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Summary of responses to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, Scottish Executive, National Assembly for Wales and Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's proposals to improve the air pollution public information bulletin system

Simplify and clarify the presentation and range of information in the bulletin system

All responses welcomed making the information less technical and easier to understand and therefore more accessible to the public. The range of information was also widely welcomed and the proposals were considered to be an improvement on the current system and more meaningful to the public. Generally it was considered that the proposals got the balance between the amount of information and ease of understanding about right. Most responses recognised the need for balance between supplying essentially technical data to the public, and 'first time user' style of information to make the bulletin system effective. A few responses suggested that the bulletin system should be kept under review to assess accessibility and ease of understanding by the public. Some local authorities said that technical and financial support would be needed to help them effectively disseminate local air pollution data.

A number of responses considered that the bulletin system should be used to raise public awareness and knowledge on the health effects of in-car pollution. There was a general feeling that the bulletin system should hold the public's interest, encourage individuals to take health action, especially on 'bad air' days, as well as influence changes to car use towards environmentally sustainable options.

Retain the current four health descriptor bands of air pollution and add a 1 - 10 numerical index

The overall consensus was in favour of moving to a joint numerical index and air pollution banding system, since the BBC had adopted a 1-10 index in October 2000. Local authorities, in particular, favoured this option since they disseminate air pollution information at local level. Some authorities considered the bandings had a simple mathematical relationship between pollutants. Although a few responses suggested that individual pollutant levels should be specified, to help educate and trigger health action by individuals.

There was general support for the current four bands descriptors. However, some responses considered that the 'low' band was unnecessary and could be confusing, potentially losing public interest, since air pollution levels in the UK frequently came within this band and did not pose health effects. Some suggested a greater graduation in the 'low' band to be more realistic and reflect likely levels of pollution to be recorded throughout the year (particularly ozone). It was also considered that the 'very high' band would be rarely reached. A number of respondents felt that bands at the low and very high end of the scale would undermine public perception of the health risks associated with air pollution and lead to confusion. A few responses agreed with the bandings, as there was a direct correlation with the health messages, but did not necessarily agree with the need for a 1- 10 index. Some supported the numerical index, but not combined with the bandings system. However, overall, there was widespread support for a combination of the bandings system with the 1-10 index to be incorporated into the bulletin system.

Incorporate information for exceedences of EU alert thresholds

The majority of responses were in favour of incorporating EU alert thresholds as soon as possible and some suggested that this would help pave the way for ozone information when the 2^nd Daughter Directive had to be transposed into UK law. Some considered that EU 'alert' threshold implied high or very high pollution levels and significant health implications, although the 'alerts' would actually fall under the 'moderate' category. This was considered potentially confusing and misleading for the public and was unlikely to get as much public interest in the 'moderate' band as it would in the 'high' band, since it did not imply a health warning. There were other comments about the use of different derivations of breakpoints being potential confusing, particularly for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. However, as the consultation document had explained, the scope of the review of the bulletin system did not include proposal for changes to the breakpoints and these comments have been noted.

Report current and hourly air pollution levels and 24 hour forecasts against the four descriptor bands in three environment areas

The majority of responses were in favour of the proposals and considered that the level of information was right, informative and easy to understand. They also felt that the air pollution information should help educate, as well as inform the public.

Some considered that more detailed maps with local information, rather than regional information, would help inform the public better and be less confusing. Some local authorities considered that more localised information would be more responsive to local needs and suggested that the public needed to be reassured about air quality in their area, rather than what was typical at urban/rural/regional level. However, it was recognised that this was not the aim of the consultation and that it was not currently practicable to report this level of detail.

The majority of responses welcomed the grouping of pollutants under the four bands for air pollution forecasts, although some considered that listing individual pollutants could be more informative. A few responses suggested that it should be made clearer that main source of sulphur dioxide was industry and not road traffic. Others suggested that 'near busier roads' could be misleading, depending on interpretation, for example, some urban locations may have higher traffic levels than, say, motorways, and that the health implications of in-car pollution were greater than those effects at kerbside locations.

A number of responses felt that the media had a key role to play in conveying air pollution information. They suggested that local radio and TV news should play a more active role in disseminating information and warnings on air pollution. A number of suggestions were made about raising awareness of the effects on in-car pollution.

Link health messages to the four air pollution descriptor bands

There was general agreement that health messages should relate to air pollution descriptors, and that the balance of the proposals was about right with simple and clear messages.

Streamline the freephone message and incorporating a fast-tracking system for frequent callers

These proposals were generally welcomed, with no further substantial suggestions.

Add more information about air pollution and health to the Teletext and phone messages

The majority of respondents welcomed more information on the health impact of air pollution and the inclusion of health linked messages in the bulletin system. It was felt that the health information was simple, easy to understand and informative. One respondent suggested that a website address for more information should be displayed on every Teletext page. Another suggestion was to include information on the long-term health effects and another was to cover the impact of air pollution on eco-systems and vegetation. It was also suggested that reference should be included for individuals to contact their doctors, in advance of a moderate or high pollution episodes, to agree a medication plan.

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RESPONDENTS IN ENGLAND

NAME

ORGANISATION

Paul

Willis

AEA Technology (NETcen)

Catherine

Davis

Bracknell Forest Council

Nicholas

Jenkins

Brighton & Hove Council

John

Cherrie

British Occupational Hygiene Society

Duncan

Philips

Bromley Council

D

Carruthers

Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd

Janet

Martin

Cambridgeshire County Council

A

Rickard

Central London Cluster Group

Nick

Reeves

Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

Dr Phillip

Lewis

Chemical Industries Association

Maurice

Fisher

Combustion Engineering Association

Avril

Watson

Countryside Agency

Edward

Chorlton

Devon County Council

N

Laws

Durham Council

Ealing Council - Local Agenda 21

Simon

Hickmott

East Sussex County Council

Margaret

De Wolf

Forum of Private Businesses

K

McBride

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

Karen

Pengelly

Holmes Europe UK

Geraint

Day

Institute of Directors

Miss M

Barton

Lancashire County Council

Susan

Power

Local Government Association

Anthony

Luke

Middlesborough Council

Judith

Stott

National Asthma Campaign

Tim

Williamson

National Society for Clean Air

Wendy

Waight

Natural Environment Research Council

Peter

Gendle

North Somerset Council

Martin

Glossop

Nottinghamshire Pollution Working Group

Ian

Gilmore

Royal College of Physicians

W

U'ren

Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland

Donald

Dean

Society of Occupational Medicine

D

Woolley

South Gloucestershire Council

Tim

Davidson

Suffolk Council

Bob

Newton

Teletext

Ian

McCrae

TRL Ltd

Malcolm

Watson

UKPIA

Dr Judith Dr Chris Dr Tanja

Bush Duinn Pless-Mulloli

University of Newcastle, Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health

Ian

Evans

West Sussex County Council

Joe

Duckworth

Westminster Council

RESPONDENTS IN SCOTLAND

Name

Organisation

Andrew

Walton

Member of the public

Carol

Davidson

Ayrshire and Arran Health Board

Mhairi

Coyle

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Andrew

Young

Clackmannanshire Council

Anil

Gupta

COSLA

Rachel

Brooks

Dundee City Council

Douglas

Mayne

Fife Council

Tony

Ranzetta

Fife Health Board

Gordon

Pollock

Midlothian Council

A C

Parker

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Carole

McRae

Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health

Bill

Glen

Scottish Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health (on behalf of BMA Scottish Office)

Roger

Crofts

Scottish Natural Heritage

Mike

Rowarth

Tayside Health Board

Stuart

Drummond

The Law Society of Scotland

Howard

Kirby

Transport Research Institute

RESPONDENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Name

Organisation

A

Boreland

Ards Borough Council

J

Michael

Ballymoney Borough Council

C

Kerr

Craigavon Borough Council

J

Meehan

Derry City Council

Dr D

Stewart

Eastern Health and Social Services Board

H

McClenaghan

Engineering Employers' Federation

H

Platt

Natural Heritage

Professor J

Watson

Northern Health and Social Services Board

D

Burnett

Northern Ireland Electricity

Dr A

Telford

Southern Health and Social Services Board

J

Fitzpatrick

Water Service

T

Haslett

Water Service (Eastern Division)

RESPONDENTS IN WALES

Name

Organisation

Helen

Mrowiec

Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales

M

Evans

Cardiff County & City Council

Brendan

Cullinane

Powys County Council

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Published 23 August 2001

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Environmental Protection Consultation Index

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Air Quality Index

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