Issue - meetings

ES20303

The report was drafted to advise on the air quality monitoring results from the Council's monitoring equipment and to demonstrate the progress made delivering actions against the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan 2020-25.

The Assistant Director for Public Protection briefed the committee that Bromley had good air quality, and more air quality monitoring stations now than at any time in the past. Concentration of PM2.5 was noted at 10.6 against an objective of 40 so this was good. Indeed, all locations within the Borough were complying with national air quality objectives and standards. The permanent air quality monitoring station at Harwood Avenue had showed that nitrogen dioxide had not exceeded the relevant levels. The Council’s Air Quality Action Plan had been positively received by the GLA and had been published on the Council website.

A Member commented that hopefully with the introduction of ULEZ, there would be further improvements in air quality. The Assistant Director for Public Protection said that the trend across the Borough was downward and that there were other measures to consider in addition to ULEZ that could positively affect air quality in Bromley.

A Member commented that the introduction of ULEZ in Bromley would only result in a 3% enhancement to the air quality, and actually the air quality was 70 times worse on the Tube in inner London. He queried if PM10 was a valid measurement, as PM10 incorporated PM2.5; he also wondered if PM2.5 was composed of naturally occurring particles like pollen, which would mean that Bromley (being a ‘green’ Borough), would see an increased level of these.

A Member asked how many times the permanent monitoring station in Harwood Avenue had gone down. The Assistant Director for Public Protection responded that she would look into this and provide a response outside the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Environment and Community Services, Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee note the contents of the Annual Status Report for the year 2022.