Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975

17 Interpretation.E+W+S

(1)In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,—

  • [F1“building authority” means—

(a)in England outside Greater London and the metropolitan counties, F2. . . the district council;

(b)in Scotland, the local authority within the meaning of the M1Building (Scotland) Act [F31959] [F32003 (asp 8)]]

  • “the court” means, in relation to premises in England or Wales, a magistrates’ court F4...and, in relation to premises in Scotland, the sheriff within whose jurisdiction they are situated;

  • [F5“designated sports ground” ] and “designation order” have the meanings assigned to them by section 1(4) above;

  • “general safety certificate” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(4) above;

  • [F6“local authority” means—

(a)in Greater London, the London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London;

(b)in England, in the metropolitan counties, the district council;

(c)in England outside Greater London and the metropolitan counties, F2. . . the county council;

[F7(cc)in Wales, the county council or county borough council;]

(d)in Scotland, the [F8council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994];]

  • “means of access” includes means of access from a [F9highway][F9road];

  • “qualified person” has the meaning assigned to it by section 3(1) above;

  • [F10“prohibition notice” has the meaning assigned to it by section 10(1);]

  • “safety” does not include safety from danger inherent in participation in a sporting or competitive activity;

“safety certificate” [F11, except with reference to a stand at a sports ground,] has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(1) above [F11and, where it refers to a stand, means a safety certificate (whether general or special) under Part III of the M2Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987];

  • “special safety certificate” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(4) above;

  • “spectator” means any person occupying accommodation provided for spectators at a sports ground;

  • “sports ground” means any place where sports or other competitive activities take place in the open air and where accommodation has been provided for spectators, consisting of artificial structures or of natural structures artificially modified for the purpose; F12

(2)Any reference in this Act to any enactment is a reference to it as amended, and includes a reference to it as applied by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 17(1) substituted (S.) (1.5.2005) by Building (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 8), s. 59(1), sch. 6 para. 11 (with s. 53); S.S.I. 2004/404, art. 2(1)

F7S. 17(1)(cc) in the definition of “local authority” inserted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 47(2)(b) (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 para. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F8Words in s. 17(1) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 102; S.I. 1994/323, art. 4(1)

F9Word “road” substituted (S.) for “highway” by Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (c. 54, SIF 108), s. 156(1), Sch. 9 para. 75

Marginal Citations