Overview

This bill aims to improve accessibility at sports grounds in England, Wales, and Scotland by amending the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. It mandates that sports grounds must meet accessibility guidelines set by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) to receive safety certificates, ensuring better access for disabled spectators.

Description

The Accessible Sports Grounds Bill amends the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 in two key ways:

• Section 1: Local authorities can refuse safety certificates for large sports stadiums if they, or the SGSA, believe the stadium doesn't comply with the SGSA's "Accessible Stadia" guidelines.
• Section 2: Safety certificates will now explicitly include a condition requiring compliance with the SGSA's "Accessible Stadia" guidelines. This is added as a new subsection (1A) to section 2 of the 1975 Act.

The bill's provisions apply to England, Wales, and Scotland. The Secretary of State will determine the commencement date for sections 1 and 2.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. However, implementation may involve costs for local authorities in enforcing the new regulations and for sports grounds in making necessary accessibility improvements. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Disabled spectators: This bill is intended to benefit them by improving access to sports grounds.
• Sports grounds: They will need to meet the accessibility guidelines to obtain safety certificates, potentially incurring costs for renovations or adaptations.
• Local authorities: They will have a greater responsibility in ensuring compliance with the accessibility requirements.
• Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA): Increased role in assessing and enforcing accessibility standards.

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