Penrith AFC stand closed after accident involving spectator

The Health & Safety Executive have ordered that the stand at the Leo Group Stadium be closed whilst investigations continue.

The Northern League Division One football club are hoping the situation can be resolved as soon as possible.

But in the meantime the external seating area of the stand at Frenchfield Park is closed to spectators.

The incident happened at a game between Penrith AFC Ladies and Mancunian Unity on October 22.

Penrith chairman Brian Williams said: “At the Ladies game there was an accident – a young lad came through the stand.

“He was taken away to hospital and thankfully he was alright, other than suffering a bit of shock.

“But it flagged up the problem which has been an ongoing one for some time.

“We have to get something done about it.”

Some areas of the stand can still be used but the main seating area outside has been closed (Image: News & Star)

The ground is owned by Westmorland & Furness Council and leased to the football club.

Penrith moved into the ground back in 2009 after leaving their former Southend Road home.

After the council was notified about the incident, the Health & Safety Executive inspected the stand. “They immediately looked at the stand underneath and said it wasn’t fit for purpose,” Williams added.

“They’ve put a closure order on it. That is the situation at the moment.

“We’ve had a structural engineer in and they’ll be giving their report back to Westmorland & Furness Council.

“The next step will be getting the report through and we can then find out about getting some contractors in to rectify the job.”

Certain areas of the stand inside the building can still be used but the main seating area is out of bounds.

The problem comes soon after Penrith’s ground underwent a transformation with the installation of a new artificial pitch and other facilities at Frenchfield Park.

“It’s something we could have done without, after all the work we’ve had done recently, but we have to get something done about it,” Williams added.

Penrith chairman Brian Williams (Image: News & Star)

“We’ll be doing everything we can possibly do.”

Penrith have a home game against Sunderland RCA this Saturday.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “We have been made aware of an accident that occurred in the stand at Penrith AFC on 22 October.

“The council is in contact with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over this incident and we have been liaising with Penrith AFC and the HSE to determine the appropriate next steps.

“In the interests of public safety, on Friday, 27 October, the HSE served a health and safety prohibition notice to prevent access to the external seating area of the stand, pending the outcome of further enquiries.’’

A Health & Safety Executive spokesperson added: “We were notified of an incident and subsequently visited the stadium and served an enforcement notice.

"This aims to ensure the safety of spectators and others are not put at risk while further enquiries are made.”