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The Millennium Dome, Greenwich Greenwich is the home of the world's Prime Meridian, the line which divides the Western Hemisphere form the Eastern. It is also the point from which all time zones begin, that is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Accordingly both the former Conservative government and the present Labour one have launched a 750 million pound project to build a dome there for the welcoming of the new Millennium in 2000. The expensive plans have not been welcomed by all. Now open, the Dome has been warmly welcomed by visitors. Also see our Special Millennium Dome Feature - packed full of pictures and info Our news stories so far: 12/07/00 Dome Gets Best Of British Makeover - Family games lead summer ad campaign DOME chief Pierre-Yves Gerbeau has turned to the Best Of British in order to transform the ailing fortunes of the attraction. Giant versions of household playtime favourites such Snakes And Ladders, a huge bookshelf featuring a celebration of British literature, plus a revamp of the popular game show It's A Knockout, are at the heart of a UKP2 million advertising campaign for the Greenwich attraction In preparation for the summer season, the Dome will stage a preview of costumes to be used in the Notting Hill Carnival. Other activities will include the world's largest book exchange, a dancing day inspired by tea dances and world DJ-ing championships. "I will not go back to the Millennium Commission for more grants and the Dome will be open until December 31," vowed Gerbeau. "Based on the experience of the first few months we now have realistic forecasts for visitors." Millennium Dome - all about the Greenwich 2000 Experience 12/04/00 Dome in Demo Warning - Police to meet anti-capitalist protesters in force AFTER trawling the internet, the Metropolitan Police plan to mount a massive security operation to protect the Dome from activists aiming to stage anti-capitalist demonstrations over the May Bank holiday period. Police have found web sites boasting about "blowing the roof off the Dome" and "giving the Dome a very big surprise," and senior officers have decided to take no chances after coming in for heavy criticism at last year's big anti-capitalism demo in The City when the Met lost control of the streets for a time. "We will be putting measures in place to protect the Dome," said a Millennium Experience spokesperson who added that Dome organisers had already met with police to discuss the issue. 10,000 activists are expected to show up at the Dome for the latest in a line of demos around the world that has included the tear up in London on June 18 last year and the huge Seattle which paralysed the meeting of World Trade Organisation bigwigs. 11/02/00 Dome Back in Fashion - Designers get a whole new Millennium Experience. GOOD news for the Dome at last. Next week is London Fashion Week and the Greenwich mega-tent is to host one of its major shows. Rumours of a mass showing of celebrities have been doing the rounds with the likes of Madonna and Posh Spice expected to drag a swathe of more minor London faces in their wake. The most talked about designer, and the one whose collection both Mads and Posh apparently want to gawp at, is Julien MacDonald but London Fashion Week has a winning habit of throwing up new names and a whole host of recent student graduates will hope to have made their mark by next Friday. 28/01/00 Dome Needs More Cash - Shortfall hits UKP60 million DOME bosses have brought out the begging bowl after admitting a huge cash shortfall at the Millennium Experience. With visitor numbers some way short of the 20,000 a day needed to break even, Dome officials have little choice but to approach the government for extra funds - thought to be in the region of UKP60 million. The Government is likely to agree to the request rather than risk embarrassing cutbacks at the Dome, especially after rumoured sackings created a huge storm of bad publicity last year. A Dome spokesperson tried to deflect some of he attention from the deficit by slamming late paying sponsors such as Boots which is said to owe UKP12 million. 14/01/00 Big Wait for Big Wheel - Delayed opening for BA's London Eye THE MILLENNIUM WHEEL received a further setback today as it was revealed that its opening may be pushed back to February. The delays stem from a problem discovered just before the wheel, or "BA London Eye" as the ad suits prefer to call it, was due to launch on New Year's Eve. Safety officials were concerned with a clutch attached to one of the passenger capsules. A further safety check has discovered that all the capsules' German made clutches are faulty and need replacing. Originally the operators of the wheel, British Airways, had planned to fully open at the end of January. Early rides which were reserved for the media, staff and prize-winners may now be postponed. Paid for rides, due to start at the beginning of February are also in doubt. BA officially claim a limited opening is still possible by the end of this month. However, insiders privately admit it may now be February or even March before the wheel starts turning for public consumption. Millennium Wheel - our virtual guide to the BA London Eye. Millennium Dome - our special feature with previews of the Dome's exhibits, ticket and travel information. 13/01/00 Dome in Poll Boost - Satisfaction rating high as ad campaign begins MILLENNIUM Dome boss Jennie Page, armed with new poll findings, today hit back at critics who have lacerated the Greenwich wonder ever since it opened on New Year's Eve. "The Dome is a big hit with the people who have actually visited it," Page insisted, pointing to the latest poll evidence from ICM which reports a satisfaction rating of 80%. "Almost all our visitors tell us that they have had a great day out and that they will recommend the Dome to their friends." Despite the praise heaped on the dome by visitors, however, crowds are not flocking to the exhibition in sufficient numbers for it to break even. Organisers yesterday launched a multi-million pound advertising campaign, aimed primarily at children, to try to remedy the situation and are pinning their hopes on the next school holidays in February to receive a big boost in traffic. Millennium Dome - our special feature with previews of the Dome's exhibits, ticket and travel information. 03/01/00 It's Dometastic - Public give the Millennium Dome a big thumbs up THE MILLENNIUM DOME, Greenwich, has been warmly received by the first visitors to cross it's newly opened doors. Following the mixed success of New Year Eve's Dome Party - the huge gathering was somewhat spoilt by the thousands of VIPs who were left locked outside (ooh, shame) - yesterday's official opening to the public went down a storm. Since the doors first opened to the public 45,000 curious visitors have caught the Dome's very own Millennium Bug. "It's definitely worth the money and there's plenty to look at. It's mind-boggling" said Mark Sitchett from Reading. Some people were less happy with the queues of up to one and a half hours for the Dome's most popular exhibit; the Body Zone. "Everybody wants to see the Body Zone" said 15 year old Gemma Riley from Birmingham. The Dome is now sold out for the next few days, but families wishing to visit during the remaining days of January may still buy tickets. Millennium Dome - our special feature with previews of the Dome's exhibits, ticket and travel information. 03/01/00 River of Fire? What Fire? - Media and Public backlash at shambolic Australian Thames display NOW THE PARTY IS OVER, here comes the post mortem. While most Londoners had the night of their lives, whether dancing the night in a club or boozing down the pub, those who chose to line the River Thames were generally disappointed. Yes, the much vaunted fireworks display got tongues wagging, but the equally touted River of Fire was a non-event. Most spectators were non-plussed at the complete lack of puff. The media is leading a witch hunt against the fire-team. Australian organiser Robert McDermott claims to be stunned by London's negative reaction to his pyro-downer. "We provided exactly what we said we would provide - a sequential chase." Unlike the millions of others on the banks of the capital's watery thoroughfare he claims to have seen the River of Fire. So how come he caught a glimpse while locals did not? "Negative think", he explained. Yeah right. See you next year, Mr McDermott? We think not. 14/12/99 Dome in Tickets Boost - 'Sold Out' signs go up on Millennium Experience for start of January CRITICS of the Millennium Dome took a beating today when organisers of the Millennium showpiece at Greenwich publicised the latest ticket sales figures. Nay-sayers curled their lips in cynical triumph earlier this month when it appeared that ticket sales had failed to reach targets but all that has changed. The Millennium Experience is now a sell out for the first three days of next year with only a few places left for most of the rest of January 2000. Coupled with a series of highly positive reviews of the exhibits on offer inside the huge tent by a variety of previously anti newspapers, the sales figures indicate a welcome boost to those who see the Dome as one of London's most important future tourist attractions. 12 million people, including 2.5 million foreigners, are expected to visit the Dome in 2000. Millennium Dome - our special feature with previews of the Dome's exhibits, ticket and travel information. 11/11/99 Dome Sales on Track - Over 1 million sold already, say bosses DOME bosses hit back today at reports that ticket sales for the Millennium showpiece had been slow. Reports earlier this week suggested only two days early next year had been booked out and that the Dome faced huge financial losses if sales did not take off. After unveiling the Body Zone section inside the huge structure in Greenwich, Dome managing director Liam Kane said that over 1 million tickets had now been sold a rate of sales faster than any Disney theme park. He added that research had shown that "eight out of ten people will buy their tickets within an month of their visit, and a quarter only a day before." Kane hopes these figures explain why so many punters have so far failed to cough up for tickets which, at UKP25, many believe are too expensive. 20/10/99 World Joins London Party - Millennium celebrations in TV boost LONDON will be beamed to the world come Millennium Eve with one billion people expected to watch celebrations from the centre of town to the Greenwich Dome. 54 national TV networks have bought the broadcast rights to London's biggest ever party at which 3 million revellers will take to the city's streets lured by huge firework displays along the Thames and promises of extra busses to get home. London government officials have gone all out to market the capital as the prime site for Millennium celebrations and see the projected broadcast figures as a clear vindication of their scheme. 18/10/99 All Eyes on the Wheel - Capsules next stage of Millennium scheme MILLENNIUM Wheel engineers will soon begin the next stage in constructing London's newest tourist attraction by shipping 32 glass capsules up the Thames. After a couple of false starts, the wheel itself - known as the London Eye - was finally hauled upright on the weekend to great acclaim from early visitors. In early November the egg-shaped capsules will be attached one by one ready for view hungry tourists to hitch a ride up to a height of 130 metres. The wheel will turn slowly enough for people to simply climb on board as it moves. The only drawback is the price. Adults will have to fork out UKP7.45 for the half hour round trip, while children will be charged UKP4.95. 14/10/99 No Kiss Off at Dome - Lip-smacking and cheek pecking banned for Millennium YOU can kiss goodbye to any idea of romance at the Millennium Dome. Police and local government officials have slapped a ban on kissing outside the Greenwich megastructure in a bid, they say, to ease traffic congestion. Officialdom is worried that drivers dropping friends and relatives off at the Millennium Experience might stop and indulge in a quick peck which could lead to traffic jams. As well as the kissing ban, a car exclusion zone is to be set up as local councillors go all out to discourage visitors driving to the attraction. "It is to ensure the Dome remains a car-free experience," said Greenwich councillor Andrew Stern. 27/7/99 Thames Will Be 'River of Fire' - Millennium pyrotechnics for London's waterway THE RIVER THAMES will be lit up from Vauxhall Bridge to Tower Bridge as part of the Millennium celebrations. "In 10.8 seconds, the world's biggest ever sequential firework display will speed from Tower Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge" said organiser Michael Lockett. The announcement comes on the day that the London Fire Service puts four new 'fire-boats' into service on the river. With timing like that surely there will be egg on the faces of those who claim we need an elected London authority to coordinate the capital's public services. 9/7/99 Locals Get Free Tickets for Dome - Millennium freebie for Greenwich residents RESIDENTS of the London Borough of Greenwich are to get free entrance tickets to the Dome it has been confirmed. The offer follows a requirement set by the borough when it was selected to host the Millennium exhibition. It has now been agreed that holders of the borough's 'Greenwich Card' will receive free admission to the Dome. The card, which gives discounts to local amenities, is currently held by 45,000 people in the borough. Locals can start obtaining their tickets when a special telephone line opens in September. 24/5/99 Lottery Outlets to Sell Dome Tickets - Camelot's Dome sponsorship pays dividends CAMELOT, the company behind the National Lottery in the UK, has clinched a deal to sell tickets for the Millennium Dome, Greenwich. The firm has 25,000 outlets currently selling its own tickets and will use these to sell on Dome entrance tickets. Camelot had previously agreed to sponsor the Dome to the tune of 6 million UKP. The New Millennium Experience Company is expected to come under fire following the announcement. Critics will condemn the association of a child orientated exhibition, the Dome, with gambling. Others will note the commercial benefit received by Camelot in return for its sponsorship. 17/5/99 Millennium Bridge Afloat - Dome's new pier floated down River Thames ONLOOKERS were aghast as an 85 metre bridge was floated down the River Thames. The 180 ton bridge was winched from the dockside in Rochester on to a 1,200 ton floating crane and sailed down the river. It will be the largest pier on the Thames and is hoped to help boost river transport during the year 2,000 and beyond. The bridge will lead a million visitors to the Millennium Dome. "It was a massive operation", said bridge builders spokesman, Graham Read. London transport issues - Tube, bus, train, cars, air, etc 6/4/99 The Dome-sday Solution - Transport chiefs plan self-drive busses to ferry us to Greenwich MADCAP TRANSPORT chiefs have responded to increasing fears that the Dome's tube link will not be finished in time for the Millennium by announcing a plan for self-drive buses. The 4 million UKP scheme will use complex computer navigation technology to guide the busses on their routes across the capital's streets as they ferry passengers to and from the Dome, Greenwich. They will travel on normal roads before switching to special busways for the terminal portion of their journey. The busses will feature environmentally friendly low sulphur diesel engines, air conditioning and TV screens. "It is intended to be a demonstration of the best the bus industry can offer" said LT's Juli Boyle. 23/3/99 Destination London Shapes Up For New Millennium - Conference discusses future for capital's tourist trade A CONFERENCE today discusses the future of the capital's tourist trade in to the new millennium. It will focus on how London can sell itself in the coming years, capitalising on the Greenwich based Millennium Dome which is expected to draw millions of extra visitors next year. Business and tourism leaders agree that investment is the key to a prosperous start to the century. "A wide range of people can discuss how we can put to best use the legacy which the celebrations will leave for London" said a conference spokesman. 19/3/99 Excessive Dome Prices Criticised - 57 pounds for a family of five at publicly funded exhibition DOME chiefs are facing criticism following the release of ticket price details. Adults face a 20 UK Pound entrance fee, families of five will pay 57 UKP. Hard-up pensioners get a miserly discount of 2 pounds with their 18 UKP fee. The only winners in the Dome price game are the under fives who enter for free, albeit with miserably fleeced parents in tow. What has really annoyed the Dome's critics and supporters alike is that the massive London based exhibition and millennium celebration has already been substantially funded from the public purse. Much of the estimated 750 UKP million cost of the project has been diverted from National Lottery funds. Now parents are expected to pay up a second time to visit a Dome that they have already paid to build. Jennie Page, Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company, said "we have deliberately structured ticket prices to favour group visits, so that the biggest discounts are offered to people coming with friends and family." 1/2/99 Get on Your Skates - As Tube chiefs admits Jubilee line may not be ready for Dome, new plan revealed to make Thames frozen highway TUBE bosses have admitted for the first time that the new Jubilee line extension may not be ready in time for the opening of the Millennium Dome at the end of the year. Delays have dogged the new route, which was originally set to open last year. The line is a vital component of the Government's anti-car policy for journeys to the Dome. Help may be at hand for Dome Organisers in the shape of a novel idea to freeze over the River Thames and allow people to whizz down the route on ice. If all goes as planned even the Queen could join the convoy swooshing down the river en route to her opening the Dome on December 31st. (13/1/99) Tories Attack Millennium Cronyism - Fury as Peter Gabriel and Jeremy Irons land lucrative Dome roles CONSERVATIVES have launched an attack on Labour for what they argue is evidence of cronyism with the running of the Millennium Dome. The allegations are centred on the appointment of Labour supporters Peter Gabriel and Jeremy Irons. The singer and actor donated in excess of 5,000 UKP to the Labour Party last year. The Tories argue their reward is a lucrative role promoting the Millennium Dome. The Opposition has already gained ground on the Government by exploiting their apparent willingness to cosy up to big money and powerful business leaders. Labour's top brass are said to be keen for British Airway's flamboyant boss, Robert Ayling to run for them for the post of London Mayor. Just a few weeks ago millionaire MP Geoffrey Robinson was the focus of a press maelstrom which caused the end of both his ministerial career and that of New Labour guru, Peter Mandelson MP. Those with moderate memories will remember that the Tories invented the ultimate crony reward, the Quango (quasi-autonomous-non-governmental-organisations). Many a dud establishment old buffer found highly rewarding employment in the eighties and nineties thanks to the Conservative's Quangos. (11/1/99) Millennium Boost for Britain - 1.7 billion UKP earnings from 'Millennium effect' Britain is set to enjoy a 1.7 billion UKP windfall thanks to celebrations and events planned to welcome in the new Millennium. London will capture the lion's share of the new year booty, with huge sums being generated by the Millennium Dome, Millennium Wheel and other turn of the century activities. The Treasury also expects a big boost in revenue thanks to unprecedented alcohol sales in the run up to and during the celebrations. Companies are spending an estimated 12 billion UKP fighting the millennium bug, according to the Centre for Economics and Business research who commissioned the millennial survey. (5/1/99) New Dome Supremo Announced - Lord Falconer is new Millennium Dome Minister LORD 'Charlie' Falconer is the new Minister in charge of the Millennium Dome project, Greenwich, London. Falconer, 47, is known to be a close personal friend of Tony Blair, the peer having shared a London flat with the Prime Minister in their law student days. That was in the 1970s when the pair were carrying out their pupillage (apprenticeship for barristers). Falconer replaces Peter Mandelson who resigned as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Minister before Christmas. Mandelson also headed up the Government's Dome project. Construction of the Dome is ahead of schedule claims Falconer. His task will be to ensure the project stays on target for its Millennium Eve opening, 31 December 1999. (30/11/98) Disney Plans to Buy Dome For a Song Disney are planning to buy the Millennium Dome when the Greenwich exhibition ends. They plan to use the huge space for an interactive display of their musical cartoons. Despite costing three quarters of a billion pounds to build, the US entertainment giant plans to land the Dome for less than 140 million pounds. (27/11/98) Heterosexual Cuddle Dominates Dome's New Innards - Updated plans for Millennium Dome's Interior Announced THE final shape and form of the interior of the Millennium Dome Greenwich was revealed Thursday. Significant changes have been made to the initial plans revealed many months ago. The Body Zone will now feature a huge male/female form embracing in a cuddle, rather than the 'millennium man' originally proposed. Visitors will enter through the figure's arm and travel around inside its body. Meanwhile Dome organisers, The New Millennium Experience Company, have denied that delays to the Jubilee Line extension could jeopardise travel to the spectacular exhibition. Emergency plans are being considered to open up certain key stations and sections of the route should the whole line be unfinished. Hindu Tonic for Dome's Spirit - Family pledge cash for Millennium Dome's troubled Spirit Zone A FAMILY of rich Hindus has pledged to rescue the troubled Spirit Zone in the Millennium Dome with a multi million pound financial package. The four brothers, members of the Hinduja family, have agreed to support the under funded zone which requires 6 million UKP to be completed. While other Zones in the Dome have managed to attract corporate sponsorship, the religious or "Spirit" zone has fallen behind in the dash for cash. The brothers plan to join sponsors from other faiths currently talking to the Dome's organisers, The New Millennium Experience Company. Christianity will be the main religion represented but many other faiths will also feature strongly say organisers. (14/10/98) Committee Warns of "Irritable Dome Syndrome" - MPs say Millennium Dome could be a yawn for adults and kids THE Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport has warned that the Millennium Dome, Greenwich could be a turn-off to adults and kids alike. It says the project is at risk of being seen as too worthy to attract children's sense of adventure. The Committee chaired by Labour MP Gerald Kaufman is fuming at not being provided with detailed information about the 750 million UKP project's exhibits. "The committee is anxious that a visit to the Dome should not only be instructive for children of all ages, but should be a happy, absorbing and memorable event" the MPs said. (30/7/98) Conservation warning for Dome THE London Wildlife Trust says natural habitats which existed around the Millennium Dome site in Greenwich have been decimated. The Millennium Dome Experience Company has denied the claims asserting that there is more wildlife on the site now than before building commenced. (28/7/98) Warning For Dome - Keep ticket prices down say experts DOME organisers have been warned to keep the price of tickets down if they want the exhibition to be a success. The Centre for Economics and Business Research said people would stay away if prices are too high. They also warned organisers that inadequate travel facilities could have a dramatic impact on visitors to the 750 million UKP project. The Centre used a computer model with 200 other attractions to test projected attendance for the Dome. (29/6/98) Dome Canopy nears completion - Prime Minister Blair inspects dome THE Prime Minister Tony Blair has visited the Millennium Dome site in Greenwich to view the near completed canopy. The Dome is large enough to fit two Webley stadiums inside and high enough to accommodate Nelson's Column. The PM said that the dome was a remarkable construction and would live on to be admired by future generations. He optimistically predicted it would survive for 200 years. (24/6/98) Queen Will Open Dome Next Year - Special barge will cruise down Thames with Royals THE Queen will open the 750 million UKP Millennium Dome next year. Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family will board a specially made barge and head off down the Thames to the Millennium Dome opening ceremony. The barge will stop at several historic landmarks along the route. The royal party will later attend the 31 January 1999 midnight celebrations. (18/6/98) Time Capsule for Dome A TIME capsule packed with items of the present day will be buried in the Dome's :National Identity Zone" today. The time capsule will contain a National Lottery ticket with winners cheque from Camelot. Other items include a Spice Girls CD and a framed photograph of Diana, Princess of Wales. Most baffling entry has to be a video of a group shopping trip to a Tesco supermarket. (11/6/98) Blair defends London Dome as a "Huge Opportunity for Britain" Prime Minister Tony Blair has launched a strong defence of the Millennium Dome project for Greenwich. Speaking at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank the PM said the plans were "so bold, so beautiful and so inspiring". - Millennium Project represents "Spirit of Confidence and Adventure" He said that the Dome represents the "spirit of confidence and adventure in Britain" and was a "huge opportunity" for the country. He said "Britain today is a place for daring and boldness". He reiterated the 5 criteria of the project namely: 1) The content should inspire people 2) It should reach out to the nation 3) The project's management should be first rate 4) The burden should not fall on the public's purse (400 million UK pounds from Lottery, rest from commercial sources) 5) It should leave a lasting legacy The PM argued that all five of these tests had been met and we should now "make it the envy of the world". - PM blasts Greenwich cynics as pessimists without vision Tony Blair went on to blast critics of the project as cowardly cynics, pessimists without a vision. He said "it is much easier to say no to new ideas" and that the same negativity prevailed at the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851 and the Festival of Britain in 1951, both of which went on to become huge successes with the public and the world. The exhibition will contain different zones each focusing on a variety of themes from spiritual to emotional, educational to interactive. 24/2/98 Dome dummies drone on "Mandy" Mandelson questioned in the House Peter "Mandy" Mandelson faced questions in the House of Commons today. Tories called the 90 minute debate to discuss the handling of the 750 million pound Millennium dome project. Tories questioned Mandy over the dome's contents, its financial management and the resignations of key figures in the project. They may wish to note that these key figures were in fact Tory appointees, picked by the outgoing administration. Its all a bit rich coming from the Opposition as it was they in Government who launched the idea in the first place. Mandelson has had to draw on all his political nouse just to keep the project on track. 28/1/98 Greenwich steams on toward Millennium GOOD news for London is that the Dome is taking shape in Greenwich. Many visitors to the capital are taking the chance to see the mega-construction as it rises piece by piece down by the river. As the biggest building currently under construction in the world it is becoming a spectacle even half finished. Former critics of the plan such as London's mayor hopeful , Labour's Ken Livingstone, are now backing the scheme. Ever since it was announced "Livingstone" rhubarb would be an exhibit, the maverick MP has seen the light over the project. 26/1/98 Turning Japanese Blair gets Millennium support for Land of the Rising Sun Prime Minister Tony Blair has won support for his Millennium Dome plans from Japanese politicians and industry. Following meetings in his Japan trip, it seems industrial giants such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda have been wooed sufficiently to stump up millions for the 2000 New Year celebrations. The trip follows Dome guru Peter Mandelson's trip to Florida to get tips from the Disney organisations. Let's hope he was just looking at what NOT to do with a tourist attraction. The unique heritage of the Meridian Line which is in Greenwich is no mousetastic opportunity. Good news for the project is that formerly sceptical back bench Labour MPs are now backing the project. LondonNet senses a growing realisation in the capital that something has to be done for this unique moment in time. People are naturally concerned at the close to one billion pound cost of the project. But if that much money is to be spent, we should all get behind it and make the darn thing something to be proud of as the world focusses on our Dome. 14/1/98 Red Ken's Rhubarb For Mandelson's Dome THE CRAZY world of the Millennium Dome has turned a little bit more fruity. A crackpot London gardener wants a new variety of rhubarb to feature among the futuristic exhibits. The super-strain is named after the grower's fave London MP, Ken Livingstone, member for Brent East. What makes this little triffid that extra bit special is that it sprouts in the Autumn, when other "normal" varieties usually lay dormant. The organisers of the Dome exhibition in Greenwich are seeking entrants for their competition to see what will go where in the multi-million pound extravaganza. Livingstone may be in the running for London Mayor in the forthcoming city-wide elections and is strongly opposed to the Dome project. He was however flattered by the dedication: "I can't think of anything better to put inside the dome than 'livingstone' rhubarb" he said. Quite. Mandelson pledges Christian theme for Millennium Meanwhile, Labour's election guru, Peter Mandelson, now in charge of the Millennium Dome Project, has pledged to keep a Christian theme to the exhibition. The Greenwich based celebrations have recently been dubbed a "mickey-mouse" project by outraged Londoners reeling at the hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on the "one-night" party. Greenwich Goes World Class GREENWICH received a double boost with the news that it has been been chosen as a World Heritage Site and that the riverside district is to get a new cruise liner terminal. Greenwich, in south east London, has already attracted much attention from around the globe due to the huge Millennium Dome being built to celebrate the year 2000 and the latest news can only add to its tourist potential. Boasting stunning architecture such as the Royal Naval College as well as a proud maritime history, Greenwich joins some of the world's top tourist destinations on the World Heritage Award list. These include India's Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and, closer to home, the ancient ruins of Stonehenge. And in a few years time visitors will be able to arrive at Greenwich in the new generation of giant cruise ships after planning permission was given for the building of a new $120 million liner terminal which is set to enjoy fast riverbus links with central London.