Shropshire sports grounds pass tests by inspectors

The county council's strategic licensing committee will be presented with an annual report on the safety of sports grounds when it meets next week.

Councillors will hear that inspectors have granted new safety certificates to the Greenhous Meadow, home of Shrewsbury Town, and The New Saints' Park Hall ground in Oswestry following spot check visits on match days.

Ludlow Racecourse has also been inspected and found to be up to scratch safety wise, the report says.

It reads: "Under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, the council is required to issue safety certificates for designated sports grounds.

"Certificates must be issued for places where sports or other competitive matches take place in the open air and where accommodation has been provided for spectators, consisting of artificial structures or of natural structures artificially modelled for the purpose.

"Safety certificates are required in sports grounds that can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators (5,000 in the case of Football League grounds) or have a covered stand that holds more than 500 spectators.

"The primary purpose of the safety certificate is to set a limit on the safe capacity of a designated ground or regulated stand.

"The capacity of a sports ground or stadium is calculated on the physical condition of the stadium and the level of safety management.

"The safety certificate will also detail conditions in respect to safety matters with which the certificate holder must comply if that capacity is to be maintained."

The report reveals inspections have been carried out at Shrewsbury Town twice this year, during a League One game against Bradford City last season on March 22, and again for the high-profile visit of league leaders Chelsea in the Capital One Cup on October 28.

The Bradford game was described as a "high risk police free game" but inspectors noted "high standards of safety management" where stewards were able to "contain a safe operation" throughout the match.

On the Chelsea game, the report says: "This was a policed game and the safety operations were monitored to ensure the safety of the general public.

"A high standard of safety management was seen throughout the match including the safe access and egress of supporters."

The report said a safety certificate had last been issued for Ludlow Racecourse in 2011, but following an inspection a new one was currently in the process of being issued.

It said inspectors visited New Saints for a game against Bangor City in March and made recommendations regarding the "formal training and qualification of stewards".

The report added: "A training programme is in place to satisfy this requirement.

"The New Saints Football Club was visited in September by public protection officers and a new general safety certificate was granted."