The Safety of Places of Sport Regulations 1988

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply throughout Great Britain (except the Isles of Scilly), concern certificates under Part III of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 (by virtue of sections 26(2) and 41 of that Act referred to as “safety certificates”). Such a certificate which is issued by a local authority (as defined by section 41) is required in respect of the use, at a sports ground which is not a designated sports ground under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 (c. 52), of each stand which provides covered accommodation for 500 or more spectators to view activities at the ground. By virtue of sections 26(5) and 41 of the 1987 Act such a stand is referred to as a “regulated stand”.

By virtue of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 (Commencement No. 4) Order 1988 (S.I. 1988/1806), Part III of the 1987 Act comes into force on 1st January 1989, the same date as the coming into force of these Regulations.

Regulation 3(1) of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations prescribe the form of application for a safety certificate and regulation 3(2) makes provision for other applications in respect of certificates. Regulation 4 requires local authorities to give notice (including, under regulation 4(7), notice in a local newspaper) of certain of their decisions in respect of safety certificates. Regulation 5 prescribes the time within which appeals in respect of a local authority’s decision must be brought. Regulation 6 concerns the fees a local authority may charge in respect of work done in connection with applications for the issue etc. of safety certificates.