Environmental Health
Welcome to Environmental Health
Environmental Health Services and Information
Animal Control & Welfare - Asbestos Information - Bonfires - Contaminated Land - Crematorium & Cemeteries - Enforcement Policy - Environmental Information Regulations - Environmental Protection - Fireworks - Food and Agriculture - Food Safety - Health & Safety at Work - Health Impact of Waste Management - Licensing - Noise Complaints - Pest Control - Pollution Control - Noise - Public Health - Radiation - Radon Information - Sewage and Drainage - Smoke Control Areas - Tobacco smoking - Water Quality
Environmental Health is part of the Community Protection Division, it comprises a number of specialised teams covering public health, bereavement services, environmental protection, emergency planning, food safety and health & safety, and licensing.
Although each team has a specialised area of work, the teams work together in a co-ordinated fashion to ensure that the community of Milton Keynes receive a top quality service offering help and advice across the whole spectrum of Environmental Health issues.
Environmental Health Service Teams
Community Team - Bereavement Services Team - Emergency Planning Unit -
Environmental Protection Team - Food and Safety Team - Licensing Team
Environmental Health out-of-hours Standby Service
Environmental Health out-of-office-hours Standby Service acts against anti-social nuisance noise
On the 14th November Environmental Health prosecuted a Bletchley householder for breach of an abatement notice in respect of anti-social nuisance noise. The Magistrates Court fined the defendant £150 with £700 costs.
In April 2007 several complaints were received about late night excessive nuisance noise from a house in Westfield Road Bletchley. The Environmental Health out-of-office-hours service duty officer visited the site and witnessed extremely loud music noise disturbing the whole neighbourhood. Accordingly a few days later a Statutory Nuisance Noise Abatement Notice was served on the occupier of the house.
This notice, issued under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, required the occupier not to cause any further nuisance from excessive noise. Breach of such a notice is a criminal offence and on summary conviction the offender is liable to a maximum penalty of a £5000 fine plus further fines of up to £500 per day for each day the breach continues after conviction.
In July 2008 complaints about excessive noise from the same address were again received by the out-of-hours service. The Environmental Health duty officer visited the area and found a large, very noisy party with music and a public address system which was disturbing the surrounding area. This was deemed to be a serious breach of the abatement notice served the previous year and a decision was taken to prosecute the householder, in the Magistrates Court.
Milton Keynes Council Environmental Health will not hesitate to take legal enforcement action against the small minority of our citizens who through anti-social behaviour of this type seriously disturb their neighbours.
Click here to find out more about complaining to the Environmental Health out-of-hours Stand-by Service.
Air Pollution
 Air Quality and Air Pollution in Milton Keynes
Air quality in Milton Keynes is generally very good. This is shown in the Air Quality Progress Report 2008, produced by the Environmental Protection Team.
The main findings of this report are that all Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) have been met at all the relevant locations with the exception of Bridge Street and High Street South in Olney. A Detailed Assessment of the air quality in this area has been undertaken ( Olney Detailed Assessment 2008) which shows there is an exceedence of the annual mean NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) objective. This means that under the Environment Act 1995 an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) must be declared. The Statutory Consultation period of the Draft Order ended on the 17th October 2008 and there were no adverse responses. It is expected that the order will come into force on the 1st of December 2008.
All our air quality reports can be found here: Air Quality Reports 2000 to 2008.
Air Quality Strategy
 Regional Air Quality Strategy 2006
This strategy considers all the major air pollutants:
Nitrogen dioxide, Particles, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Benzene, 1,3-butadiene, Lead, Ozone, 'Greenhouse' gases.
It deals with minimising the effects of these air pollutants on human health and the environment.
No evidence for mobile phone mast illness
Mobile phone mast radiation does not cause illness
The most recent research (reviewed in New Scientist July 2007) shows that, unlike the unsubstantiated claims raised by some people, there is no evidence that cellphone masts cause fatigue, anxiety or headaches.
The research study ( Mobile phone radiation sensitivity study) one of the biggest ever carried out, shows that mobile phone radiation does not produce any symptoms in people and strongly suggests that "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" (EHS), a condition where sufferers claim to feel ill in the vicinity of mobile phones, masts, and appliances like microwave ovens, could be all in the mind, being psychological in origin and not due to 'toxic effects' from radio waves.
Tell me more about radiation and electromagnetic waves
England is now Smoke-Free
Smoke-Free Milton Keynes
From 1st July 2007 all smoking in enclosed public places has been banned under the provisions of The Health Act (2006).
What's all the fuss about? Is smoking and breathing in other people's tobacco smoke really so dangerous that we need this legislation?
Yes - tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, including over 100 chemical poisons and more than 60 chemicals known or suspected to be cancer causing agents in tobacco smoke.
Why don't you give up smoking on National No Smoking Day?
The ban on smoking includes cafes & restaurants, food businesses, pubs, shopping centres, hair salons & barbers, hospitals, schools, public transport including taxis and mini cabs, hotels and guest houses, working mens' clubs, company and work vehicles and all workplaces.
Landlords and employers who ignore the ban face fines of up to £2,500, while failing to display no smoking signs will lead to on-the-spot fines of up to £200. People caught smoking face an on-the-spot fine of up to £50.
Tell me more about the smoking legislation and the effects of smoke on health.
Health Impact Assessment
Potential Health Impacts of Waste Management
Are you concerned about the potential health impacts of dealing with our waste?

Landfilling, incineration, advanced thermal treatment, pyrolysis, mechanical-biological treatment, etc.
Do you want to know how these processes work and what are the potential health hazards associated with them?
Yes, tell me more about the potential health hazards of solid waste management
Coal & wood smoke causes cancer
Burning Coal and Wood, and Frying Foods may cause Cancer
The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that fumes (emissions) from burning coal are carcinogenic to humans. At the same time they also concluded that emissions from burning biomass fuel (wood etc.) are probably carcinogenic to humans. In addition the emissions from high temperature food frying are also classed as probably carcinogenic.
For more details see: IARC Press Release Carcinogenic Coal & Wood Smoke.
Entertainment Licensing
All Change for Entertainment Licensing

The Licensing Act 2003 introduced sweeping changes to the existing Licensing law. Since February 2005 the Council has been dealing with applications to convert existing Licences over to the new regime.
For full details and how the latest developments and changes in legislation will affect the Leisure Industry click here for the Licensing Home Page .
Reporting Smoky Vehicles
Reducing Vehicle Pollution - Reporting Smoky Vehicles
Do you see buses and HGVs on the road leaving trails of diesel fumes behind them? Environmental Health often gets calls about smoky vehicles.
You can help to reduce vehicle emissions by reporting lorries and buses which are extremely smoky.
To report a smoky vehicle ring the Vehicle Inspectorate on 0870 60 60 440 or visit their website
www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/contactus/sharingintelligence/sharingintelligence.htm.
If you want to report a smoky vehicle you will need to give some basic information:
The vehicle registration number (displayed on the number plate)
The type of vehicle (be as specific as possible)
The date, time and place where you saw the vehicle, and if possible,
The name of the vehicle operator (the company or owner)
Once you have provided this information the The Vehicle Inspectorate will contact the vehicle operator and investigate the report.
For further information on Local Air Quality in Milton Keynes see the Local Air Quality Management section on this site.
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Carbon monoxide - the silent killer
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
Research shows that more than 50 people die each year from accidental exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and many of these deaths take place between November and February due to faulty fossil fuel and wood burning appliances.
Carbon monoxide is a silent, colourless, odourless killer.
Don't let it kill you or your family.
Click here for more information on carbon monoxide |
Drains & Sewers - Council Action on Overflowing Sewers
Milton Keynes Council will only get take action where there is a significant health risk to the general public, such as sewage leaking onto a public road or footpath.
In these severe cases we have powers to take legal action against those responsible. It is the reponsibility of the sewer users to deal with the problem.
Tell me more about dealing with overflowing sewage... | National No Smoking Day
National No Smoking Day is on the 11th March 2009. Now in its 25th year, last year on National No Smoking Day over 1.5 million people tried to quit smoking.
Get more information about National No Smoking Day and how to give up smoking from the National No Smoking Day Website. | Light Pollution - Is it a statutory nuisance?
The Council can now assess whether lighting is a Statutory Nuisance under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. See:
Light Pollution as a Statutory Nuisance | Noise Awareness
Every year Environmental Protection UK promotes Noise Action Week. Since 1999 Milton Keynes Council has taken part in various ways, see Noise Action Week 2009
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Complaints about agricultural odours from the spreading of waste materials
During the spring and in summer after harvesting, Environmental Health frequently receives complaints about agricultural odours in the district. Generally, the most common source of odour complaints relate to the storing and spreading of bio-solids (sewage sludge), animal manures and slurries (muck spreading).
Can the Council take action to prevent these smells?
Unless the farmer is doing something wrong the Council has no power to prevent agricultural spreading. If the farmer follows the Code of good agricultural practice even if the smell is extremely bad there is no legal action that the Council can take to stop the spreading.
Tell me more about agricultural spreading and odour nuisance
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Pineham Arena Motocross Calendar
Condition 8 of a Statutory Nuisance Abatement Notice served by the Environmental Health Division on Pineham MotoX Park, the operators of Pineham Motocross Track, on the 12th October 2007 requires that:
"In the summer period, the site may open for a maximum of three weeks in any consecutive four week period. The summer opening weeks must be determined and publicised in advance, by written notice to Milton Keynes Council no later than 14 days prior to the beginning of the summer period."
The calendar showing the weeks and days on which the track will be closed is available here Pineham Motocross Calendar.
The abatement notice is available here Pineham Motocross Abatement Notice.
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