Page 15 - Thrapston Life April 2025

memory of receiving a speeding ticket when the
construction zone had a 50-mph limit. I was
almost tempted to charge my client for the fi ne
that came with it!
Do you specialise in Commercial or
Residential? Both. Air quality assessments are
oft en required for all types of development,
including commercial, residential and
industrial developments.
Is you work local or national? I
conduct air quality assessments for
developments throughout the UK, with
most projects based in London, where
air pollution is most severe. However,
since my work primarily involves
desktop assessments using modelling
soft ware, travel is not required.
Why should we care about air
quality? Our understanding of the impacts of
poor air quality on human health is increasing
all the time. Currently, there are well-established
links to all kinds of diseases, including
I feel a small
sense of pride
in the role
I played in
improving
the [M1 J19]
junction
respiratory conditions, cardiovascular problems,
and even mental health issues. Many of these
conditions could potentially be prevented by
improving the air that we breathe.
What makes up an air quality assessment?
A standard air quality assessment typically
considers the impacts during the construction
phase. Th e eff ects associated with the
operational phase depend on factors
such as the size of the development,
the volume of traffi c it generates, its
proximity to major pollution sources
like busy roads and whether it’s located
within an Air Quality Management
Area (AQMA).
Something people don’t know about
you? I’m a qualifi ed ski and snowboard
instructor, or rather I used to be as my
certifi cations have now lapsed. Between 2009
and 2015 I worked as an instructor at a number
of resorts across the US and Canada.
www.gemairquality.co.uk
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