POISON DOME; pounds 185m bill to defuse toxic timebomb

THE Millennium Dome site is so badly contaminated with poisons that it could remain a wasteland forever.

Toxins which can cause cancer and attack the nervous system remain in the ground despite a pounds 185million clean-up project.

Experts say a similar amount would have to be spent in a second clean-up if the Dome is razed to the ground and the site used for new developments.

That is more than the 160-acre site is currently worth - around pounds 160million.

Last week merchant bankers Lazard, who were called in by the Government to advise on the Dome, said it should be flattened.

English Partnerships, which were behind the development plans for the land in London's Greenwich, have not ruled out demolition.

The poisons, including arsenic and cyanide, date from when the 300- acre Greenwich peninsula was occupied by a power station, gas works and a steel stockyard.

Last night scientific expert Dr John Large said: "Any new development would require spending of many millions of pounds to decontaminate the site - if it was ever possible to decontaminate it fully.

"It was cleaned for 'end use' only - in other words for the Dome, but not for future projects."

The area's industrial history makes what should be one of London's most prized stretches of real estate an environmental nightmare. The Dome site also suffers widespread flooding because a concrete "cap" designed to seal poisons underground prevents proper drainage.

The Government now faces a no-win situation. Leaving an empty Dome standing would be a permanent reminder of the mismanagement which has seen pounds 628million of lottery money spent on the project.

But demolishing the landmark could incur even more millions in clear-up costs.

Families are expected to move into the first stage of the Millennium Village, which has 1,377 homes, a new school and a health centre, close to the Dome in December.

There is planning permission for a further 1,633 homes at the Dome's coach park and nearby. Although the local Greenwich Council insists the land is safe for residential use, it will not grant permission for gardens.

Dr Large said: "The question is - can you further decontaminate the site for development when people live so close? Have you ever heard of a building site without dust?

"You have to ask what risk would you put those people in and how would you affect the value of their properties."

He added: "It seems short-sighted that the area has only been decontaminated for the Dome."

Greenwich Council planning chief David McCollum said that before the Dome was built more than 200,000 tons of earth were removed and dumped at landfill sites.

Remaining poisons were treated by soil washing and vapour extraction during the 18-month clean-up - but neither method clears all pollution.

To prevent leakage, the Dome was built on a membrane and a 4ft concrete base - which has given rise to flooding after heavy rain.

One worker on the site said: "We regularly hit the concrete cap while doing various jobs. It is not far down and you wonder what the hell is below it. I don't want to be here to find out."

The Government is now seeking new buyers for the Dome after Japanese group Nomura scrapped plans to pay pounds 105million for it.

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