Safety certificate for sports grounds

If you operate a sports ground in South Ayrshire which is not designated as requiring a safety certificate, you will still require a safety certificate for any covered stand that holds 500 or more spectators.

A safety certificate may be either:

a general safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing an activity, or a number of activities, specified in the certificate for an indefinite period which starts on a specified date
a special safety certificate which covers the use of the stand for viewing a certain specified activity or activities on a certain specified occasion or occasions

One certificate may cover more than one stand.

Certificates are obtained from South Ayrshire Council.

You must comply with any conditions attached to a certificate.

To be eligible for a general safety certificate, you must be the person responsible for the management of the ground.

To be eligible for a special safety certificate, you must be the person responsible for the activity to be viewed from the stand on that occasion.

How to apply

The links below take you to another website which processes these applications on behalf of South Ayrshire Council

What happens next?

Applicants must provide requested information and plans to South Ayrshire Council within the time specified. If it is not provided within the permitted time the application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

South Ayrshire Council will determine if any stand in their area is a regulated stand. If it is determined that it is, a notice will be served on the person who appears would qualify to be issued with a general safety certificate. The notice will give details of their determination and the effects of the determination.

When South Ayrshire Council receives an application for a general safety certificate for a regulated stand at a sports ground they will determine if the stand is a regulated stand and if it if the applicant is the person who qualifies for the issue of the certificate. If they have already determined that the stand is a regulated stand and have not revoked this decision, they must decide if the applicant is the person who qualifies for the issue of the general safety certificate.

If South Ayrshire Council receives an application for a special safety certificate for a regulated stand they will determine if the applicant qualifies for the issue of a certificate.

South Ayrshire Council will send a copy of an application for a safety certificate to the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

If an application is made to transfer a certificate South Ayrshire Council will determine if the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred, if they made an application, qualifies for the issue of a certificate. The applicant may be the current holder of the certificate or the person to whom the certificate is to be transferred.

South Ayrshire Council will send a copy of the application for the transfer of a safety certificate to the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

It is in the public interest that the South Ayrshire Council must process your application before it can be granted. We would expect to process your application within 20 working days or 28 calendar days. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us.

What if I have been refused approval?

Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first instance.

Any applicant who is refused a general safety certificate because they are not considered to be an eligible person can appeal to the local sheriff court.

An applicant who is refused a special safety certificate may also appeal to the court against a refusal based on grounds other than a decision that they are not an eligible person.

Also, any licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition attached to, or the omission of anything from, their safety certificate, or against the refusal to amend or replace a safety certificate, may also appeal to the local sheriff court.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

In the interest of public safety, there is no automatic granting of a licence should we fail to respond to you. Tacit consent does not apply.

Consumer complaints

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the service provider by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK,Consumer Direct will give you advice or you can contact us directly. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

Other complaints

If you wish to complain about a licence holder then please use the contact details below.

Who to contact

Building Standards
South Ayrshire Council
Burns House
Ayr KA7 1UT
Tel: 01292 616159

Trade Associations

Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA)