Air Quality Standard is now being met

Over the past five years the local area has been monitored and the conclusion of a recent screen assessment has revealed that ‘not further detailed assessments was required’.

The report stated: “Members were advised that an updating and screening assessment has been completed for Ballymoney Borough Council and that the conclusion of this report was that no further detailed assessments are required for any pollutants, that monitoring of nitrogen dioxide should be continued and that the Ballymoney Town Air Quality Management Area may now be revoked.

“This report has been approved by the DoE and the results of the monitoring data for 2009 show that levels of Particulate Matter are well below the national objectives.

“It is recommended that the air quality management area be revoked and that the monitoring station at Alexandra Avenue be decommissioned and the land re-instated to its original condition and the lease with the NIHE terminated.”

It was proposed by Alderman Frank Campbell and seconded by Alderman Cecil Cousley.

In response Cllr Ian Stevenson asked: “Why is the air quality better? Why have the levels of Particulate Matter been reduced?”

A Council official explained: “We have been monitoring for over five years now at the Glebeside. However some residents have recently converted to gas. This then means that they are reducing the amount of solid fuel being used, and therefore this reduces the amount going into the atmosphere.

“So according to the assessment, the Air Quality Standard is now being met in the local area.”