Chipping Barnet MP SIR SYDNEY CHAPMAN says Barnet is not the only borough with stadium controversy Brent and Enfield have also had their fair share of problems

The proposals for a new Barnet stadium have been exercising the minds of many people in the borough.

But there is one stadium that has also been the subject of great controversy.

Wembley Stadium was one of our national institutions.

Originally built for an Empire exhibition, it soon became the home of the FA Cup Final and the venue for England's matches.

It was also the centrepiece of the 1948 Olympic Games.

In 1996, it was decided to build a new national football stadium. Wembley had become outdated.

However, the rebuilding plans have caused major problems. Firstly, the football experts didn't want an athletics track encircling the pitch. Then the projected costs of the new stadium doubled during the planning stage.

The Football Association eventually took over the project, but over a year later, it had failed to develop an effective business plan or secured any substantial financial backing.

Nevertheless, the last football match [England's humiliating 1-0 defeat to Germany] was played in 2000 and the stadium was partially demolished.

Meanwhile, a new national athletics stadium was planned at Picketts Lock, Edmonton, to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships, thus releasing Wembley from an athletics dimension.

Just before the last election, I was assured by the then Secretary of State that this project would proceed as planned.

Hey presto: after the election there was found to be a 'clear funding gap' and the Picketts Lock proposals are no more.

Last month, I asked the new Secretary of State, Tessa Jowell, about progress on Wembley. I asked her to confirm that it would now host athletics events.

She replied saying that the design of the new stadium would be 'athletics capable' but there was a difference between this and 'actually being able to host athletic events'.

Confused? MPs on all side of the House seemed to be.

We shall have to wait until next month to find out whether a new stadium will be built at Wembley and, if so, what facilities it will have.

Meanwhile, Britain has lost the 2005 World Athletics Championships and the Lea Valley has lost a much-needed boost to its economy.

Infrastructure decisions around Wembley, including a new Tube station, are on hold and the premature closure of the old stadium has hit Brent's economy.

What a sorry saga.

Returning to the Barnet FC stadium issue it still remains to be seen if the mayor and Secretary of State will intervene.