Licence - Sports Ground (Sports Entertainment)
Following various major accidents at Sports Grounds, the need to control the fabric and management of sports grounds became apparent and the provisions of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 placed this control with Local Authorities. The Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports Act 1987 made it a duty of Local Authorities to enforce the Acts.
Following the fire at Bradford FC, covered stands which would accommodate over 500 spectators came under a similar control to that afforded to major football grounds and large stadia designated by the Secretary of State.
Lord Taylor, in his report on the Hillsborough disaster, recognised the need for Building Control to take a major role in the safety of Sports Grounds and went on to lay down procedure to ensure the participation of all emergency services and other interested parties.
The following Legislation applies:
- Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975
- Safety of Sports Grounds Regulations 1987.
- Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports Act 1987
- Safety of Places of Sport Regulations 1988.
- The Football Spectators Act 1989
- The Environmental and Safety Information Act 1988.
- Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities on inspections to be carried out under Section 10B of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 Home office Circular 72/1987.
- Statutory Guidance under the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act Home Office Circular 97/1988.
- The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Home Office), commonly known as "The Green Guide".
The responsible person for the ground is required to apply to the appropriate Authority for a General Safety Certificate or Special Safety Certificate.
On receipt of an application, the Local Authority must determine whether the applicant is the qualified/responsible person and if so will issue a Certificate.
The Certificate may contain such conditions as the Authority considers necessary to secure reasonable safety, e.g. management requirements, First Aid provisions, strength of structural elements, barriers testing etc.
In general these conditions will follow the guidance given in the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds.
After the issue of the General Safety Certificate, During Performance inspections should be made from time to time, on match days or during other sporting occasions, to ensure that the terms and conditions of the Certificate are suitable and appropriate for the use and to monitor the club's observance of the terms and conditions.
Special Safety Certificates are issued for activities which are not included in the General Safety Certificate for example pop concerts, and the process is similar to that for General Safety Certificates.
The Safety Advisory Group, chaired by Building Control, meet regularly and comprises of representatives of the emergency services, relevant clubs and the appropriate Local Authority officers, to deal with all safety issues which might affect spectators.
Currently there are four regulated sports grounds in Doncaster
· The Keepmoat Stadium
· DoncasterRacecourse
· CastleParkArmthorpe
· Meadowcourt Stadium Stainforth
Service Contact:
The Building Control Service Manager
Doncaster Council
Directorate of Development
2nd Floor, Danum House
St. Sepulchre Gate
Doncaster
DN1 1UB
e-mail: paul.cooper@doncaster.gov.uk
Phone:01302 734915
Fax: 01302 734902
Mobile: 07876 217634
