Local air quality across Argyll and Bute continues to be consistently good, with all monitored pollutants remaining well below national limits, according to the Council’s newly published 2025 Local Air Quality Annual Progress Report
Monitoring by the Environmental Health service throughout 2025 shows that air quality standards are being met at all monitoring locations, with no requirement to declare any Local Air Quality Management Areas.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), the key pollutant associated with road traffic, levels across the busiest areas of Oban and Helensburgh continue to fall, with concentrations reduced by an average of 51% over the last decade. This is likely to be down to improvements in vehicle and engine technology and increase in electric/hybrid vehicles.
The report highlights the strong links between good air quality, climate change mitigation and the wider environmental quality that underpins Argyll and Bute’s economy and quality of life. Clean air is essential for protecting community health, especially for vulnerable groups such as young children, older people and those with existing medical conditions.
In anticipation of a revised national air quality framework, the Council is preparing to take forward an integrated approach to reduce exposure to pollutants, by:
- Establishing a multi‑service Strategic Local Air Quality Working Group to co-ordinate air quality improvement across Council services
- Reviewing consultation processes within the Planning system to ensure air quality considerations remain central to redevelopment and future growth
- Developing and publishing a new Local Air Quality Strategy to guide long‑term action and align with national policy developments
Annual monitoring will continue, enabling the Council to assess long‑term trends and maintain compliance with national objectives. This work forms a crucial part of the Council’s duty to safeguard public health and support Scotland’s climate and air quality ambitions.
Councillor Gordon Blair, Policy Lead for Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “I am heartened to hear that our air quality continues to remain good and that we are moving to ensure it stays that way. It’s important for the health and wellbeing of our communities, and for the economy that is boosted by visitors who come to enjoy air that is often bracing, but always fresh.”
