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Air quality

The term 'air quality' is used to describe the quality of the outdoor air we breathe and the level of pollution in that air.

High air pollution levels can have both short and long term effects on people's health. You can find out about the effects of different levels of air pollution on health on the UK Air website, including actions you can take to reduce or avoid them.

Air pollution in Barnsley

We monitor outdoor air pollution levels at a number of sites around Barnsley. You can find the latest air pollution levels in Barnsley on the Air Quality in England (AQE) website.

Air quality management

We have a duty to monitor and improve air quality, mainly in areas of poor air quality. Poorer air quality tends to occur near to busy, congested roads where traffic emissions cause air pollution.

Areas of poorer air quality are called air quality management areas. See a map of air quality management areas in Barnsley. We have an air quality action plan which aims to improve air quality in our air quality management areas. 

Our air quality and emissions planning guidance has details about including air quality considerations into planning and development plans, to influence the reduction of road transport emissions.

We're also a member of the ECO Stars fleet recognition scheme, which helps fleet operators improve vehicle efficiency and lower emissions.

Air quality reports

We produce an annual report on air quality in the borough. You can read the latest three years' reports below:

More information

Care4Air is South Yorkshire's clean air campaign, and includes useful information about how you can help improve air quality in the region.

If you'd like more information about our current and past air quality, and what we are doing to improve it, please contact us.