Enhancing consultation practices on Air Quality Management in local authorities

Abstract

Schedule 11 of the Environment Act 1995 underpins the requirement for consultation on air quality issues. The ongoing air quality review and assessment process represents one of the largest locally based science policy and communication initiatives ever undertaken in the UK. This paper outlines the practice of consultation and communication for Air Quality Management (AQM) and reviews the interaction between Environmental Health professionals, as the leading actor in the AQM process and other stakeholders involved in air quality consultation, including the public. Results are presented from a widespread questionnaire survey of English local authorities. Data indicate that the majority of air quality consultation has been carried out with statutory consultees (by sending the review and assessment reports) and the public (via websites and leaflets) in the form of information dissemination.

Keywords:

• Air Quality Management
• consultation
• science communication
• local authority practices

Acknowledgement

The research on which this paper is based was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council project as part of its Science in Society programme (RES-151-25-0044). The authors wish to acknowledge the helpful comments of two anonymous referees.