Explanatory note

Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) requires county and county borough councils in Wales to review the quality of air within their area. The reviews have to consider the air quality for the time being and the likely future air quality during the “relevant period” (a period to be prescribed by regulations).

Such reviews have to be accompanied by an assessment of whether any air quality standards or objectives, as prescribed by regulations, are being achieved or are likely to be achieved within the relevant period.

These Regulations, which come into force on 1 August 2000, prescribe the relevant period referred to above (regulation 3) and the air quality objectives to be achieved by the end of that period (regulation 4 and the Schedule). The objectives are the same as those set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Cm 4548, January 2000) and published by the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with section 80 of the 1995 Act.

Where any of the air quality objectives prescribed by these Regulations are not likely to be achieved within any part of a council’s area within the relevant period, the council concerned will have to designate that part of its area as an air quality management area (section 83(1) of the 1995 Act). An action plan covering the designated area will then have to be prepared setting out how the council intends to exercise its powers in relation to the designated area in pursuit of the achievement of the prescribed objectives (section 84(2) of the 1995 Act).

These Regulations revoke the Air Quality Regulations 1997. Those Regulations applied to Great Britain but have already been revoked in relation to Scotland by the Air Quality (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/97) and in relation to England by the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/928).