Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975

1†Safety certificates for large sports stadia.E+W+S

(1)The Secretary of State may by order designate as [F1a sports ground] requiring a certificate under this Act (in this Act referred to as a “safety certificate”) [F1any sports ground] which in his opinion has accommodation for more than 10,000 spectators.

[F2(1A)The Secretary of State may by order substitute, for the number for the time being specified in subsection (1) above, such other number as he considers appropriate; but no order made under this subsection shall affect the validity of any designation previously made.

(1B)An order under subsection (1A) above may make different substitutions for different classes of sports ground.]

(2)The Secretary of State—

(a)may estimate, by any means which he considers appropriate, for how many spectators a sports [F3ground] has accommodation; and

(b)may require any person concerned with the organisation or management of a sports [F3ground] to furnish him within such reasonable time as he may specify with such information as he considers necessary for the purpose of making such an estimate.

(3)A safety certificate may be either—

(a)a certificate issued by the local authority for the area in which a [F1sports ground] is situated in respect of the use of the [F1sports ground] for an activity or a number of activities specified in the certificate during an indefinite period commencing with a date so specified; or

(b)a certificate issued by that authority in respect of the use of the [F1sports ground] for an activity or a number of activities specified in the certificate on an occasion or series of occasions so specified.

(4)In this Act—

  • [F1designated sports ground] means [F1a sports ground] in respect of which a designation order is in operation;

  • designation order” means an order under this section;

  • general safety certificate” means such a safety certificate as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) above; and

  • special safety certificate” means such a safety certificate as is mentioned in subsection (3)(b) above.