D B /ab

22nd November 1990

Martin Flannery MP House of Commons

Dear Martin

Thanks for sending the material on Les Steele.

With all good wishes

DAVID BLUNKETTMP for Sheffield Brightside

From Martin Flannery, M.P. Sheffield, Hillsborough

HOUSE OF COMMONS L O N D O N SW1A OAA

FAX: Phone: FAX:

London Sheffield

David Blunkett M.P. House of Commons, London SW1A OAA 18th November 1990

Dear David,

As you know, there is still a belief throughout the general community, that the Hillsborough Football Stadium is in the Hillsborough Constituency, and I still receive many letters and documentation from people, especially in Liverpool, who believe that I am the M.P. for the area where the Stadium is.

I enclose a recent batch of documents from a Mr Les Steele, whose son,Philip died at Hillsborough, and he raises a most important point,that the opening of those tragic terraces where the deaths occurred would be a violation of the Taylor Report.

You will of course, make your own mind up on this, but I personally agree with Mr Steele, and the Taylor Report in all its recommendations, and have consistently done so, throughout, from the very beginning.

Yours ever,

- T n c ^ n j c 5

c j - } < £ \ j z S .

Ainsdale,SOUTHPORT,Merseyside

23rd July 1990

I am the father of Philip Steele who died, at Hillsborough.No doubt you will be aware of the report in the Liverpool Echo dated.14th July 1990, which I consider to be another discredit to the memory of our loved, ones. You will find enclosed, a copy letter which I have sent to Colin Moynihan, The Hone Office, the Football Assoaiation, the Football League and Mr Ronnie Fearn M.P, It is also my intention to campaign with a National Newspaper towards the start of the football season.

All I ask of you is that you would send me a letter of support if you agree with this action and hopefully this will help to show Sheffield Wednesday F.C. they are causing insult to the precious lives lost at their ground.

Yours sincerely,

L.STEELE.

Ainsdale,SOUTHPORT,Merseyside

23rd July 1990

It was with disgust and upset that I read the enclosed copy newspaper report on Saturday 14th July 1990» as I lost my lovely fifteen year old son and his two brothers were very lucky to escape with their lives while my wife and myself were left to look on helplessly as the whole disaster unfolded. We have been left with a loss we will never recover from but we had hoped that the victims* deaths would not be in vain if all grounds were put to rights as per Lord Chief Justice Taylor’s report - from that we could salvage a ray of hope in knowing that other families would not go through the same dreadful time that all the families of the Hillsborough Disaster have and are going through.

We have as yet seen nothing in reply to this outrageous and totally insensitive action being taken by Sheffield Wednesday Football Club who should surely be leading the way as far as improvements to their ground are concerned especially Leppings Lane. Why are they being allowed to ignore the suggestions of Lord Chief Justice Taylor? Or is it that precious lives still do not matter as much as money? Sheffield Wednesday’s action or lack of action can only be taken as one more insult to the people who died and their families. It is high time someone took the responsibility for that fateful day, I wonder what use tha Taylor report and the Government and Football legislation if Sheffield Wednesday can ignore both. I feel they should either not be allowed to play airy League games or enter the F*A. Cup until they put their ground in order.

Let the deaths of the ’ninety-five' not be a waste, let us see the emphasis laid on ground safety and the Taylor recommendations carried out quickly. We still see the big transfer fees going on so let us also see a united effort from all parties concerned to carry out what needs to be done without arguing and let the families left to mourn see something good arising because of the Hillsborough tragedy.

We have suffered enough, we have heard slurs on our loved ones’ names but if the football grounds are not made safe NOV/ surely this must be the biggest insult of all. To do nothing about ground safety is to say nindgr-five people died and it does not matter - yes, that would be the biggest insult of all. We want some positive action now.

Yours sincerely,

L.STEELE.

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONL I M I T E DFounded 1863

Patron: Her M a j e s t y T h e Q u e e n

President: H.R.H. T h e D u k e o f K e n t

Chairman: F. A. M i l l i c h i p

Chief Executive:R. H. G. K e l l y f c i s

Phone: 071-402 7151/071-262 4542 Telex: 261110

Facsimile: 071-402 0486

16 LANCASTER GATE, LONDON W2 3LW

Our Ref:ART/AS/2866

Mr L Steele

AinsdaleSouthportMerseyside

Dear Mr Steele

HILLSBOROUGH STADIUM

I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th July regarding the suggestion that Sheffield Wednesday FC are to re-open the terraces at the Leppings Lane End.

I am copying this correspondence to the club as I have no direct knowledge of the matter. However, I would point out that Lord Justice Taylor’s recommendations do involve a phasing period for all-seater stadia which, for clubs in the First and Second Divisions, is by the commencement of the 1994-95 season.

I will write to you further when I have received the club’s reply or, indeed, they may take it upon themselves to communicate with you direct.

Yours sincerely

For Chief Executive

Registered Office: 16 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3LW Incorporated in London Registration Number 77797

& B A l >°tyVD£D

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIMITEDLytham St. Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1JG. Telephone 0253 729421. Telex 67675. Fax 0253 724786 Secretary |. D. Dent

L. Steele, Esq.,

Ainsdale, SOUTHPORT, Merseyside,

Dear Mr. Steele,

I write further to my letter of 30th July in reply to yours of 20th July.

I have taken the matter up with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club who have confirmed to me that the story in the Liverpool Echo was not accurate. They have never stated that they are going to re-open the Lepping Lane terraces.

The club have undertaken to write to you personally and they have said that they will keep me advised as and when any plans for the Leppings Lane end of the ground are finalised.

I am sorry that you have suffered distress as a result of this ill-informed newspaper report.

5/8342 10th August, 1990.

Yours sincerely

All correspondence to be addressed to The Secretary. Registered Office as above. Registered in England 80612

THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIMITEDLytham St. Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1JG. Telephone 0253 729421. Telex 67675. Fax 0253 724786 Secretary I. D. Dent

5/8310 30th July, 1990.

L. Steele, Esq.

Ainsdale, SOUTHPORT, Merseyside ,

Dear Mr. Steele,

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY FOOTBALL CLUB

I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 20th July.

I am making enquiries into this matter and I will let you have a full reply shortly.

Yours sincerely,

secretary.

All correspondence to be addressed to The Secretary. Registered Office as above. Registered in England 80612

T he Fo o t b a l l Lic e n s in g A u t h o r it yChairm an: Mr Norman Jacobs

Our Ref: c /o The Home OfficeYour Ref: Room 957 A

50 Queen Anne's GateLondon, SW1H 9AT

Direct Line: 071-273 2869

Enquiries: 071-273 3133

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/HOME OFFICEQueen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT

Direct line 01-273 071 -273 2582 Switchboard 01-273 3000

Your reference

Our reference

Date

August 1990

Dear Mr Steele

You wrote on 20 July to Mr Moynihan about the newspaper report on the re-opening of Leppings Lane Terrace, Your letter has been passed to me for reply.

The scenes of terrible tragedy at Hillsborough will live with us all, but I know that for many like you and your family, the events hold a deeper and greater sorrow. I do not underestimate how long a task it will be for you to come to terms with the loss of someone so dear to you. I understand therefore how you and others who lost loved ones at Hillsborough must feel about the reports of the re-­opening of the Leppings Lane Terrace.

Lord Justice Taylor made firm recommendations for the safety and comfort of those who go to watch football matches. He thought that the way forward for football was to provide better facilities including all seated accommodation. He thought this should be achieved progressively and by fixed dates. The Government accepted that recommendation and remains committed to its implementation. However, Lord Justice Taylor recognised that the work needed to improve the standard of accommodation for spectators cannot be done overnight. Nevertheless, it is intended that improvements are made and that all seated accommodation is introduced at football grounds in line with the timescale recommended by him. The Home Secretary will, if necessary, use the powers under the Football Spectators Act 1989 in order to ensure compliance. In the meantime, local authorities, police and emergency services have been acting on other safety recommendations made by the Taylor Inquiry, for example reviewing the requirements of safety certificates reducing the number of people who are allowed to stand at matches and requiring improvements such as better first aid facilities.

I can understand why people feel that it is an insensitive move by the football club to re-open this terrace which, I understand, has been closed since the disaster occurred. But Lord Justice Taylor did not say that standing accommodation should be banned immediately. What he suggested was that until such time as the standing accommodation is phases out there should be a reduced limit on crowd density, particular safeguards to ensure that the new lower authorised capacities of terraces should not b e e x c e e d e d and that there should be exit gates in perimeter fences. Hillsborough, in common with grounds of other football clubs in

Mr L Steele

AinsdaleSOUTHPORTMerseyside

CR.10 S363

Divisions 1 and 2 of the Football League, will be expected to phase out all standing accommodation by August 1994. We understand that the present proposals for Leppings Lane Terrace will restrict to between 500 and 1,000 the number of spectators who may occupy the terracing and that the perimeter fence has now been removed. If the local authority is satisfied that these revised arrangements provide an acceptable degree of safety, then the club is not prohibited from using the terrace again.

Yours sincerely

MISS M SHARP G2 Division

HOUSE OF COMMONSL O N D O N SW1A OAA

Southport.

September 13th 1990.

Mr. L. Steele,

Ainsdale, Southport.

Dear Mr Steele,

As promised, I now enclose the letter from the Home Office Dept responsible for the Safety of Sports Grounds for your

information.

It would appear that action is being taken anda sad lesson has

been learned.

I hope you find this letter reassuring in its pointer to

safety.

1

H o m e O f f ic e

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SW1H 9AT

Our Ref: FEP/90 35/48/170 (S) Your Ref: Rf/OMH

. . v 1 1 SEP 1990tVA V 12XvXY\

Your letter of 26 July to Robert Atkins enclosing this one from Mr L Steele of P A i n s d a l e , Southport,Merseyside has been forwarded to this Department forreply in view of our responsibilities for the Safety of Sports Grounds Act. I am replying in Lord Ferrers' absence from the office.

I can understand your constituent's concern over reports about the re-opening of the Leppings Lane terrace. Perhaps I can explain the present position.

Lord Justice Taylor made firm recommendations for the safety and comfort of those who go to watch football matches. He thought that the way forward for football was to provide better facilities including all seated accommodation and that this should be achieved progressively and by fixed dates. The Government accepted that recommendation and remains committed to its implementation. But, like Lord Justice Taylor, we recognise that the work needed to improve the standard of accommodation for spectators cannot be done overnight. We nevertheless intend to see that improvements are made and that all seated accommodation is introduced at football league grounds in line with the timescale recommended by him. That is why we are providing up to £100 million for football ground improvement over the next five years. The Home Secretary will, if necessary, use the powers under the Football Spectators Act 1989 in order to ensure compliance.

In the meantime, local authorities, police and emergency services have been acting on other safety recommendations made by the Inquiry, for example by reviewing the requirements of safety certificates, reducing the number of people who are allowed to stand at matches, and requiring improvements such as better first aid facilities.

/Hillsborough,

Ronnie Fearn Esq OBE FCIB MP

Hillsborough, in common with grounds of other football clubs in Divisions 1 and 2 of the Football League will be expected to phase out all standing accommodation by August 1994. We understand that the present proposals for Leppings Lane terrace will restrict to between 500 and 1,000 the number of spectators who may occupy the terracing and that the perimeter fence has now been removed. If the local authority is satisfied that these revised arrangements provide an acceptable degree of safety, then the club is not prohibited from using the terrace again.

I am sure that the local authority will look very carefully at the revised arrangements before permitting Leppings Lane to be re_0pened. That said, I do understand why you should feel that it is an insensitive move by the football club to re-open this terrace.

B NICHOLSON Assistant Private Secretary

■J

Ronnie Fearn, OBE, FCIB, MP.

HOUSE OF C O M M O N S

L O N D O N SW1A0AA

Please reply to:-

Ref: RF/OMH

L Steele Esq.,

Southport

7th August, 199U7

AINSDALE, Southport

%

Dear Mr Steele,

I enclose copy of communication I have received from the Department of the Environment for your perusal - I will, of course, forward the Home Office report when same comes to hand.

Kind regards,

Yours,, sincerely.

n / o H d

n-o flo)

(Dictated by Mr Fearn and signed in his absence)

/end

JH

«̂\AMEN7̂£

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d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t

2 MARSHAM ST R E E T L O N D O N SWIP 3EB

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My ref :

Your ref :

E 2 AUG m o

You wrote to Mr Atkins on 2 6 J u l y enclosing correspondence from Mr L Steele about p i fans being allowed to stand onS S t S p o i n ? ; L a S e ’t e r r a c e s a t S h e f f i e l d U n i t e d

Football Club.

However, as the matter seems to be Primarily for the Home Office, I am passing your letter to that Department asking them to reply

to you direct.

Yours sincerely

ALASTAIR MCINTYRE Private Secretary

Ronnie Fearn Esq OBE FCIB MP

RONNIE FEARN, OBE, FCIB, M P .

AINSDALE,Southport

HOUSE OF COMMONSL O N D O N SW1A0AA

REF: RF/OMH

Please reply to:-

Southport

L Steele Esq.,

26th July, 1990.

Dear Mr Steele,

Thank you for your letter of the 23rd July 1990.

To too think it is heartrending that such a tragedy has not been fully acted upon and that Government legislation has not laid down firm rules. Sheffield Wednesday are way out of line in their new actions and I have spoken out already on their misguided policy.

I do agree with the sentiments and directions of your letter and I know that the terrible experience your family, and others, suffered should not be ignored in future actions on ground safety by all Clubs.

I can assure you your communication will definitely find it's way onto the Ministerial desk.

/fours sincerely,

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUBAND ATHLETIC GROUNDS P.L.C.

AIMFIELD ROAD, LIVERPOOL L4 OTH 051-263 2361/2

Telex 627661 LFC G Fax 051-260 8813Registered No. 35668, England

Match Information Service Only Match Ticket Office. Enquiries Only

Official Sponsor

C a n d y

051-260 SSSS 051-260 S6SO

PBR/MG

Mr. L. Steele,

Ainsdale,Southport,Merseyside,

31st July 1990

Dear Mr. Steele,

Thank you for forwarding to me a copy of the letters which you have sent concerning a report in the newspapers that the Chairman of Sheffield Wednesday is considering re-opening the Leppings Lane End of the Hillsborough Ground as a standing area.

We are very sympathetic to your feelings in this matter and agree that it would be totally insensitive to ever again usethis area of the Ground for standing spectators.

Unfortunately it is something over which we as a club have no control, but we sincerely hope that the Sheffield Wednesday Club will re-consider the matter and the Leppings Lane terraces will be converted to an all seater area if and when theyare ever re-opened for public use.

With kind regards.

Yours sincerely,

Chief Executive/General Secretary

4.F.C.Registered Trade Marks

fK.M. OALGLISH. M.B.E.

PLAYER/TEAM MANAGERP.B. ROBINSON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE/GENERAL SECRETARY

Sheffield WednesdayFootball Club PLC

Our Ref: GHM/JB/D19/4940

22nd October 1990

Mr. L. Steele,

Ainsdale,Southport/Merseyside.

Dear Mr. Steele,

Thank you for your letter dated 15th October 1990.

Hie situation quite simply is that the Club have no definite plans for the Leppings Lane end.

Relegation from the First Division last season has meant that additional visiting capacity is not required at the present time and therefore the existing 3,840 seats within the West Stand are sufficient for visiting clubs. Should promotion be achieved at the end of the current season we will be looking at the probability of extending the visiting capacity, and as we will be required by 1994 to be all seater it is most likely that we would go down this path.

I trust this clarifies the situation.

Yours sincerely,

G.H. MacltEell Secretary—

Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 1SW.Tel: (0742) 343122 Grams: Wednesday Sheffield 6.

Fax No. 0742 337145

Chairman: D. G Richards, Secretary: G. H. Mackrell, F.C.C.A., Manager: R. F. Atkinson Directors: C. Woodward, K. T. Addy, E. Barron, G. K. Hulley, R. M. Grierson, F.C.A., J. Ashton, M.P.

Registered in England No. 62478

Sheffield WednesdayFootball Club PLC

Our Ref: GHM/JB/D19/4852

13th September 1990

Mr. L. Steele.

Ainsdale,Southport,Merseyside.

Dear Mr. Steele,

Further to correspondence you have had with the Football Association and the Football League, I am writing to clarify the situation whereby at no stage have Sheffield Wednesday F.C. indicated that they are seeking to re-open the Leppings Lane terrace for standing spectators under its existing configuration.

My Chairman was quoted out of context and, of course, there are always members of the media and Parliament who are quid? to seek an opportunity for cheap publicity.

I have been in conversation with Barry Devonside of the Hillsborough Support Group and have assured him that prior to any alterations to that end of the ground he will be advised in order to circulate the information to his members.

I welcome this opportunity of clarifying the situation.

Yours sincerely,

Hillsborough, Sheffield S61SW.Tel: (0742) 343122 Grams: Wednesday Sheffield 6.

Telex No. 547709 WEDNES Fax No. 0742 337145

Chairman: D.G. Richards, Secretary: G.H. Mackrell, F.C.C.A., Manager: R.F. Atkinson Directors: C. Woodward, K.T. Addy, E. Barron. G.K. Hulley, R.M. Grierson, F.CA , J. Ashton, M.P.

Registered in England No. 62478

34,256 SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1990 20p

KEEPS TERRACES15 heSd

swoopBy Paid Byrne

quizzedramatic

NINE people were still I by police today after a di drugs raid on a Liverpool pub,

* Fifteen people were arrested at the Bow and Arrow pub iri Princess Drive, West Derby, following a big police undercover operation.

Drugs suspected of including heroin, LSD, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines were recovered after plain clothes police backed up by uniformed officers raided the pub at 8pm last night.

ExpertsDetectives had been watching the

pub for a number of weeks before : giving the go-ahead to raid the : premises.

The nine people being questioned were being held at Eaton Road police station.

The substances seized are to be examined by forensic experts over the weekend.

Two people were arrested for alleged public disorder offences at the pub. One man was charged and will appear at court at a later date.

BEACH WARNINGTHE huge Mersey oil clean-up oper­ation continued today as thousands of people headed for the Wirral Show.

As more than 300 workmen toiled in spectacular sunshine to clean the oil-ravaged beaches, organisers of the big summer event pledged “The Show will go on!”

The WirraFs Mersey coastline was hit hardest by Thursday’s disaster in which 30 tonnes of crude oil spilled fropm a tanker moored at Tranmere.

Today the public were warned to stay away from the beaches south of Fort Perch Rock at New Brighton down to Seacombe,

mm

■it!

I M m

''A i' ? <u

My hero . . . Jean Baines and Minter

GRIEVING families of victims of the Hillsborough tragedy were horrified today to discover that football fans could again be STANDING on the Lep­pings Lane terraces next season.

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club has revealed there are plans to re-open the part of the ground where 95 Liverpool supporters died — and it will not even be converted into an all-seater area, as recommended in the report Into the tragedy.

But today Secretary of t h e H i l l s b o r o u g h

arrywill be writing to all the au th o ritie s concerned urging them to refuse to allow this move.”

Re-openedSheffield FC Chairman,

Dave Richards, has been reported as saying that h e b e l i e v e s m a n y supporters still want to s t a n d a t f o o t b a l l matches.

And although it flies in the face of the recom­mendations of the Taylor I n q u i r y , he h a s a

Eersonal aim to see eppings Lane re-opened

as a standing area, so he has decided to demolish

By Val Woanthe pens and fences on the terraces.

Mr Devonside, who lost a son in the disaster, added: “I am not alone in saying I am absolutely horrified and disgusted by these plans.

“All o f the families are realistic enough to know that the area will have to be reopened one day but it was generally assumed that it would be trans­formed into an all-seater.

“If any football ground in the land should be changed into a shining example of safety it is Hillsborough.”

Only the ticket office at the ground was open today and no-one was available to comment.

Wonder dog sores familyMINTER, the wonder dog, was the undisputed cham­pion of the Baines family today after saving them from their blazing house.

The 14-year-old family pet raised the alarm at breakfast time as the family slumbered while choking smoke spread through their Skelmersdale home.

Minter began whimpering and barking but the family slept on.

The fearless dog, a Lhasa Apso, then ran up the stairs Into the bedroom of Jean Baines, 53, and started lick* Ing and pawing at her face ufjtll lie brought her round.

By flay KellyHer son, Billy, 25, asleep

In the next bedroom, was woken by his mum and helped fight a battle against the first-floor blaze until the fire brigade arrived.

The upstairs of the house, In W o l v e r t o n , O l d Skelmersdale, was ruined by fire and smoke.

Mrs Baines said: " I thought I could hear Minter. barking at me In my sleep. It was all a dream until he started scratching aK my face.”

Minter, who looks like the Magic Roundabout’s Dougal,

British middleweight cham­pion, Alan Minter.

The family had just fin­ished decorating work.

Mrs' Baines said the fire has taught her a hard lesson.

She said: “It Is all my fault, I had a quick puff on a ciga­rette when 1 woke with a bit of pain early on and I was stupid enough to drop It.

“Smoking In bed Is asking for trouble.• A woman from the Mid­lands became trapped and died after raising the alarm and another was seriously Injured In a tower block blaze p r o b a b l y s t a r t e d by arsonists.• Full story Page Two.

UH]M|tragedies

THREE young children and a man died In separ­ate fires today.

In Bldeford, North Devon a man and a girl, two, died when Are raged through their home as they slept

One neighbour said: ”1 could hear a child crying but could not get to tier. That will stay with me for a long time.’1

Two brothers, aged two and three, died In a fire which broke out as they slept In Milton Keynes, Bucks.

hovers

bnnkBy Lesley Hussefl,

Political Correspondent

NICHOLAS Ridley today

clfffhanger.Time wds ;<a> lORnins

out for the Trade end Industry S ecretary , whose Hitler clanger has left his Westminster colleagues convinced h* must quit

Grim-faced Mr. Ridley

And Mrs Thatcher was today closetted in her Chequers country house puzzling out a forced reshuffle to fill the gap when he does resign.

But Ironically, opinion polls showed his Ger- man-bashlng remarks In the Spectator magazine were popular In homes up and down Britain.

Mr Ridley astonished MPs when he said Germans wanted to take over Europe and handing sovereignty to the European Co was tantamount i ng powar over to Hitler.

Hang onHe was expected to

quit last night but his p l a n e b a c k f r o m Budapest was six hours late. He is highly unlikely to hang on past this weekend.

The party would be tom apart a he tried to insist on staying for the thorny Issue o f Europe spots the Conservatives down the middle and has a l r e a d y e o i t Mrs.

'ommunlty t to handl-

Thatcherministers.

Cabinet