Building Control is the lead service dealing with safety at sports ground issues at the four major grounds within Blackpool: -
- Blackpool Football Club
- Waterloo Bowling Club
- Stanley Park Arena
- Blackpool Cricket Club
To fulfil these functions the Division:-
-carry out mandatory inspections of designated stands -carry out during activity inspections -initiate the issue of General Safety Certificates etc -chair advisory groups which bring together the safety team and all relevant disciplines and make sure safety issues are resolved.
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 make sure of the participation of all emergency services and other interested parties.
There are many different types of Legislation involved in Safety at Sports Grounds, to view these please use this link.
How to Apply
To apply for a Safety at Sports Ground Certificate you need to complete the application form found here and return it with all of the necessary information to the planning department.
All decisions on Safety at Sports Grounds Certificate applications are issued in writing to the applicant named on the form within 28 calendar days. This is subject to all information being available to the Local Authority to assess submission.
Procedures
The following is undertaken when dealing with safety at sports grounds
Legislation
Designated Grounds- Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and Regulated Stands - Fire Safety and Safety of Places Sports Act (Part III)
Enforcement
Details of Convictions that are liable to a fine can be found here
Appeals
Appeals are to a Magistrates Court
Cost Recovery
The Local Authority may charge the applicant the cost of the work reasonably and actually involved in the processing of an application for the issue, amendment or replacement, transfer of cancellation of a certificate.
For details of cost please contact the Head of Building Control using the following email address building.control@blackpool.gov.uk.
Complaints
Complaints on applications for Safety at Sports Ground Certificates must be submitted through the Local Authority's Complaints System.
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