Clean air is essential for health and an important part of protecting the environment. To ensure good air quality it is important that public authorities at the regional, national and even international level work together
In the UK, a National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) describes the plans drawn up by the Government and devolved administrations to improve and protect ambient air quality in the UK in the medium term.
As part of the wider strategy each local authority is required to review air quality periodically. In 2016, this council monitored the levels of nitrogen dioxide at 28 locations across the borough as well as maintaining an automated monitoring station at Lonsdale Road in Armagh which continuously measures the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
Air quality across the borough is very good, however a number of discrete pockets exist where persons may be exposed to higher levels of pollution, primarily due to road traffic. The council is working along with our partners such as DAERA to improve the air pollution in these areas.
Smoke Control Zones were created to control the emissions of smoke from homes due to burning coal. Properties within these zones are only permitted to use authorised smokeless fuels for their heating and cooking appliances. Smoke Control Zones have helped deliver a dramatic improvement in sulphur dioxide levels in urban areas.
Within the borough there are smoke control areas within Armagh, Lurgan, Portadown and Central Craigavon. The occupier of any building in a Smoke Control Area from which smoke is emitted is guilty of an offence under the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 and the council will investigate any such incidents.
The Local Air Pollution Prevention and Control regime aims to control air pollution generated by certain industrial activities. These processes are required to obtain a permit in order to operate and allows the holder to operate a process subject to specific conditions which prevent excessive pollution. The council has a programme of inspection for all permitted processes within the borough.
A public register exists which may be inspected upon request.