Frequently Asked Questions

How Clean is the Borough’s Air?

Despite four air quality management areas being declared within the Borough, Barnsley’s air quality is generally very similar to towns and cities of comparable size. Air Pollution is classed as “Low” for the majority of time. Air pollution concentrations were significantly worse in the past than they are now. However, the passing of the Clean Air Acts and the Council’s subsequent Smoke Control programme, along with more regulation of industrial processes which emit pollution, have been very successful in improving the Borough’s air quality. Traffic emissions are now a major source of air pollution in the Borough.

What are the effects of Poor air quality?

Episodes of poor air quality tend to occur in certain weather conditions, these being hot, sunny summer days, or during calm cold winter weather. When air pollution is High or Very High, susceptible individuals to air pollution, such as people with existing respiratory conditions, may experience some effects. The Air Quality Public Information Bands describe these conditions further as air quality worsens. Fortunately, the episodes of High or Very High air pollution concentrations we experience in Barnsley and the in rest of the United Kingdom do not tend to affect normal healthy individuals. On a longer timescale however, air pollution can effect vegetation and contribute to global warming. In addition, there is growing evidence that certain types of air pollution may cause up to 24 000 people nationally, who are already vulnerable to air pollution, to die prematurely each year, along with increases in hospital admissions.

In 1997 the Government devised the National Air Quality Strategy, based upon legislation contained within the Environment Act 1995. Under this legislation, Local Authorities, including Barnsley MBC, are required to periodically review the air quality in their areas, by assessing the concentrations of seven important airborne pollutants against health based air quality standards. If it is then found that these air quality standards are being exceeded for one or more the pollutants, then the Local Authority has to declare an Air Quality Management Area, and then devise an Action Plan. The Action Plan will contain measures to attempt to reduce air pollution to more acceptable concentrations.

How is the Borough’s Air Quality Assessed?

This is done by monitoring and modelling the air quality. By monitoring the air quality, we can confidently work out the actual air pollution concentrations. Modelling air quality involves collecting emissions data, such as how much pollution is emitted by an industrial process over a given time, along with meteorological and topographical data, and then running a sophisticated model, which produces a map of the modelled concentrations. The modelled results can then be compared against the monitored results to ensure accuracy, and by applying factors for future years, the air quality can be predicted for future years. In order to have confidence in the results, both air quality monitoring and modelling have to be undertaken to a high degree of accuracy.

What is the Council doing to improve Air Quality?

The council is involved with a lot of measures, which either directly or indirectly further improve the Borough’s air quality.

The Council regulates industrial processes within the Borough, which help control emissions from these processes to atmosphere. The Council role is discussed on the Industrial Air Pollution Control page. Domestic emissions of air pollution have been reduced by the Council’s declaration of Smoke Control Areas, in addition to other measures, which are detailed on the Smoke Control page.

The Council undertakes other initiatives that help reduce air pollution. The promotion of such schemes as “Walking Buses” to school; development of cycling and walking paths to link schools directly with their communities, to reduce the congestion associated with the “school car run”; energy efficiency in homes; composting of waste rather then burning; vehicle emissions testing, and campaigns to raise awareness of air quality issues all have a positive effect on air quality. In addition, air pollution may be controlled further by planning regulation, and air quality action plans. Information on Air Quality Action Plans can be found on the Air Quality Management page.

How are Air Quality Data Broadcast on the Website

Air quality monitoring stations located around the Borough collect data continuously twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. A pump draws outside or ambient air into analytical equipment, which continuously measure the concentrations of the pollutants contained within ambient air. The collected data are then stored within a datalogger located with the monitoring equipment. As all of the monitoring sites are linked by telephone line and modem, the stations are periodically dialled up during the day and the data is then sent to a central computer, which compares the readings against the Air Quality Public Information Bands. The updated information is then sent to the website.