SAFETY MATTERS

[behindthegoal]

As promised, albeit a bit late, a report on the Safety Action Group meeting.

 

Thanks for the comments that I was able to add to the debate.

 

Basically this meeting decides how safety is managed on match days. It is chaired by the local fire and resuce authority rep who has the final say. It is attended by the police, the local authority in a couple of guises, the club MD (Frank Walton for those who like me didn't know) and various others including the licensing body and the club's own architect who has a great say in how the club interprets and thus applies the legislation, but no supporters' rep.

 

A very brief summary of the discussion points I raised and that were discussed:

 

Closure Plough End. The reasons were explained in full and it seems that there was little choice as the club felt exposed to possible negligence claims as it was considered that the terracing did not meet the required criteria especially if someone tripped and was badly injured.

 

The good news is that the seats that are going in can either be moved to a possible new ground, moved elsewhere on the existing ground or sold depending on how the future works out. Retaining a terrace was not possible for a number of technical (and very expensive) reasons.

 

Yellow lines/no go areas. Again the club interpreation of the legislation that requires an area of safety to be provided. Made the point that other grounds don't have them and they just seem to be an area for stewards to stand and patrol. This seems to have had an impact as the no go areas at the Plough End seemed to have been ignored for the Daggers match, so perhaps a bit of common sense has now prevailed.

 

Stewards. Made the point that the standard varies from the very good/approachable/friendly etc, through to the just standing there and smoking/chatting, to the 15 year old pushing by to get to the yellow peril areas. Again there seemed to be an improvement at the Daggers game with no pushing by going on at least.

 

Segregation. Remarked on the apparent inconsistency of application. This was explained as being purely police intelligence lead and it is they who have a strong say in designating matches for potential trouble. They will always be cautious and seem to prefer segregation full stop. They do try to have minimal policing to reduce costs to the club and expect our stewards do effectively police most games.

 

Bottle top removal. A requirement of the legislation based on our current ground designation.

 

Commuinication to supporters. Asked that decisions on such matters be better explained to supporters though the programme, web site, forum, email etc. Taken on board and the club said that they will try to comminicate the reasons for things more including at the fans forum.

 

I askled why (as per the Taylor Report recommendation) there was no supporters' rep on this Action Group and the Chairman asked that the club ask for a rep at the next fans forum. (I said that I would be happy to undertake if required).

 

I also put forward the suggestions put forward re more exits and pedestrian crossing outside the main entrance.

 

All in all a good opportunity to put forward some supporters' views not previously heard at this type of meeting. I realise though that it was not really a very democratic process as I could only express my views and those given to me elsewhere and one here.

 

However I do feel thate door is now opeen to secure us some formal represenation to at least be heard and hope that this can be put in place before the next meeting in June. After all it is our safety that is being discussed.

 

Sorry that I have been a bit brief in parts but have tried to precis the discussions of a 2 hour meeting and I have not reported on other agenda items out of respect to any confidentiality of the meeting.

 

Hope this is of some interest.

[jc]

Quote:

behindthegoal said: the club MD (Frank Walton for those who like me didn't know)

Looks to me like you still don't know <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> - it's 'Walter'.

In all seriousness, thanks for the update.

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

As in 'The Frank and Walters' .. Looks like he has aged a bit tho

 

 

 

Up the festive Fleet

 

 

Well done for the report.. Pity the club ain't a bit more forthcoming on items like this

[behindthegoal]

ooops! yes sorry had to decipher my pre-Christmas notes and plumped for the "on" rather than the "er".

I must have missed his arrival. Does anyone know if he has any football background or is it just business? Her did not seem to know very much about the Fleet history and I got the impression he had not been at the ground much before his appointment. I assume that he is now at least living locally?

[Harry J Allstars]

Quote:

jc said:

Quote:

behindthegoal said: the club MD (Frank Walton for those who like me didn't know)

Looks to me like you still don't know <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> - it's 'Walter'.

In all seriousness, thanks for the update.

LOL, which ones Frank?

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

 

To avoid confusion here he is. Say hello if you see him