Shambles ... Wembley Stadium plagued by botches
By JOE TIDY
and NICK PARKER
JINXED Wembley Stadium's space age roof has been damaged by molten
metal dropped by spot welders.
Repair teams have been drafted in to patch up the latest botch-up.
The new setback for the £757million project came as around 120 workers
were laid off in a pay row yesterday.
Last week, the Sun revealed the sewers had buckled. And 3,000 workers
were evacuated for a day after a 50-tonne steel girder plunged from
the roof.
A Wembley site manager said yesterday: "The sweeping roof is one of
the signature features — but it's in a right state now. The builders
made the mistake of installing its rubberised membrane before spot
welders came in to do their work above it.
"It wasn't protected at all from the red hot molten metal and sparks
that fell on to it and some burned through.
"Parts of it look like it's been machine-gunned. They are having to
patch it up — but it won't look pretty."
Workers yesterday admitted they are placing bets on the stadium not
being finished until 2007.
Last month The Sun told how they took the bookies for thousands by
betting against it being ready for the FA Cup Final in May.
One worker said: "A guy I know has put £3,000 on it not being finished
before 2007."
MXG
multiplex group
