Information about air quality management areas in the borough
National health-based standards protect vulnerable members of society from the impacts of poor air quality, including:
- the young
- the elderly
- those suffering already from long-term (chronic) respiratory illnesses
Where air pollution levels exceed the relevant standards, we are required to declare ‘Air Quality Management Areas’ (AQMAs) and subsequently implement Air Quality Action Plans (AQAPs) to improve air quality.
Air Quality Management Areas in King’s Lynn
Railway Road AQMA
Monitoring of air quality originally found raised concentrations of nitrogen dioxide or NO2 over the annual mean objective (40ug/m3) in the Town Centre along Railway Road (A148). The road network within this location suffers from poor air dispersion owing to a street canyon type effect, with properties situated close to the road. It resulted in the first AQMA (Railway Road AQMA) being declared in 2003.
Further detailed assessment was undertaken in 2005 that showed risk of raised NO2 concentrations elsewhere. The decision was taken to vary the Railway Road AQMA area to include properties along the A148 (London Rd) extending down to the South Gate and the Town Centre’s gyratory system;
Gaywood Clock AQMA
Air pollution levels over the NO2 annual mean were also found around the Gaywood Clock junction that forms around the A148 (Lynn Rd) and A1076 (Gayton Rd) road links. This resulted in a further AQMA being declared around the junction following a detailed assessment in 2008:
For further information you can view the associated AQAP and detailed assessments: