20/09/2011 East Midlands Today

This Is East Midlands today. Learning lessons from the last

harsh winter. Farmers will be paid to clear snow and there will be

more help with frozen and burst pipes. Last year, Severn Trent

admits it was caught on the hop with the big freeze. I am with one

of the repair teams to say it will not happen again.

Plus the prison where it is claimed inmates plotted to import tonnes of

cocaine. Also, the white elephant, one of

nine regional fire control centres which have wasted almost half a

billion pounds of public money. And understanding the unreal. I am

looking into the future with the scientists and manufacturers

leading the way in the virtual Welcome back to the programme.

First, the big freeze. According to independent forecasters, the snow

and sub-zero temperatures we experienced last winter could be

back, and as early as next month. Even if those forecasts turn out to

be wildly inaccurate, and they may well do, the authorities say they

are determined not to be caught out by any freezing weather. Tonight we

will be looking at the preparations being made to keep our rates clear,

to keep more of us clear of winter flu, and to tackle the scourge of

frozen and burst pipes. For our first Report, our reporter has been

out on the road with Severn Trent Water.

Repairing burst pipes must seem like a never-ending job. Severn

Trent is blaming a near 16 % rise in customer complaints one of the

big freeze last year. Many people frustrated at the time it took to

repair leaks. And a terrible time to be a repair workers. Christmas

Day, a 15 inch burst main. The guys were out until 5am and 6am

Christmas morning in all this now. It was a nightmare. The aftermath

of the ice and snow meant Severn Trent failed to meet its leak

reduction target. Last year it was supposed to reduce leaks to the

equivalent of 193 Olympic-sized swimming pools a day. It missed the

target by 3%. This year, the target is to reduce leaks to the

equivalent of 190 Olympic-sized swimming pools a day. It is

currently on course for that. Even now, the leaks did on coming, and

as one is prepared in Upton in Nottinghamshire here, another is

reported. There is a small manhole and they take water from there and

it is leaking. But Severn Trent is already preparing for the winter.

Those �2,000 alone is being spent at this depot in Nottingham. More

access to 4x4 vehicles, and a specialist in digging machine to

grit and two lighting equipment. were caught a little on the hop

which we acknowledge now, which is why it this year we set a plan in

place two months ago in the North East. Back in Upton, the new elite

is identified at a problem fire hydrant. One less to worry about

this winter. -- the new leak. Cold weather around the corner

means the start of the seasonal flu campaign. Hundreds of thousands of

people in the East Midlands qualify for jobs free on the NHS and once

again, at the vaccine includes protection against swine flu. But

some GPs are already booking patients into clinics. Stocks

should be a rising in the next few days. Hospital intensive care units

are hoping it will not be another very challenging winter.

No one knows how bad flu or the weather will be this winter but at

this Primary Care Centre in Nottinghamshire, they are taking no

chances. When it comes to the most common strain of the fibres,

pregnant women are especially eagle day. -- strain of the virus. The

advises for them to have the injection. They have a lowered

immunity and we know that they can have severe respiratory infections.

The groups which can get the vaccine free on the NHS into the

over 65, those with underlying health problems, and pregnant women.

Last winter, this critical care unit was under a huge strain

because of swine flu. You do not need to remind people here how

serious it can be. Five patients admitted with the virus died.

saw tremendous activity, 23 patients admitted. One was admitted

just in the beginning of the year, just after New Year, and stayed

until April. And here is the challenge, to improve on last

year's flu jab uptake, highest in the over 65 at 73 % in the East

Midlands. The lowest take-up is amongst NHS frontline workers.

Derby hospitals did better than that and we'll be trying harder

this time. We have ordered 3,000 vaccines. If we use all of those,

which we are hoping to, we will have vaccinated 54 % of frontline

staff. Getting people through the doors early for the job is a

priority. Last winter there was a last-minute rush.

As these preparations for winter it gathered pace, one council is

planning to draft in extra help to clear the roads in the snowy

weather. Councillors in Derbyshire at meet their gritters cannot get

to every single road and lane so it is going to pay others to be on

standby to do it. Meet the new official council

machines for battling snow and ice. It is not a high-tech gritter but a

rural tractor. These have now been put on standby on many of

Derbyshire's smaller roads. The council plans to pay farmers to

take on the new higher wages following last year's bitter winter

for motorists. We have to be realistic and say we cannot get to

those areas. We now in the past that those farmers have carried out

very helpful work on a voluntary basis. We would like to formalise

that so we can have a more comprehensive approach to tackling

the issue. Neil Green knows all about doing snow. He has used his

tractor several times before to get to fields and help neighbours. He

says being paid �200 whether its nose or not is welcome, and it

makes sense. The tractor and the four-wheel drive, big tyres, is

just designed to grid and Paul heavy weights. It keeps the roads

clear. So whatever the weather, the farmers will be winners, but the

council says it is worth it to try to make sure the winter snow does

not make -- mean the rest of us lose out.

You may think any snow is months away, but not according to this

front page. So should be begetting concern?

Usually at this time of year we are thinking tip of an Indian summer

but the Met Office will be issuing five-day forecasts to keep you are

advised in advance if the weather is going to change but at the

moment it looks like we might actually be getting warm up before

we turn colder. The fall weather forecast is later.

Next, the Government project condemned as a complete failure.

The plan for nine regional fire control centres is estimated to

have cost half a million pounds almost -- half a billion pounds and

no one has been held to account. It is lying empty and unused but the

annual rent is costing taxpayers more than �1 million.

When we filmed inside the new regional control centre at Castle

Donington, it was empty. More than three years on, that remains the

case. The big idea of the last Labour Government was to replace 46

centres across England with just nine, for a more ensure --

efficient handling of major incidents. 35 operators should have

been in place now doing the work of five is middens control centres in

just one. Instead, the scheme was scrapped by the coalition

Government and it has been calculated it has wasted almost

half a billion pounds. The public accounts committee condemns the

project as floor from the hazard and one of the worst cases of

wasted public money. Millions were paid to consultants and the IT

contract was awarded to a company without the relevant experience.

Right from the start, the Government ministers never listened

to us. We are the Professional Voice of the fire service. They

never took one bit of notice. Midlands control centre is on a 25

year lease. The annual rent of �1.2 million will be paid by central

Government until a new tenant is found. We are absolutely disgusted.

We are losing fire engines and Fryatt jobs. We even use the cooks

at the station. That money would have kept us going for another five

years. The Department for communities and local Government

says it has learned from its mistakes. They have come with a

multi-million-pound price tag. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick

Clegg has given an upbeat assessment of the future for

Britain's last remaining train maker. But in an interview for his

Midlands today, the Lib Dem leader also acknowledged that barn Abadie

Nick urgently needs new Government contract to keep going. Tomorrow

Nick Clegg makes his big speech to his party conference in Birmingham.

A short while ago, he spoke to our political editor.

Should Britain's last remaining train makers, bombarding her in

Derby, should they have first call when it comes to Government rail

contracts? I was really frustrated that the Thames Link contract was

designed, as you know, by the previous Government, our hands were

tied, by all of the legal complexities of that, I can totally

understand the anguish in Derby and what that means for the company. We

are the working Government -- we are working in Government to make

sure there is a level playing field in future for companies like bomb

By DEA in Derby in the United Kingdom and also to work closely

with them. I was talking to Vince Cable about this yesterday, to

protect, even now, they innovation and design expertise, which has

been so important to Derby. There will be lots of other rail

contracts which I hope the company will bid for as well. A level

playing field is no substitute for a contract. I do not think any

Government can all would say, we will only ever prefer one company

over another. That is unfair on taxpayers and workers for other

companies, but I do understand the concerns raised about the returns

of this particular tender. It was not something that we launched. The

previous Government launched it. If we had had a free hand we would

have looked at the terms of that ended differently but let's learn

from that experience so we can move forward and make sure instead that

we work closely with the company to do everything we can to support the

economy of Derby. The consequences of that company pulling out of the

UK, or what would be your reaction? That would be tragic for Derby and

outlying areas and we're doing everything we can to encourage the

company took look at other contracts. It has been tough and

controversial but not all is lost. The Regional Growth Fund in the

East Midlands, the Labour locally are saying that the funds available

are a third of the funds available under the regional development

agency. The big difference is we intend to use that money sensibly

and properly so that it really goes to companies that produce jobs.

What happened under Labour, �500 million wasted by the previous

Government want fire service reorganisation that has not

produced any benefits at all. They literally poured money down the

drain. What we are saying is, yes, there is less money around, we are

going to make taxpayers money go much further than they did before.

More from the Lib Dem Conference on our late news.

A court has been told that inmates at a Nottinghamshire jail tried to

import vast amounts of cocaine from Colombia. The jury heard that the

plot was being run by a convicted drug dealer called Russell Knaggs,

who was serving a 16 year sentence. Our social affairs correspondent

has been following the trial at Birmingham crown court and can tell

us more. We had extraordinary allegations. The prosecution

described a complex plot to smuggle five tons of cocaine into Britain,

and they say it was all organised from behind the walls of a

Nottinghamshire jail. These men are on trial, three were inmates at the

time. Russell Knaggs was described in court as the mastermind and the

prosecution say he used another prisoner to organise everything and

spoke in code. Other members of the group pretended they were importing

biofuel. The occasionally let their guard slip and spoke about cocaine.

They were told it could make them hundreds of millions. The six men

on trial have all denied involvement in the smuggling plot

but the prosecution say it was organised here at Lowdham Grange

Prison where Russell Knaggs made a deal with a Colombian drug

trafficker who had been convicted over here and the police found a

list of Colombian contacts in Russell Knaggs' SOC. We also heard

that one of the other men on trial organised all the payments while

another defendant also flew out to South America and communicated back

by altering draft e-mails that everyone could access but which

were never actually cent. For the prosecution said a lot of people

were also involved in this plot. The plot was intercepted before any

drugs were delivered. Thank you. In other news, Derby City Council

is almost halving the amount of money it gives to charity and

voluntary groups in the city. It is having to make further savings of

�20 million next year and has already announced extra

redundancies. The vulnerable people are among 20 organisations that

have been told their bids for CAS - - cash work not successful.

A Nottinghamshire MP has criticised council plans to sell off six care

homes for just under �2 million. Nottinghamshire County Council

announced the deal earlier this month with the Runwood Group. A

Conservative MP for Barksdale, Anna Soubry, says the homes are being

sold off at a bargain basement prices.

A Derry in Leicestershire has got into the world record books by

producing the largest slice of cheese, weighing in at over 100

kilograms. The dairy near Melton may be extra large blue Stilton

sliced to mark the company's centenary celebrations.

The schoolchildren in Les Deux being deliberately exposed to the

danger lurking on building sites. - - in a Leicester. Thankfully, the

houses are all simulated, in what is called a warning zone, which is

aimed at keeping youngsters safe. We went to find out more.

A shocking lesson in safety. These year 6 pupils from Braunston are

experiencing a new type of classroom and it is hoped this new

approach will hit home. It is good to take them out of school, out of

their comfort zone, to put them somewhere new in a Live Aid

situation, and the teachers are saying, we cannot achieve this. --

in a lifelike situation. experience that gives an extra

dimension to Lenin, the extra curricular elements of it, the

outdoor classroom is always beneficial. This high impact method

of teaching children to be aware of dangers already seems to have had

an effect. I have to be more careful not to go via electricity.

I will be a lot more careful. are not sitting in a classroom. It

is realistic. Talking to them about the age of criminal responsibility,

peer pressure, consequences of actions. They are not getting this

education anywhere else. Warning Zone is a unique experience in

Leicester for youngsters to learn how to stay safe and keep out of

trouble. After recent events, it is hoped it is a message they will not

forget. Still to come, our reporter live at

the City ground. Would it be all about Forest preparing for their

Carling Cup clash with Newcastle, perhaps?

Yes. Recriminations and frustrations at a Saturday's bitter

defeat against rivals Derby County. And I will be assessing the state

of things here and Nottingham Forest.

-- at Nottingham Forest. A two-day conference has just

opened in to the weird and wonderful world of virtual reality.

The University of Nottingham is hosting the event, which aims to

share how specialist a -- technology can improve our lives.

It is the international conference where industry meets science.

Representatives from around the world have travelled to the

University of Nottingham to show off their latest technological

developments for the virtual world. Their example, these systems could

be used in hospitals to keep vulnerable patients in touch but

not in direct physical contact with their visitors. We are both in a

conference but in different rooms. Everyone coming together to share

their experiences, exchange new and exciting technologies and research.

Virtual reality always looks like burn but there is a serious side to

the software on show. You can see an operator wearing a suit. We can

prevent injuries such as back injuries, improve health and safety,

improved living conditions, so they do not have to live from the ground.

This handset and hence it allows me to operate a digger, which is very

handy, because I am not actually qualified to actually operate or

drive heavy machinery. It enables manufacturers of equipment to test

out new designs, new ideas, and just nuns too old designs, without

having to manufacture the item. Scientists are confident that much

of the technology being demonstrated will improve the

quality of our lives either in the Extraordinary stuff. Things are

very real at Nottingham Forest. As you saw, it is Carling Cup night

denied, with Forest hope Sue Premier League Newcastle but the

Wigan defeat to Derby and other poor results have meant ticket

sales are not great and the internet message board is full of

messages from angry fans. Our reporter is at the ground tonight.

The today is the seventh anniversary of the death of Brian

Clough, who bought forest such success in this competition and

raised the bar of expectation. It has now been more than a decade

since Forest were in the top flight. Since Stan Collymore was banging in

goals for the raids. In the last 11 years, owner Nigel Doughty has been

trying to get them back there. He is a successful businessman, a

Boris man, he has made his money act of great timing when he comes -

- but when it comes to football, he has been less successful. Why do

some fans actually want a new owner?

REPORTER: Seems unfair because Nigel Doughty has invested �65

million of his own money in 11 years. His fingers were burnt early

on, one manager wasting �12 million on transfers, and since then they

have had a prudent view -- Britain due on transfer acquisitions. Fans

are frustrated that the gamble has not been taken at the right time.

One of the Times that the fans believe is right now.

Do you think the fans feel they may have fallen behind clubs like Derby

and Leicester? There is a bit of a sense like that. The biggest

difference between the three teams is the grounds. Derby County had

the odd Baseball Ground. A decade ago they moved to Pride Park.

Leicester City have Filbert Street. They moved to Walker stadium. But

they went completely bust. Local businesses lost money. It needed

investment which is exceptional to take them to where they off. Here

at Nottingham Forest, they need a new stand. To get promoted they

need success on the field. Some fans want a change in ownership but

even that is no guarantee. The future much depends on the next few

weeks. Do not forget, grit live coverage

on BBC Radio Nottingham, and a report on our late bulletin at

10:25pm. The departure of Derby's Stephen by

water on loan to Sheffield Wednesday. He has been firmly

sidelined at Pride Park bike two new arrivals. People stay with

Wednesday until just before Christmas.

In cricket, Leicestershire's Champions League T20 campaign has

got off to a terrier -- terrible start, with a hammering from

Trinidad and Tobago. The only bright spot was a half-century for

James Taylor, nowhere near enough and leaving Leicestershire needed a

huge win tomorrow to be any -- for any hope to get through to the

Champions League draw. In rugby Leicester Tigers' director

of rugby admits he is irritated by Thomas Waldrom's World Cup for

England. He only found out last March he could qualify to play for

England. He says he is annoyed to lose such a key player. A little

bit. These things happen. I do not know if Thomas is at to be bright

enough to have worked that out in the first place. It was a genuine

error on his behalf. We signed him on the pretext that he could not

qualify for England for three years. That will take him to 30 years of

age. It is just one of those things. It is not looking great for Tigers

at the moment. Thank you.

Time for the weather, almost. I understand you have been getting to

grips with fireman, or rather a challenge involving firemen.

It was quite excited when they asked me if I would like to get

behind the wheel of a fire engine and test my driving skills, all in

aid of the good cause. At the age of 17 I could not wait

to pass my driving test but until now I have not had a chance to

trade in the car for one of these. Here we go! After a second attempt,

I finally got it started. Today, Notts fire and rescue Service have

invited me along to test my skills behind the wheel and with 1800

metres of water on board, it is a big vehicle to handle. After a few

minutes, my first challenge was the traffic cones, the idea being you

leave them all standing. I have crushed a traffic cone! As he

retrieved the cone, I took a break from driving, while they showed me

what they have on board. You can see here equipment for dealing with

road traffic collisions. We have spreaders and cutters to create

space inside a vehicle. The charity supports injured firefighters. We

have around 17,000 every year that we help. We have no Government

funding at all, so it is very important to raise money for the

firefighters. REPORTER: One final attempt at the

traffic cones. This has been one of the most exhilarating days of my

life and, girls, if you want to come and have a go it is 25th

September. The proceeds go to the firefighters' charity. It is well

worth it. I need to lie down! It was really good fun. Support

them on Sunday at their new work showground. The weather forecast is

too wet to be going fast on the roads. A lot of rain today. The

band of rain has been sitting across most of the East Midlands

this afternoon and at times the are heavy burst was enough to make your

windscreen wipers seem pretty useless, too. It is gearing away

towards the south-east corner and we have pretty clear skies coming

in across the far north of the region. It will start to turn a

little misty there. The chance of hill fog across the be districts

and temperatures dropping to a minimum of ten Celsius. A breezy

start tonight and a breezy start to the day tomorrow. The clowns

starting to break in the early morning. Changing a little in the

afternoon but still a few sunny spells around. It will stay quite

blustery into the afternoon. Daytime temperatures will reach a

maximum of 17 Celsius. We have a ridge of high pressure starting to

build up from the south so it is going to keep us fairly settled for

a percentage of this week. It will increase the cloud cover a little

on Thursday but a many dry day and again for Friday as well, the cloud

about, fluctuating as the day progresses. Rain starting to come

in across Ireland as we get towards the weekend. Working its way in