UK News 07-09-2000 Dome Troubleshooter: It Should Not Have Been Built who: David James, chairman of New Millennium Experience Co. what: Implies that the dome should never have been built where: The Millennium Dome, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "The troubleshooter hired to save the Millennium Dome yesterday admitted it should never have been built," reports The Guardian. "David James, the corporate fixer,was also scathing about the lack of a proper investigation into the dome`s topsy-turvy finances". "I am a sweeper up of problems, I`m not a creator of businesses," said Mr James yesterday when asked if the Dome should ever have been built, "so nobody would have asked for my opinion. But if they had, it might have been an interesting input". "Mr James revealed that bungling bosses got their sums wrong by a staggering £23.5million when they worked out how much it would cost to close down the attraction at the end of the year," says The Mirror. "The latest shambles almost led to Japanese bank Nomura pulling out of a £105m deal to take over the Dome next year". The 62 year-old chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company even criticised the Dome`s location, pointing out "It`s a hell of a difficult place to get to". But he said confidently that there would be no further financial scandals. "I`m absolutely confident that we`ve got an accurate fix on the running costs," he said, "and adequate provision to cover the working capital to trade through to the end of 31 December". [... more]

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