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Critical evaluation of the role of scientific analysis in UK local authority AQMA decision-making: Method development and preliminary results

Woodfield, N. K.; Longhurst, James; Beattie, C. I.; Laxen, D. P.H.

Authors

N. K. Woodfield

C. I. Beattie

D. P.H. Laxen



Abstract

Over the past 4 years, local government in the UK has undertaken a process of scientific review and assessment of air quality, which has culminated in a suite of designated air quality management areas (AQMAs) in over 120 of the 403 local authorities in England (including London), Scotland and Wales. Methods to identify specific pollution hot-spots have involved the use of advanced and complex air-quality dispersion modelling and monitoring techniques, and the UK government has provided guidance on both the general and technical methods for undertaking local air quality review and assessments. Approaches to implementing UK air quality policy, through the local air quality management (LAQM) process (Air Quality Strategy 2000) has not been uniform across the UK, as an inevitable consequence of non-prescriptive guidelines. This has led to a variety of outcomes with respect to how different tools and techniques have been applied, the interpretation of scientific uncertainty and the application of caution. A technique to appraise the scientific approaches undertaken by local government and to survey local government officers involved in the LAQM process have been devised, and a conceptual model proposed to identify the main influences in the process of determining AQMAs. Modelling tools used and the consideration of modelling uncertainty, error and model inputs have played a significant role in AQMA decision-making in the majority of local authorities declaring AQMAs in the UK. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Woodfield, N. K., Longhurst, J., Beattie, C. I., & Laxen, D. P. (2003). Critical evaluation of the role of scientific analysis in UK local authority AQMA decision-making: Method development and preliminary results. Science of the Total Environment, 311(1-3), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697%2802%2900675-7

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 20, 2003
Journal Science of the Total Environment
Print ISSN 0048-9697
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 311
Issue 1-3
Pages 1-18
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697%2802%2900675-7
Keywords local air quality management, air quality management areas, scientific assessment, uncertainty
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1075338
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00675-7