Jump-start for trampoline parks with new Primary Authority partnership

Visitors to trampoline parks nationwide can have greater peace of mind with regard to their health and safety, thanks to a new partnership.

South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) have now partnered with Right Directions Ltd, a health and safety and quality management consultancy to the leisure industry.

To make it easier for businesses that operate in more than one local authority area, government legislation allows them to work with specific authorities to get regulatory advice and for that to be applied to all of their facilities.

Trampoline park operators working with Right Directions will now be able to seek health and safety, food safety, food standards and fair trading advice from one single source thanks to this Primary Authority partnership.

SNC will be the Primary Authority for health and safety, food safety and environmental protection, whilst NCC will be responsible for trading standards.

Right Directions are now the Primary Authority coordinator for several trampoline park operators across the country, providing consistent and assured health and safety advice for what is a new and rapidly expanding sector.

Cllr Dermot Bambridge, SNC’s portfolio holder for environmental services, said: “Trampoline parks are a relatively new and increasingly popular entity in the UK.

“The Primary Authority partnership which has been established will aim to ensure consistent health and safety standards so that anyone using this type of facility can rest assured the parks are following the correct guidelines. We can provide this type of Primary Authority relationship for food safety, health and safety and environmental protection.”

County council cabinet member for public protection, strategic infrastructure and economic growth Cllr André Gonzalez de Savage, said: “The Primary Authority scheme has enabled us to continue to provide high quality advice and support to businesses, which means they can operate with the certainty they are adhering to often complex regulations.

“In partnership with South Northamptonshire Council, I am delighted to be working with Right Directions and would invite any company which thinks it can benefit from a Primary Authority partnership with Trading Standards to visit www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards to find out more.”

Gill Twell, Head of Development at Right Directions, said: “Trampoline parks are still a new and rapidly growing industry in the UK. Our partnership will provide guidance for both businesses and regulators in an industry where there is currently a gap in regulation and published best practice. Through assured advice we can drive up standards and promote a consistent approach from regulators.”

To find out more about entering into a Primary Authority partnership, email Comm&BusSupport@cherwellandsouthnorthants.gov.uk