Now I could be wrong but something keeps making me think it was only relevent to Premiership and NPC clubs If so couldn't Bristol City try the safe standing rail seating in L1 and if it is still compulsary in NPC lock the seats down when we go up?
No there is an illogical rule [or law!] that prevents that happening once a team has altered its stadium. Note mention of safe standing at a re-developed Ashton Gate is specific, Locked down for football, unlocked for rugby, till the law changes.
Typical impose a law with no leeway then you have to change the law just to see if you got it wrong in the first place but what do we expect from goverments 'we have to be seen doing something even if it is poorly thought out and/or wrong'