Air quality

We have a duty to regularly monitor air pollutant levels to assess current and future air quality.

The pollutants of concern are:

• Nitrogen dioxide
• Fine particles
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulphur dioxide
• Benzene
• 1,3 Butadiene
• Lead
• Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
• Ozone

Read more about these air pollutants and their effects.

The United Kingdom Air Quality Strategy 2007 requires councils to improve areas of poor air quality, reduce any remaining significant risks to health and to achieve the wider objectives of sustainable development about air quality in the UK.

View annual air quality reports to DEFRA

Air Quality Report 2020 - pdf - 2.37 Mb

Air Quality Report 2019 - pdf - 1.24 Mb

Air Quality Report 2018 - pdf - 1.16 Mb

Air Quality Report 2017 - pdf - 2.41 Mb

Air Quality Report 2016 - pdf - 2.32 Mb

Air Quality Report 2015 - pdf - 3.47 Mb

Air Quality Report 2014 - pdf - 9.03 Mb

Air Quality Report 2013 - pdf - 7.67 Mb

Air Quality Report 2012 - pdf - 6.64 Mb

Air Quality Report 2011 - pdf - 1.11 Mb

Air Quality Report 2010 - pdf - 1.42 Mb

Air Quality Report 2009 - pdf - 1.36 Mb

Air Quality Management Areas

Areas within West Oxfordshire which don't meet National Air Quality Standards have been declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). We have produced Air Quality Action plans for these areas to find out the source of the problem and reduce concentrations of air pollutants to below National Air Quality Standards.   

Areas in West Oxfordshire not meeting the objective for Nitrogen Dioxide include:

• Bridge Street, Witney (Air Quality action plan pending review)

• Horsefair and High Street Chipping Norton Air Quality Action Plan - pdf - 4.54 Mb

Related Pages

• Environmental permits