Air quality

Air quality Central Bedfordshire

Generally, the air quality in Central Bedfordshire meets the air quality objective levels set by the government.

There are currently three air quality management areas (AQMA) in the area:

  • Dunstable town centre – the AQMA was declared in January 2005 in relation to the annual nitrogen dioxide objective, principally due to road traffic. Since the declaration, an action plan was developed to work towards reducing concentrations of NO2. Levels of NO2 have generally reduced since monitoring commenced, however some sites within the AQMA remain above the nitrogen dioxide objective
  • Ampthill town centre – an AQMA was declared in August 2015 in relation to the annual nitrogen dioxide objective, principally due to road traffic. An action plan will be developed in order to work towards reducing concentrations of NO2
  • Sandy adjacent to A1 – an AQMA was declared in August 2015 in relation to both the annual and hourly objectives, principally due to road traffic. An action plan will be developed in order to work towards reducing concentrations of NO2

The main source of pollution within Central Bedfordshire is generated from road transport. We measure ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations using passive diffusion tubes at a total of 37 sites across the district. Additionally, in Sandy, there is a real time analyser which monitors nitrogen dioxide (NO2), PM10 and PM2.5.

The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Air Quality Monitoring Network (link opens in new window) shows results of monitoring carried out throughout the area and contains air quality information.

Air quality reports