In light of the report from the Independent Football Commission 2007 report which backed a return to safe standing. The IFC report even went so far as to suggest that safe standing would improve health and safety figures at matches.
All seater stadia was brought in following the Hillsborough Disaster and then the Taylor Report which was left open to abuses by seat manufacturing companies, who put pressure on MP's to go down the route of all seater.
The motion to Conference as put up by the Chesham and Aylesbury branch is as follows:
Safe Standing at Football Matches
Chesham & Amersham, Aylesbury
Conference notes that:
A. Since 1994 all football clubs in the Premiership and the Football League Championship have been required to provide all-seater accommodation.
B. Model ground regulations recommended by the Premier and Football Leagues stipulate that standing in seated areas should be forbidden.
C. A sizeable minority of supporters who wish to watch football whilst standing continue to stand in seated areas.
D. Spectators standing in seated areas can create a number of hazards particularly for those seated round them.
Conference in particular notes that:
i) Standing in seating areas, and efforts to enforce the ban on it, is a significant cause of conflict between supporters, their clubs and the authorities.
ii) Safe standing areas operate safely and successfully at many European grounds, notably in Germany.
iii) Where customers have the choice to purchase tickets in either 'sitting' or 'standing' areas, the problem of seated spectators finding their views blocked by people standing is largely eliminated.
iv) Outside the top two divisions of English league football safe standing areas are permitted.
v) There is no recent evidence to suggest that standing spectators are any less safe at football matches than those who are seated.
Conference believes that the introduction of safe standing areas would:
a) Be extremely popular with supporters, both those who prefer to stand and those who (for whatever reasons including health or disability) prefer to sit.
b) Provide choice and promote social inclusion in the national game.
c) Positively assist the relationship between supporters and stewards by removing this area of potential conflict.
d) Most importantly, be safe.
Conference therefore calls upon the Government to:
1. Replace any regulations requiring spectators to be seated with new regulations clearly setting out standards under which a safe standing area may be licensed.
2. Direct the Football Licensing Authority to prepare suitable guidance under which domestic football clubs, working with their supporters, may introduce safe standing areas.
Anyone who has a Liberal Democrat MP is asked to contact them and urge them to support this motion.