North West Division Biography
The North West Division extends in area from the Cheshire/Staffordshire Border to the Scottish Border limited in the east by the Pennine Way, with the membership reflecting the Region's past and current industrial activity and associated environmental issues. Over the years the Division has enjoyed the support of local authorities and the Pollution Inspectorate, the power industries and large scale industry, such as glassmakers Pilkingtons and British Steel. The continuing strength of support from local authorities is reflected in our higher than national percentage of authorities maintaining membership.
Over the years the Division members of the Division have played an active role and both local and national level contributing to policy and practice on controlling the less sophisticated and more visible forms of air pollution – apart from the systematic implementation of smoke control area procedures from the late 1950s onwards to control ground level concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, where Manchester City Council was one of the earliest authorities to use "smokeless zones" to mitigate the health impacts of air pollution. The Division also took the lead in coordinating promoting NSCA's early work on the management and control of noise pollution – an area which remains of interest to members.
The Division has written constitution in place, which includes a "lean" Divisional structure, enabling it to react when necessary without delay. The Divisional Business Plan demonstrates structure and transparency to all those who read it, and is revised as resources permit.
The Division currently holds four to five meetings of Divisional Council per year which are open to the whole membership.
Find out more northwest@environmental-protection.org.uk