Introduction
In response to the requirements of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, the UK Government has published a National Air Quality Strategy. The overall aim of this Strategy is to meet a series of Air Quality Objectives by the year 2005).
Air Quality Strategy
The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland can
be viewed on the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/index.htm#aqstrategy
The Council has now completed stages 1-4 of the review
Stage 3
This Authority's Third Stage Review and Assessment is available to view online in pdf format (557k)
Stage 4 - 'Sulphur emissions from Shipping'
Following on from the Stage 3 report Dover District Council is pleased to have produced the Stage 4 report which looks in greater detail at the emissions from shipping activities in and around the Port of Dover. The report confirms the Council's decision to declare an Air Quality Management Area around the port area and as a result of increased monitoring of sulphur dioxide episodes can be more confident in the original findings.
The report goes some way to calculate more accurately how much of an improvement in air quality would be needed to deliver air quality objectives within the AQMA, and acknowledges the Dover Harbour Authority's Master Plan Phase 1 report (August 2003).
Discussions continue at the European Commission to amend Directive 1999/32 which involves capping the sulphur limit of marine fuels, which, if implemented, will reduce significantly the impact of emissions from seagoing ships on local air quality and acidification. The report has received favourable comments from stakeholders involved in this decision making process and this Authority is pleased to have been involved in discussions over issues relating to formulating the legislation and abatement technology on the ships themselves.
A copy of the Stage 4 report is available in Word format - please click here to view - this is a large document (1,253k) and may take a while to load
The Council has completed some considerable studies on air quality within the district. The latest reports can be downloaded below. Hard copies of reports are available from Environmental Health:
Tel: 01304 872428
E-mail: envhealth@dover.gov.uk
