The North Yorkshire Council Air Quality Action Plan is a statutory document. It combines previous plans from former borough and district councils within North Yorkshire.
We have to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) if pollution is above certain levels. These levels are set by the UK Government’s UK Air Quality Strategy.
There are eight Air Quality Management Areas in North Yorkshire:
- Knaresborough - Bond End
- Harrogate - Wetherby Road
- Selby - The Crescent and New Street
- Scarborough - the village of Staithes
- Bedale - town centre
- Knaresborough – York Place
- Ripon - Low and High Skellgate
- Malton – town centre
We declared the Air Quality Management Area in Staithes because of high levels of PM10. This is particulate matter less than 10 micrometres in diameter. PM10 is present in smoke from domestic solid fuel burning.
We declared the other seven areas for traffic-related nitrogen dioxide pollution.
We plan to revoke four out of the eight areas, in Bedale, Ripon, Malton and Knaresborough (York Place). This is because pollution levels in those areas have been below a certain level for at least five years. This is a DEFRA rule.
If pollution levels remain compliant throughout 2024 we will also remove the areas in Wetherby Road, Harrogate and Bond End, Knaresborough.
We have reviewed the air quality measures in Selby and Staithes. We need to do more work with partners and carry out some extra monitoring to be compliant.
You can download the Air Quality Action Plan (pdf / 6 MB).
Take part in the Air Quality Action Plan public consultation
Please give us your comments on the action plan before 12 midday on 27 September 2024.