Concerns remain about persistent standing

The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) have carried out risk assessments of all football grounds in the country. Due to the physical nature of the London stadium, persistent standing is still noted by the SGSA and they would like to know what further steps are being proposed to deal with the safety issue.

Members of the London Stadium Safety Advisory Group have ongoing detailed discussions reviewing various options and control measures for persistent standing. A viable physical solution and an action plan that is time limited needs to be submitted to the SGSA before the safety board meeting in February 2020 the December LS-SAG minutes say.

West Ham representatives told the December meeting added that the process currently in place is working and there has been a huge improvement over time of persistent standing at the London Stadium. The LS-SAG have requested SGSA to share video footage of a progressive collapse with partners.

Last year, Stadium owners E20 verified that there are barriers in the front of the upper tiers and there has been no review of any engineering solution similar to Spurs. E20 was supposed to be giving a demonstration to the certifying authority (Newham Council) of any new barriers they would like to trial. That action remains outstanding.