Council to remove air quality management of A60 thirteen years on

Gedling Borough Council will revoke the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) along the A60 Mansfield Road following sustained improvements in air quality.

Introduced in 2011, the AQMA was established due to elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide, mainly from vehicle emissions. Recent data shows that nitrogen dioxide levels have remained well below the legal limit since 2019, aligning with guidance for lifting the AQMA designation.

The Council’s efforts to reduce pollution along this busy corridor, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council, have included promoting sustainable transport options, working with local bus providers to upgrade vehicle emissions, and installing electric vehicle charging points. Monitoring data shows a consistent decline in nitrogen dioxide levels along the A60, even after accounting for variances in weather conditions and traffic patterns.

The Council has also reduced its own emissions by introducing bio-fuel waste collection vehicles, which have reduced emissions by 90%, a significant step forward for the Council’s ambitious plans to be carbon net-zero by 2030.

Councillor John Clarke MBE, Leader of Gedling Borough Council, said:

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“This is an important milestone for Gedling and a testament to the steps we’ve taken to improve air quality across the borough. Revoking the AQMA shows the progress made in tackling pollution along the A60, and we’ll continue to prioritise measures that benefit the health and wellbeing of our residents.

“Though the AQMA is being lifted, we’re committed to ongoing monitoring to ensure this progress is maintained.”

This decision follows consultation with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which supported revoking the AQMA based on three years of compliant results. Additional feedback from local authorities and other consultees raised no objections.

While the AQMA designation will be lifted, Gedling Borough Council will continue monitoring air quality along the A60, and throughout the Borough, to ensure compliance with national air quality standards.

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