West Berkshire Council (WBC) is proposing to revoke its Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA). It has two in the district – one in Thatcham and one in Newbury. At these two sites, it monitors the nitrogen dioxide levels using diffusion tubes. It has had these tubes at five locations in Thatcham since 2001: 40 Chapel Street, 31 Chapel Street, 17 Chapel Street, 75 Chapel Street and 130 Park Avenue. Over the past five years, it has found the concentration results have reduced. But it has risen slightly – between 2020 and 2021 – at 40 Chapel Street and 17 Chapel Street. WBC said several factors may …
