Punters at Down Royal Racecourse will officially take their seats on a new Grandstand following a four year delay on safety approval by a local authority.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) signed off on a 'Regulated Stand Certificate' this week in accordance with a NI safety of sports grounds order.
The environment and sustainability committee was presented with a report on the stand to accommodate over 2,300 people, which had been applied for in 2019.
Read more: Down Royal Racecourse confirm return of spectators for Summer Festival.
A LCCC officer said: "The council received an application from the responsible person at Down Royal Racecourse for a Regulated Stand Certificate in April 2019.
"Due to the impacts of Covid 19 and maintenance work being carried out to the stand at the racecourse, the application process has only recently been completed.
"The certificate takes in to account safety plans laid out around crowd control and emergency situations. The new stand bring the total spectator number to approximately 8,670."
New chair of the council's planning , Alliance Alderman Martin Gregg added: "Council wants people to come to Down Racecourse and be able to relax and enjoy the spectacle in a safe environment.
"It's great to see the level of scrutiny that goes into managing the safety of everyone attending these large events."
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