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Air Quality Control in Surrey Heath

The National Air Quality Strategy was introduced in 1997 under the Environment Act 1995. The strategy sets targets for various pollutants affecting human health.

Local authorities are required to undergo a review and assessment process to determine the air quality problem in their area. If problems are identified in meeting the objectives for any of the pollutants the local authority is required to declare an Air Quality Management Area and produce an Action Plan to help address the problem.

Surrey Heath Air Quality
View the Surrey Heath Air Quality Management Area Map

Surrey Heath sits to the west of Surrey straddling the M3 motorway, which is the Borough's biggest polluter. The motorway and congested feeder roads that run through settlements such as Camberley, Bagshot and Windlesham are the most obvious sources of pollution with peak time congestion causing vehicle engines to run inefficiently. Shoppers heading for busy centres such as Camberley and out-of-town Meadows centre also add to the traffic burden.

The council has monitored many of these hotspots. The worst of these was beside the M3 at Brickhill and at the side of the A322 at Bagshot, where nitrogen dioxide levels approach 60 units. By contrast, in areas such as Bisley and Windlesham, background concentrations are about 20 units - clearly showing the effect of the busy traffic.  The council has declared an area, adjacent to the M3 as an air quality management area in order to ensure the levels of pollution are controlled.

To help in monitoring pollution in the borough, the council is using a mobile air quality monitor to record pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particles. We are also undertaking monitoring at various road sites throughout the Borough using passive diffusion tubes.

The following air quality site does have information about air quality in Surrey Heath. Check air quality in Surrey Heath.