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| Andrew Pope Letter Daily Echo 25 October 2024 |
The Inquest into the death of Saints fan Simon Oakley has concluded, as reported by the Daily Echo.
Following the Inquest, Southampton Independents Andrew Pope has had a letter published in the Echo as a response to requests that he has received from Saints fans for "grab rails" in the aisles of the stands.
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| Part 1 of the Letter to the Daily Echo |
Having led the seven-year-long successful safe standing campaign, with 7,000 fans in the Northam Stand better protected with rail seats, Andrew says in the letter that he agrees with campaigner David Davies and the other Saints fans that had contacted him. Andrew has written to Southampton FC, Southampton City Council and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.
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| Part 2 of the Letter to the Daily Echo |
The Sports Grounds Safety Authority has already replied to say that while it is not a legal requirement, Southampton FC could go ahead and install grab rails:
"there are no legal requirements for radial stairways leading to stadium seating areas to have grab rails (sometimes known as comfort rails). It is a matter for the stadium to consider whether they want to go over and above the legal standards."
Responses from Southampton FC and the Council are awaited.
