Shrewsbury Elton John concert safety fears allayed

Bosses at Shrewsbury Town FC today moved to reassure the public after health and safety concerns were raised about Sir Elton John's big summer concert at the stadium.

Councillor Jon Tandy, Shropshire Council ward member for Sutton, revealed yesterday that he had called for a bid for planning permission for the concert to be discussed by the authority's planning committee.

He said he had "big" concerns about issues including parking, pedestrian safety and disruption to local residents ahead of the event, which is predicted to attract a crowd of more than 17,000 to the club's Greenhous Meadow on June 12.

The planning application will be discussed by the council's central planning committee at a meeting on Thursday.

But Ian Bebbington, the commercial operations manager for Shrewsbury Town FC, today said that the club was working on robust health and safety measures which would be included within the planning conditions.

He said: "Initially it's going to the planning committee this week but we also have to obtain a safety certificate through the safety advisory group which is made up of a number of different partners including the local authority and emergency services.

"We also have to produce a health and safety management plan which is being worked up now.

"The football club is working with the promoter in preparing a detailed management plan which will form part of a condition of any planning approval," he added.

Mr Bebbington said a traffic management plan for the event would also have to be ratified by a liaison committee before the concert could go ahead.

He said: "All of the concerns will be addressed by the safety management plan."

The planning application for temporary use of the stadium between June 5 and 18 for operations to facilitate the preparation/staging and de-rigging of a music concert is being recommended for approval by council officers ahead of Thursday's meeting.

By Russell Roberts