Environmental Health

Environmental Health is part of the Community Protection Division, it comprises a number of specialised teams covering public health, bereavment 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.

For details of our services please click on the links above or here:

A to Z of Environmental Health Services and Information

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 must be declared. We are now in the Statutory Consultation period of the Draft Order which ends on the 17th October 2008.

All our air quality reports can be found here: Air Quality Reports 2000 to 2008.

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

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.

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.

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 muck spreading...

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 I want to know more about potential health impacts from waste treatment.

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 .

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.

Do you see buses and HGVs on the road leaving trails of diesel fumes behind them? Yes, what can I do about smoky vehicles?