Residents can now check air quality online

East Herts Council has launched a new website that gives up-to-date air quality data from locations around Herts.

Three areas in East Herts have been designated Air Quality Monitoring Areas (AQMAs) where air quality is poor. Hockerill Street in Bishop’s Stortford, Gascoyne Way and parts of the town centre in Hertford and London Road,Sawbridgeworth are all designated AQMAs.

Residents can use the new website to find current and historic data and can view levels of specific pollutants. They can also sign up for free alerts from the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire’s Air Pollution Alert System which sends updates straight to their phones.

Airscan sensors are positioned at points along the road network and use electrochemical gas sensors to measure nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ground level ozone. They use laser scattering sensors to measure two different sizes of particulates (PM2.5 and PM10). Photo ionisation detectors detect volatile organic compounds and environmental sensors measure temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure.

Cllr Tim Hoskin, Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability, said, "We know that residents have a keen interest in the air quality of our district and so for the first time this new website gives them access to comprehensive up-to-date information that can help inform more sustainable travel decisions and reduce their carbon footprints."

"As a council, we will use the same information reported by our air quality monitors to measure the impact of our interventions in AQMAs, also using it as a basis for future actions, as we strive to better understand and tackle air pollution."

The website was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

You can check local air quality at easthertsairquality.co.uk.