Clubs warned to check stadiums for cladding risk

FOOTBALL clubs across the country will be told to ensure their stadiums are free of potentially dangerous cladding following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Letters will be sent out to all 92 clubs in the Premier League and Football League — plus Wembley and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium — amid fears that material which is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the deadly blaze in north Kensington could be present at stadiums in the UK. Ken Scott, chief inspector from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, told Sportsmail: ‘We are aware of what happened at Grenfell Tower and we are following developments. Lots of football grounds have used cladding. We will be writing to each and every local authority to make them aware of the situation. Venues attract a high level of supervision. They feature significant active and passive fire prevention systems including smoke alarms and fire extinguishers — but there cannot be complacency.’ Cricket, rugby union and rugby league clubs will also be checked.

EVERY club in the top four divisions will be asked to check their stadium for the cladding which is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the lethal blaze at Grenfell Tower.

The Government-appointed body who regulate ground safety are to send letters to all 92 clubs — plus Wembley and Cardiff ’ s Principality Stadium. Local authorities whose areas include football clubs and who carry out safety inspections will also be contacted to be made aware of potential issues by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) along with cricket, rugby union and rugby league clubs.

Ken Scott, chief inspector from the SGSA, said: ‘We are aware of what happened at Grenfell Tower. We are following developments. We are aware that lots of football grounds have used cladding. We will be writing to each and to local authorities to make them aware of the situation.’

So far, 80 people are understood to have died after an inferno ripped through the tower block in Kensington. Police have warned that the final death toll may not be known until the end of the year.

In the wake of the fire, samples of external cladding from 95 buildings in 32 areas in England have failed fire-proofing tests, with Prime Minister Theresa May ordering a national investigation.

Samples of cladding are also being sought from schools and hospitals, and the NHS have identified as many as 30 hospital trusts who have cladding made of material similar to that used on Grenfell Tower.

Mr Scott believes football stadiums are much less of a risk than tower blocks.

‘The difficulty will be striking the balance,’ he explained. ‘It is important to note that there is no sleeping risk here, these are not residential dwellings.’

He added that stands at sports grounds tend to be well-protected.

‘Venues attract a high level of supervision,’ Mr Scott said. ‘They feature significant active and passive fire prevention systems including smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.’

Cladding has already been removed from a number of blocks of flats by local authorities and Mr Scott said that was unlikely to be the case at the nation’s football grounds.

‘We don’t wish to add to the burden that people already have,’ he said.

‘However, it may be that part of the fire safety checks — which are part of the annual reports carried out before safety certificates are given — feature checks on cladding and assurances that it is fit for purpose.’

Mr Scott added that the cladding used at Grenfell Tower ‘may well be acceptable’ for use in stadiums but added: ‘ There cannot be complacency — it may still cause a significant fire or alarm. What we will send out will be guidance, a gentle reminder.’