He commended officers for their hard work and great results. 

Councillor Winnington noted that there is an opportunity to connect in with the cycle forums. When he referred to a query he had received from a resident from Baffins Ward, Councillor New explained a response would be given through the normal process and not at this meeting.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Community Safety:

1.   Acknowledged the conclusions reached in respect to ORTMCS and how changes in the management of traffic control systems could improve air quality. Appendix 1;

2.   Acknowledged the conclusions reached in respect to the Detailed Assessment of air quality in Portsmouth and approves its submission to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.