History of MAPAC
MAPAC began on 13th May 1974, when the 10
Councils in the Greater Manchester County approved the constitution of the
(then) Manchester Area Council for Clean Air and Noise Control, relating
to the Council's composition, functions and its elected representation
from member local authorities. Membership is derived from Councils in and
around the Manchester area and currently comprises:
The views of member authorities are represented by elected Councillors,
while officers concerned with pollution control duties attend meetings and
provide the membership of the Environmental Protection Group and the more specialised Working Groups dealing with a wide
range of environmental issues.
Despite some changes in membership and the practical ways in which the
Council operates, the functions of the Council remains the same, namely:
- to act as an advisory body to improve the control of and reduce
environmental harm;
- to carry out investigations and research into and co-ordinate
measurements of pollution;
- to engage in publicity and education;
- to arrange appropriate lectures, meetings and practical visits;
- to act collectively on behalf of its constituent authorities in
matters of mutual interest;
- to coordinate the activities of common working areas and develop a
regional approach and
- to implement best value initiatives together with benchmarking
exercises.
A major part of the Council's work continues to be initiated by its 5
Working Groups which deal with specialised issues relating to Air Quality,
Noise, emissions from Industrial Processes, Radiation and Contaminated
Land and Water.
Important MAPAC achievements, most of which continue today under
contemporary pollution control standards, include:
- the co-ordination and completion of the smoke
control work across the Manchester area which resulted in massive
reductions in smoke and sulphur dioxide and attendant improvements in
air quality;
- the continuing publication of MAPAC's work
relating to topical air pollution issues including:
- 20 Years of Air Pollution Control (1976);
- 25 Year Review - A Review of some aspects of Air Pollution &
Noise Control in the Area of the Council 25 years after the Clean Air
Act, 1956 (1981) and
- A Breathing Space - Vehicle related Air Pollution in North West
England (1993);
- representation and consultation with the
Government and government departments on pollution issues, legislative
proposals and initiatives being developed to address the control of
pollution sources and the protection of public health. Current MAPAC
consultations and liaisons with associated organisations are
contributing to the rapidly evolving policy and practice relating to
National and Local air quality management and the Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime;
- development and co-ordination of
policies for the Manchester area for particular, current areas of concern such as the
contaminated land regime; air pollution measurements, air quality
reviews and their action plans which comprise the essential components
in local air quality management;
- preparation of advisory documents on policy
and practices about pollution issues of common interest to MAPAC
members such as noise control;
- liaison with related environmental
organisations notably Environmental Protection UK and other research bodies, academic institutions and
industry particularly those based in the North West. The earlier
liaison with such regulating bodies as Her Majesty's Alkali
Inspectorate, the Clean Air Inspectorate and the National Rivers
Authority continue in the guise of the Environment Agency where
partnership and co-ordinated action continues to grow as the
challenges of air quality management, the remediation of contaminated
land, the protection of water resources and the implementation of the
Environmental Permitting Regime are some of the
challenges for this new millennium.
The web site contains contributions from the constituent authorities,
members and others involved in the work of MAPAC. It is hoped these
contributions prove to be a useful resource to groups and individuals
interested in the monitoring, assessment and protection of the environment
both globally and locally. MAPAC has always recognised that pollution is
no respector of administrative boundaries and that environmental
regulation depends on communicating effective policies to everyone who can
plan an active role in protecting our environment. |
