From the council: Air quality across Bath and North East Somerset is continuing to improve with nitrogen dioxide concentrations decreasing across the board, two new reports published today show (September 9).
The Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) Annual Report 2023 compares 2023 data with the 2019, pre-Covid pandemic baseline and shows average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations within the Clean Air Zone are 32% lower, representing a reduction of 10.5 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) over four years.
In 2023, none of the 65 monitoring sites within the CAZ recorded an annual average NO2 concentration greater than the legal limit of 40 μg/m3, a reduction of 10 sites when compared to 2019.
Since 2022, concentrations within the CAZ have fallen by 8%, or 1.9 μg/m3 and by 9%, or 1.6 μg/m3, in the urban area outside the zone.
Average NO2 concentrations for 2023 in the Bath urban area, outside the zone are 34% lower than in 2019, a reduction of 8.7μg/m3 with readings taken from 56 monitoring sites that recorded data in both 2019 and 2023. No sites within the CAZ boundary recorded greater than 40 μg/m3, a reduction of 2 sites.
Compliance has also improved with an average of 496 non-compliant vehicles seen in the zone each day, compared with 1,742 per day during the launch week of the CAZ in March 2021
There is more good news for the area in the Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024 which gives an overview of data for the whole of Bath and North East Somerset in 2023 from 169 NO2 monitoring sites and 3 particulate matter (PM) monitoring sites.
There remain three declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) for NO2 covering the major road network in Bath and sections of the A37 in Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney. AQMAs for Saltford and Keynsham were revoked in June 2024 following NO2 levels no longer exceeding 40 µg/m3 and following a public consultation.
The Annual Status Report details that all NO2 results from the automatic monitoring network were below the annual average objective of 40 µg/m3 and there were no exceedances of the 1-hour objective, although 18 exceedances are allowed. All sites had decreased slightly since 2022 at 6%.
For particular matter (PM10) all results were below the annual average objectives although there were 23 exceedances of the 24-hour mean objective (35 exceedances allowed) at Windsor Bridge in Bath due to nearby construction work.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “It’s fantastic to see from these two reports that Bath and North East Somerset is continuing to see a fall in air pollution, which means we are all breathing cleaner air and having the impact on our health reduced.
“It’s reassuring that the CAZ is still working to improve air quality outside of the zone as well as within it, that non-compliance has decreased by 73% since 2021 and that 947 polluting vehicles have been replaced under our financial assistance scheme. It is also good news for the whole of Bath and North East Somerset that nitrogen dioxide and particulates are below the annual objectives and that two previously declared Air Quality Management Areas are no longer needed.
“However, there is no clear evidence of a safe level of exposure to particulate matter or NO2, so we will continue to closely monitor air quality and strive to continue compliance with nitrogen dioxide concentrations within the CAZ, in particular focussing our efforts on two sites that recorded over 36 µg/m3.
“Thank you to the public and businesses for your commitment to supporting the council to improve air quality, especially those who have upgraded vehicles.”
People wishing to help reduce pollution in Bath and North East Somerset can:
- Walk, wheel or cycle short journeys
- Consider public transport options or the Park & Ride
- Consider a new or second-hand Euro 6 or 6d diesel vehicle, a compliant petrol vehicle, or an ultra-low emission vehicle when a vehicle needs to be replaced
- Consider car clubs and car shares
- Consolidate home deliveries to reduce courier journeys
Bath’s CAZ was launched on 15 March 2021 to urgently tackle harmful levels of air pollution caused by the most polluting taxis, vans, buses and larger commercial vehicles regularly driving in the city. It was the first to be launched outside London and works to reduce pollution in Bath by levying a £9 or £100 a day charge on anyone driving a chargeable higher emission vehicle in the zone. This excludes private cars and motorcycles which are not charged.