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Air Pollution & Odour Nuisance
 
If you would like to report a smell/odour nuisance, call Environmental Services on (01502) 523117 


Affected by unpleasant odours in the environment?

If you are affected by an odour problem in the Waveney District, you can get help and advice from Waveney's Environmental Services. They can investigate the causes of persistent or repetitive odour problems such as those that might arise from smelly industrial processes, agricultural processes or unusual domestic activity! If you think you are being bothered unnecessarily or unreasonably by unpleasant odours then please contact Environmental Services – details at the foot of this page.


Review and Assessment of Air Quality

In its National Air Quality Strategy, the Government set a series of targets for concentrations of harmful pollutants in air.

In order to check compliance with these objectives, Local Authorities must carry out periodic reviews of the air quality in its area. The government has issued guidance on how to do this in order to achieve consistency across the country.

The most recently completed detailed review of air quality within the Waveney District concluded that the standards and objectives contained within the National Air Quality Strategy would be achieved by the relevant dates and accordingly it is not necessary to declare any Air Quality Management Areas within the District.

Work on re-assessing the area began in 2003 and this assessment indicated that three specific and very localised areas (all associated with busy road junctions) needed a more detailed assessment to be sure that air quality in the Waveney District was still on target to meet the relevant criteria.


In 2005, Waveney carried out a review of progress on meeting the air quality targets and this showed that there had been no exceedences of the air quality objectives. It did draw attention to the significant developments in the Town Centre urban areas of Lowestoft (including major road improvements to ease congestion). This review anticipated that those works would have a significant beneficial effect on air quality.


In May 2006 we updated our assessment of air quality across the entire district to take account of changes in industrial sources of pollution, changes in traffic and road layout and other transport related sources (the 2006 Updating and Screening Assessment).


That review concluded that whilst there were no areas of the District exposed to levels of pollution exceeding national guidelines, it was necessary to keep the situation under review to monitor the effects of the new South Lowestoft Relief Road. In particular, an “Urban Traffic Management and Control” system was proposed, to enable traffic flow and pollution monitors to be installed at key points. Work is continuing to implement these proposals.

We will complete further periodic reviews of air quality in the future to ensure that the Waveney District continues to enjoy good quality air that meets the national standards.


CAA Approval

Industrial smoke control – Clean Air Act 1993.

Local authorities control emissions from certain industrial processes under the
provisions of the Clean Air Act 1993

When a new heating appliance is to be installed, in some circumstances, it is necessary to obtain approval for the height of the chimney to be used in conjunction with the appliance.

The Clean Air Act 1993 makes it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a furnace to be used to:
  • burn pulverised fuel, or
  • burn any solid matter at a rate of 45.4 kg or more an hour, or 
  • burn any liquid or gaseous matter at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kW or more, unless the height of the chimney has been approved by the Council and any conditions attached to approval adhered to.
In order to apply for a chimney height approval you must complete an application form and submit this to the Council's Environmental Protection Team. The application for chimney height approval must contain adequate information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out. You can contact the Team for a form using the details below or alternatively, you can

pdflogo   Download an application form to apply for approval for the height of a chimney here (44kb) ) (Opens in a new window)

The Council will give a written decision on the application within 28 days of its receipt, unless it is agreed in writing between us and the applicant that a longer period is allowed. If we fail to deal with the application within this time period, then approval, without qualification or condition, is automatically given.

CONTACT US

If you would like more information or wish to discuss an odour problem, please contact Environmental Services:
Email: Environment@waveney.gov.uk  
Telephone: 01502 523117
Write: Town Hall, High Street, Lowestoft NR32 1HS.

CONSULTATION

If you have any ideas or suggestions as to how we can improve our services or the information we have provided, then we would be pleased to hear from you.