WEMBLEY

Early day motion 130, tabled 12 July 2001 by Barry Gardiner (Labour). Signed by 19 members.

That this House welcomes the Government's establishment of a review under Mr Patrick Carter of the options for a national stadium for football and Rugby League; believes that Wembley remains the unrivalled choice as the future home of the national stadium; notes that ú170 million has already been promised by the public and private sectors to improve roads, rail and tube infrastructure for a new Wembley stadium, including ú90 million for a new tube station as well as two improved rail stations; further notes that planning permission for Wembley has already been granted; recognises that Wembley has direct underground and rail links to major termini including Paddington, Marylebone, King's Cross, Euston, Waterloo and Liverpool Street making it the ideal national and international choice for a major venue; is concerned that a decision not to site the national stadium at Wembley would constitute a major problem of planning blight in the area and would have a serious negative impact on the local economy, which contains considerable deprivation including electoral wards that are among the most deprived in London; and notes the opportunity that Wembley presents to regenerate the surrounding area and agrees with the late Bobby Moore who said 'to most players in the world, Wembley is the mecca of stadiums.'.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Conservative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.