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Safety at sports grounds

Since 1997 we have been responsible for issuing safety certificates for sports grounds under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Safety at Places of Sports Act 1987.

POSH groundThe 1975 Act covers sports grounds designated by the Secretary of State and includes stadiums that can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators or 5,000 spectators in the case of premier or Football League grounds in England and Wales. In Peterborough this involves London Road football ground home of Peterborough United FC.

The 1987 act lays a similar responsibility upon the local authority in relation to regulated stands at non-designated sports grounds and current venues controlled include the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium and the Fitzwilliam Stand at the East of England Showground.

If you are proposing to operate a sports ground in England, Scotland or Wales that is either designated or non-designated, you may be required to hold a safety certificate and comply with any terms or conditions attached. In addition you must be either the person responsible for the management of the ground or be in a position to prevent contravention of the terms and conditions of a certificate.

The Application Process

There is no prescribed application form and generally the local authority will contact you to request the submission of relevant information and copies of drawings within a specified period of time. If the requested information is not provided within the prescribed period your application will be deemed to have been withdrawn and in such circumstances please contact building control.

Failed Application Redress

Any person who is refused a safety certificate on the grounds that they are not considered to be an eligible person can appeal to the Magistrates Court.

Any person who is refused a safety certificate may also appeal to the Magistrates Court against a refusal of such an application based on grounds other than a decision that they are not an eligible person

Any license holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, may also appeal to the Magistrates Court.

Should you have any queries regarding the above processes or other sports ground safety matters please contact building control.

Other Sources of Help and Advice

Business Link  -  for information on  the relevant legislation and application process

Football Licensing Authority – for information on football safety matters