The Councils recognise the importance of air quality and noise reduction in the overall aims of the transportation strategy.

Air Quality

There is a statutory duty of the Councils to undertake air quality reviews and assessments in their areas for eight main air pollutants with the objective of minimising the potential risk to human health. Standards are set as levels at or below which there is negligible harm. Many of the pollutants for which objectives have been set are related to motor vehicle emissions. It is therefore clear that any problems arising from the likely failure to meet objectives need to be the concern of the Highway Authority and solutions to these problems an integral part of the LTP.

Click for Air Quality Monitoring Sites Map 5.8. (This will open in a new window.)

Noise

Environmental noise, particularly from traffic is both intrusive and insistent. Excessive noise can contribute to sleep disturbances and stress. The environmental impact of traffic was a key issue in the various public participation exercises carried out, particularly where heavy flows of traffic pass through residential roads. Noise impacts clearly must be taken into account in assessing new transport proposals.

In developing policies, priority is being increased in favour of schemes that will reduce the impact of traffic on the community, particularly in respect of noise.

Routing strategies, particularly for heavy goods vehicles will also be devised with minimisation of noise in mind, though there are limitations to the extent to which this can be achieved, without transferring problems from one area to another. In such circumstances, the Councils are adopting the principal of 'sharing the load', to ensure that one community is not seriously disadvantaged by excessive traffic impacts compared to another.

Ambient noise levels are collected in advance of and after major road construction to meet the needs of the Land Compensation Act and noise insulation regulations. There is some logic in extending the collection of such before-and-after data to minor schemes, particularly those where a major objective of the scheme is to reduce traffic impact. There is also merit in assessing or auditing minor schemes for their noise impact prior to implementation, and making adjustments to the design where appropriate. In the event of receiving an increased settlement for the LTP, more resources will be devoted to the collection of noise data and assessment of noise impacts of proposals.