Air Quality Timeline
Farrington Gurney's formal air-quality problem emerged from NO₂ pollution associated primarily with the A37/A362 junction and traffic congestion/idling. Monitoring began in January 2017 and continues until November 2026. Full timeline on attached document.
Published: 10 September 2026
Chronological timeline
January 2017 – Initial NO₂ monitoring
A diffusion tube was installed at the A37/A362 junction following concerns about NO₂. Additional monitoring sites were subsequently added.
Evidence: B&NES 2018 Annual Air Quality Report
2017 – NO₂ exceedances identified
Three monitored locations recorded annual mean concentrations of approximately 54, 52 and 42 µg/m³, exceeding the 40 µg/m³ annual objective.
Evidence: B&NES 2018 Annual Air Quality Report
2 July 2018 – AQMA proposed/approved
The Farrington Gurney AQMA proposal was approved following assessment and consultation.
Evidence: B&NES delegated decision record
20 August 2018 – AQMA formally declared
The Farrington Gurney Air Quality Management Area Order 2018 came into effect, covering the A37 around the junction and part of the A362.
Evidence: DEFRA UK-AIR AQMA database
2018–2019 – Continued monitoring and improvement
Monitoring showed a substantial reduction; a residential-façade result in 2018 was about 39.6 µg/m³, just below the objective, while monitoring continued.
Evidence: B&NES 2019 Annual Air Quality Report
2019 – Air-quality objective achieved
B&NES subsequently reported that the Farrington Gurney area achieved the NO₂ objective from 2019 onwards.
Evidence: B&NES AQMA revocation information
February–May 2020 – Draft AQAP consultation
B&NES consulted on the draft Farrington Gurney & Temple Cloud Air Quality Action Plan for 12 weeks.
Evidence: B&NES committee papers
2020 – Funding for AQMA mitigation
B&NES budgeted £50,000 for initial work to mitigate NO₂ in the Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney AQMAs.
Evidence: B&NES Council budget papers
2020 onward – Clean Air Schools Toolkit
The toolkit was introduced and subsequently used by schools; later versions were refreshed and promoted.
Evidence: B&NES AQMA revocation report
January 2022 – Tree planting completed
Trees were planted along the right-hand side of the A362 approaching the A37. This was the completed physical measure FG7.
Evidence: B&NES AQAP appendix
2022 – School travel and information measures
Farrington Gurney school signed up to Modeshift STARS; resident information and vulnerable-group air-quality information were also developed/distributed.
Evidence: B&NES 2025 Annual Air Quality Report
2022 – Planning control measure
The AQAP measure requiring air-quality consideration for development within 200 m of the AQMA boundary was implemented and applied to relevant planning work, including SVEZ.
Evidence: B&NES 2025 Annual Air Quality Report
6 April 2023 – AQAP formally adopted
B&NES adopted the Farrington Gurney & Temple Cloud Air Quality Action Plan, covering 2022–2027.
Evidence: B&NES delegated decision record
Early 2023 – Community engagement pilot
B&NES completed a community-engagement pilot involving Farrington Gurney and Temple Cloud.
Evidence: B&NES 2024 Annual Air Quality Report
2023 – SVEZ air-quality scrutiny
Environmental Monitoring worked with the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone team and scrutinised its air-quality assessment, forming part of AQAP measure FG4.
Evidence: B&NES AQMA revocation report
2024 – Toolkit and community measures continued
The Clean Air Schools Toolkit was refreshed and promoted; schools used it for Clean Air Day/community engagement.
Evidence: B&NES 2024 Annual Air Quality Report
2025 – NO₂ reduction confirmed
B&NES reported a continuing downward trend, with relevant diffusion-tube results below 36 µg/m³ since 2020 and an overall reduction of about 41% since AQMA designation.
Evidence: B&NES 2025 Annual Air Quality Report
2025 – AQAP measure status reviewed
FG1–FG7 were reviewed. Several remained in implementation; FG6 (additional A37 lane) remained on hold; FG7 (tree planting) was completed.
Evidence: B&NES 2025 Annual Air Quality Report
2025 – AQMA revocation proposed
B&NES proposed revoking the Farrington Gurney AQMA because the objective had been achieved and concentrations had fallen substantially.
Evidence: B&NES revocation page
2025 – Somer Valley Links / transport proposals
Related transport proposals included junction, bus-stop, walking/cycling and pedestrian-crossing changes. The Parish Council raised concerns about traffic-flow and pollution implications.
Evidence: Farrington Gurney Parish Council – Somer Valley Links
September 2025 – SVEZ LDO amendment
B&NES approved an amendment involving the Thicket Mead roundabout and A362 works near Sunnyside.
Evidence: B&NES delegated decision record
April 2026 – AQMA revocation consultation
B&NES consulted on revoking the Farrington Gurney AQMA; the consultation has closed.
Evidence: B&NES revocation page
2026 – New PM10/PM2.5 monitoring
The Parish Council installed a Zephyr monitor near Sunnyside after local concerns about particulate pollution. The first reported period averaged 11 µg/m³ PM10 and 8 µg/m³ PM2.5.
Evidence: Farrington Gurney Parish Council – Particulate Matter Data
1 September 2026 – Current position checked
The latest DEFRA AQMA database checked for this report still showed Farrington Gurney as not revoked, despite the B&NES revocation proposal.
Evidence: DEFRA UK-AIR AQMA list
