Darlington Council has responsibility for monitoring and safeguarding air quality. It also regulates emissions from certain industrial processes and investigates complaints about air pollution.
Air Quality Monitoring
The Council currently operates two fixed air quality monitoring stations. These measure the concentration of two air pollutants - nitrogen dioxide and PM10 particulate matter - around the clock and automatically transfer the data to a computer at the Council offices in Houndgate.
Monitoring has been carried out next to the busy inner ring road at St. Cuthberts Way since 2001. The second station has been monitoring at Cockerton Bridge next to Woodlands Road since April 2004. A number of other pollution monitoring techniques are used at sites around Darlington and the surrounding villages.
National Air Quality Standards
Statutory Air Quality Reviews
Local Authorities are required to produce periodic reviews and assessments of local air quality. This involves a detailed consideration of air pollution levels within their area for comparison with standards and objectives set out in the National Air Quality Strategy. If these objectives are breached then it is necessary for an 'Air Quality Management Area' (AQMA) to be declared and the Council must prepare an Action Plan setting out the steps to be taken to meet the standards within the specified timescales. There are no declared AQMAs in the Darlington area at this time.
A supplementary report has also been completed to investigate air quality at a number of locations closest to busy main roads - these have all been found to be well within the current objectives set out in the National Air Quality Strategy
Industrial Air Pollution Control
Certain industrial processes need to obtain a 'Permit' from a regulatory authority (either the Council or the Environment Agency) before they can legally operate. These processes are listed in regulations and are categorised on the the basis of their likely environmental impact. Lesser polluting processes are regulated for emissions to air only.
The Industrial Pollution Control Website
Indoor Air Quality
It is popularly thought that pollution only affects outside air quality but studies have shown that indoor air quality can be more polluted
Indoor Air Quality can be harmful and a leaflet is available which includes some simple tips on improving the quality of air in your home. Contact the Public Protection Division on (01325) 388799 or email us on
publicprotection.enquiries@darlington.gov.uk if you would like a copy of this leaflet.
Vehicle Emissions
Emissions from vehicle exhausts is one of the main causes of pollution in Darlington and is not only unpleasant, but can cause health problems particularly for people with heart and lung diseases or for asthmatics. For this reason the Council has adopted powers which allows Uniformed Wardens to issue fixed penalty notices of £20 to anyone who leaves their engine running unnecessarily. Contact the Uniformed Warden service on (01325) 346931 to report a problem.
The Council also operates a Smoke Spotting Scheme for emissions from buses, coaches and lorries and will report offenders to the Traffic Commission. If you see excessive smoke from the exhausts of one of these vehicles or from a taxi contact the Public Protection Division on (01325) 388799 or email the details to us at publicprotection.enquiries@darlington.gov.uk
Smoke Control Areas
Smoke Control Areas are intended to reduce pollution and smogs caused mainly by burning non-smokeless fuels on domestic fires. The main implications of living in a smoke control area for householders is that coal, oil and wood cannot be used unless they are burnt on an 'exempted fireplace'. The majority of the town falls within one of 32 declared smoke control areas but the villages are not currently covered. To find out if you live in a Smoke Control Area contact Public Protection on (01325) 388799 or email us at
publicprotection.enquiries@darlington.gov.uk.
Garden Bonfires
Garden bonfires are not prohibited, even in a Smoke Control Area and there is no legal requirement about the time they may be lit. However if they cause a nuisance to neighbours then legal action can be taken by the Council.