'Battersea 2000' goes to dogs

The Deputy Prime Minister's plans for creating an alternative Millennium Dome in Battersea have been abandoned because the project is seen as too expensive.

John Prescott wanted to offer the public a free alternative to the Greenwich extravaganza.

Early this year he visited the Battersea site and spoke to developer Parkview International about building his proposed 'People's Dome' which would have offered traditional entertainment such as fairground rides and music.

A joint public-private partnership was discussed with the scheme costing in the region of £500 million. But subsequently the Government has been forced to scrap the project.

A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions said: "We couldn't justify spending so much public money on yet another millennium project."

A spokesman for Parkview International said: "Naturally we are disappointed to find the project is not going ahead. But we realise that it would have resulted in substantial costs.

"The site is derelict and would have had to be cleared before any work could be carried out. In addition there would have been a need for the creation of transport links."