WHAT'S five times over budget, four years late and has the people of Gwent tearing their hair out?

No, this isn't a joke - it's the new National Ass-embly debating chamber. Since the saga of Wales' most expensive hole in the ground began in the 1990s, the majority of Argus readers have been against the new chamber.

Then, it was estimated to cost £12 million. In November last year, we revealed that despite the fact that estimates then putting the cost between £37m and £47m, it could soar to more than £50m.

We were proved right on Tuesday when First Min-ister Rhodri Morgan said the cost would now be £55 million.

Even that figure does not include furniture and IT. Additional security costs and a bigger building than originally planned are being blamed for the huge increase.

Original architect Richard Rogers, who was sacked in 2001 amid a storm of adverse publicity for the scheme, and extra cost to the taxpayer with his payoff, will return to the project as part of the consortium building the chamber.

Gwent's Conservative AMs are leading calls to rethink proposals that will cost the taxpayer £43 million more than originally estimated.

South East Wales Conservative AM Laura Jones told the Argus: "It is a complete waste of money.

"One of the main reasons we only had a 38% turn out at the last Assembly election was because the government has got its priorities all wrong, and this building epitomises that. What we need to do is tackle the issues people care about and not be building a politician's palace."

Despite public concern about the cost Plaid and the Liberal Democrats will vote with the Labour administration next week - meaning the chamber is certain to go ahead. But Newport East, Labour AM John Griffiths backed the plan saying that Wales needed the landmark building. Mr Griffiths said: "I can understand why people think that the money could be better spent on other things, but it is not a question of one thing or the other. We are investing massive amounts in the health service, tackling deprivation and a range of other areas.

"You also have to look at the benefits, this building will have a lifespan of at least 100 years, it will attract tourists and industry and be a landmark building to Wales' democratic settlement."