Plans for safety work at Riada Stadium

At a recent Leisure and Amenities Committee meeting members heard that ‘during the safety certification process undertaken in respect of Riada Stadium, certain issues have come to light which, if not rectified, will limit the number of spectators permitted at the venue’.

The report explained: ‘As members have previously been advised DCAL has designated the Council’s Riada Stadium as a venue to which the Safety of Sports Grounds (NI) Order 2006 and associated guidance applies.

‘Consequently Council, in accordance with its statutory obligations, must issue a General Safety Certificate for its designated venue. This process is well advanced and the draft General Safety Certificate for Riada Stadium, it is anticipated, will be brought before the Council’s Health & Environmental Services Committee.

‘During the safety certification process undertaken in respect of Riada Stadium, certain issues have come to light which, if not rectified, will limit the number of spectators permitted at the venue.

‘It is also the case that having become aware of Sport NI’s Stadia Safety Programme – Urgent Works funding scheme, 2 no. applications were made on behalf of Council by the deadline (27.08.2010) – an infrastructure application and a safety equipment application. In conjunction with the former funding application, as members are aware, a planning application, which has been streamlined, has also been made to Planning Service.

‘Were Council to be successful as regards the funding applications made to Sport NI, it could then undertake necessary work at Riada Stadium in order to bring the venue better in line with the statutory guidance relating to spectator safety.’