11/04/2012 East Midlands Today

Kylie Pentelow and me Quentin Rayner.

Tonight we assess the mood for a Mayor.

Revving up interest in a referendum, on choosing Nottingham's political

boss. Celebrating a victory, after his

King as he has won back his allotment.

On this tiny diamond is a microscopic picture, but what is it

Good evening, welcome to Wednesday's programme. First

tonight, two influential voices have today backed the campaign for

Nottingham to have an all-powerful city mayor. Lord Heseltine says a

yes vote will boost the local economy. We'll hear from him in a

moment. And a business leader too supports

it - he says a mayor will help Nottingham to "punch above its

weight.". But one of the city's MPs says he's just not convinced of the

need and is urging a no vote. Here's our Political Editor John

Hess. Chartered surveyor Tim Garrett has

big ambitions for Nottingham. He has been advising the city council

on promoting Robin Hood as a global brand. Attracting world investment

into Nottingham is his business. generate a profile, we need to be

more visible. But he believes the current council set up his off-

target. He wants a City mayor to make the big decisions in

Nottingham. Inward investment is hugely important to this city and

we have to get more jobs here, more opportunities for people to get

work, and I think that ultimately, a mayor here would do that. Poster

sites in Nottingham already give the Labour-run city's view on

having a directly elected mayor. It is against and once a no vote in

the referendum. From tomorrow, the case for

Nottingham to have a City mayor will appear in the local paper.

Between now and polling day on May 3rd, this is the message the Yes

campaigners will attempt to get across. Wadham Nottingham's MPs

warms to the idea of having a City mayor, but not for his own city.

Nottingham's case, there is an extra cost involved. We have a

stable and clear leadership and quite frankly, of all the things to

have a referendum on in Nottingham, I think this is a low priority.

Under the current political set-up, Nottingham's leader John Collins is

elected by the city's labour politicians. A City mayor is a

directly elected by the people and runs the Council for four-year

terms. Nottingham labour claimed the city

Mayer would cost an extra �1 million at a time when council

finances are being squeezed. That is the message being crossed -- put

across by the Labour Party in newspapers like this.

Well, Lord Heseltine, a former deputy prime minister, is a leading

advocate for city mayors. A short time ago he joined us from our

Westminster studio. And first we asked him why he thought Nottingham

needed a city mayor? Because the great English cities

are being squeezed out in the battle between Boris Johnson

fighting for London, Alex Salmond fighting for Scotland, and Labour

authorities are now realising as you can see in Leicester where

Peter Salsbury has become the Labour mayor, where Joe Anderson in

Liverpool as argued they should have a Mayer, where a member of Ed

Miliband's cabinet will resign in order to be the mayor of Birmingham,

great English cities want to help reverse the North-South divide and

they need powerful, accountable, identifiable leaders in order to

bring that about. But Labour here says that a Salonika -- see p mayor

will cost �1 million at a time when budgets are being cut. It is silly.

The Labour leader in Nottingham earns a fraction of a civil servant

in charge of Nottingham. Merge the two and you save money. What about

the issue of accountability? If a mayor turns out to be incompetent,

do the voters have the way four years to vote in another Mayer?

can get bad people in any form of government, but the fact is that in

Nottingham in the nude male arrangements, the people would

choose the leader and they would re-elect all relate the successor.

-- new mayor will arrangements. No one knows who the leaders are now.

That is not how you can compete as a great city on an ever important

international stage where you are looking for investment. Finally, do

you think so much power should be in the hands of one person?

isn't. There are a huge number of people employed, councillors, media,

but what matters is the relationship with London. London is

overbearing, over centralising, over-powerful, and you need someone

in Nottingham to stand up and try and reverse that process to make

the local people more important. Lord Heseltine, thank you.

A 51-year-old man's appeared in court charged with the attempted

murder of a four-year-old boy. Steve Frogg, of Frederick Street in

Mansfield, was remanded in custody for a fortnight. The boy was found

with serious injuries, which are believed to be stab wounds, in the

same street on Monday. He's in a conscious and stable condition at

the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

A lorry driver has been taken to hospital with serious injuries

after an accident which has closed part of the M1 in Nottinghamshire.

The accident involving two cars and a lorry happened at lunchtime. The

southbound carriageway has been shut between junctions 26 and 25.

The northbound carriageway of the motorway was also shut for a short

time. The remains of a body found in a

Derbyshire village 10 days ago have been identified as those of a

missing pensioner. Janet Bacon, who was 74 and from Mansfield, was last

seen in September. Her body was found during a fingertip search of

an area of rough ground in New Houghton, near Bolsover. Derbyshire

Police say her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Plenty more to look forward to here on BBC East Midlands Today,

including: The council accused of losing the

plot, changes its mind and lets Arthur return to his allotted patch

An investigation's to be carried out after more than 500 patients

had their surgery put off this year at Nottingham's two main hospitals.

The management at the hospitals have blamed a big increase in

emergency admissions. One consultant says the Queen's Medical

Centre is simply full to capacity. Today another patient spoke out

after her operation was called off again for the second time. Mike

O'Sullivan reports. Former fitness instructor Tracy

Crawford was due to have a hip operation tomorrow. But today, it

was cancelled. Disappointment for her and her daughter Natalie. The

second time it has been called off. I feel absolutely devastated. I

have had to rearrange all of my child care plans, my family

commitments, my work arrangements, all of my plans for the rest of the

year with my family. They are effectively on hold. The leading

surgeon at the Queen's Medical Centre says some cancer operations

have been delayed. The hospital is simply full to capacity. Part of

our problem is that it is difficult to find everything that is required.

With cost cutting, that has obviously made life more difficult.

The hospital's Trust has apologised Tracey's operation was one of seven

cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. There will be no more routine

surgery at the hospital this week. With the number of delayed

operations so far totalling 500, the local health scrutiny committee

is now asking managers to explain what is going on.

A council's reversed its decision to evict a pensioner from his

allotment. Arthur Martin from Eastwood was given notice to leave

his plot. The council said his bad hip was a safety hazard.

Residents protested at last night's council meeting. They said the move

could lead to discrimination against people with physical

disabilities who rent allotments. Our reporter Jo Healey is there now.

Hello. It has been a hard fought battle, but Arthur is the king. His

Raoul Moat, or should I say his allotment, has been restored to him.

It needs a fair bit of work so he needs supporters like we saw last

night protesting outside of council meetings. -- his realm it. Last

night's meeting was stormy, but today of the said he was delighted

with its decision. Can I just say to you, we came here, we did not

think we would get that decision last night. We were determined to

fight. But the fight is now over. Today for the first time since last

night's meeting, some of the protesters met some of the

councillors at the allotment. were tarred with the same brush,

but you came out clean! The name of the council was not coming out well

and so there foal I hope that if nothing else, Eid Wharf -- East

what town council's name will be restored. We were very pleased with

the outcome, for everyone, young and old alike. So why was the

letter to evict barber from his allotment ever sent? These

councillors admit it was not a full council decision. We will move on

from his, we have learnt from it and hope we will work together in

the town. There are other people in this a moment too well in the same

position. Arthur has been a flagship that represents them.

should be supporting the allotment holders and a hope they realise

that. They realise that our fair needs help getting his allotment

back into shape and his supporters say they are ready to roll up their

sleeves. People are stealing food from shops,

because the+y can't afford to eat. That's according to a senior

Nottinghamshire police officer, who says it's fuelling an increase in

thefts at a time when most crime's been falling sharply.

And organised crime gangs are turning to shoplifting too. Our

Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy Ball has been looking into

this and can tell us more. This all came out at Nottinghamshire's

Police Authority today, didn't it? Yes. We heard the annual crime

figures are going to see another big improvement. But there was a

warning that thefts have bucked that trend. They've risen slightly.

A lot of that's down to shoplifting. And the police said this isn't just

about drug addicts. They think more and more people are stealing from

shops, because they're desperate to eat. Historically, stereotypically,

there would be drunks who would steal �5 or �10 with which you can

score drugs. These days, some about food is being stolen to feed the

individuals who steal it. We know that because we are talking to

criminals and asking them why they have stolen it. That pattern is

changing. And what else are shoplifters

doing? Well, Nottinghamshire Police say

they're now seeing "online shoplifting" where people buy

things fraudulently, and organised crime gangs are targeting shops for

more expensive items. Raids like this one, at Hamilton in Leicester,

late on Easter Sunday. Where this gang stole almost �7,000 of

cigarettes from a branch of Tesco, and the police think other traders

could do more to protect themselves and they say stores can do that by

upgrading their CCTV and by challenging shoplifters, rather

than waiting to ring the police once they've gone. Money is tight

whatever weight you look. People need to eat quite simply. But there

is also the temptation there, and if stores worked harder at

diminishing that temptation, I think we could see a real reduction

in crime. The police say that stores can do

that by are upgrading their CCTV systems, also by challenging

shoplifters and rather than waiting for them to leave it to the police.

A motorcyclist has died after colliding with a car at Bilborough

in Nottingham this morning. The driver of a silver Astra was

uninjured. Several roads in the area were closed leading to long

delays. Buses were diverted as police investigated the scene.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

Investigations are continuing to establish what caused an explosion

at an electricity substation in West Bridgford. A loud bang was

heard at about ten o'clock last night. People living in Northwold

Avenue were told to leave their homes because of fears of another

explosion. Western Power Distribution say it hasn't affected

the power supply in the area. Sport's on its way here on BBC East

Midlands Today, and something else has a sporting theme too, as we

catch up with the artist who's making a splash for the Olympic

sailing team. A Derbyshire charity says it's

vital to employ more nurses to help care for terminally ill people who

want to die at home. Treetops hospice in Risley already

runs a service providing specialist care, but as demand rises it's

hoping to recruit more staff. Geeta Pendse reports.

Deep in activity is at the hospice in this league. Does it are in the

early stages of a term as -- a terminal illness so busy day care

at the centre. The charity also sense nurses to the nuns of those

who require more intensive support. Jane is a volunteer, but she knows

the importance of those visits. Two years ago, her husband died of

cancer and the charity were there to help in the final stages. I have

got to the point where I was finding it difficult to cope with

looking after a family and John as well. Just to have somebody there

that had got the medical knowledge and the experience to be able to

give him any painkillers that he needed, it was a weight off my

shoulders. The charity currently has 18 of 40 nurses providing

20,000 hours of care, but they want to double that number.

government initiatives are saying that that is what they would prefer,

that people have that choice to die at home and have their care in

their preferred place. Essentially, that is what we are aiming to do,

to develop a service. Linda has breast cancer and currently

receives day-care. She says it is a huge comfort to know there will be

support for her family. It takes away the worry so that at least you

know that they will get cared for as well. When the time comes.

hospice is hoping to raise enough money so they can expand and

provide crucial help to families at a time when they most need it.

Next tonight, a small tribute to Her Majesty the Queen. In fact it's

a very small tribute. Scientists have managed to engrave

an image of the Queen on a tiny diamond.

It's been created as part of the celebrations to mark Her Majesty's

Diamond Jubilee. But what will happen to the diamond now? Simon

Ward reports. We have quite a big chamber that we

can fit samples on. This is where the magic happens. The

nanotechnology centre at the University of Nottingham. The

diamond was placed in this machine, ready to be engraved.

Basically blasted bits of the diamond out with an iron beam, so

we are firing the heavy bits of atoms at the carbon in the Diamond,

knocking it out. We did that accurately so we can produce a very

small village. This magnified image shows the result. The picture of

the Queen is so small you could fit 300,000 on a normal postage stamp.

The team have uploaded a video showing their project online,

attracting worldwide interest. The object itself is invaluable, but it

is unique. It is an industrial diamond, it was originally from a

piece of scientific equipment. We did it because the diamond looked

broken so it was spared. And it is the only one of its type in the

world now, right? Unless other people have been pretty images of

the Queen on diamonds, Yes! University isn't quite sure what to

do with the Diana now, but people organising the Diamond Jubilee

celebrations might be of use it as part of their event.

That is amazing, 300,000 of those images on one postage stamp!

Unbelievable! First tonight some bad news for

Nottingham Forest. They've failed to get Gareth McCleary's suspension

overturned. He was sent off in Monday's win at Peterborough for

this foul. Manager Steve Cotterill was confident they'd get the red

card rescinded but their appeal has been unsuccessful. He'll now miss

the next three games as they look to pull further away from

relegation. Further up the table and Derby

County manager Nigel Clough is still not writing his team off from

finishing in the play-offs. They're six points off with four games to

go. -- five points off. He admits they're a big outside bet but

they'll fight to the end. We would do everything we can in the last

four games, but that might not be enough. We are playing card of the

way in the next two. We will know more after those for two games. --

Cardiff away. We're little over three months away

from the Olympics and many of our athletes are still battling for

their place at London 2012. And there'll be one big battle going on

in Nottinghamshire this weekend. Canoeist Tim Brabants will compete

in an event that will help to decide if he gets to go for yet

It is gold now for Tim! Tim won a gold in Beijing, the

first ever Brit to win one in the sport. If he makes London, it will

be his 4th Olympics. But all these years on from his first games, his

appetite for success remains the same. But less hair then I did

then! I'm a lot more experienced, I have learned more about myself

through training and racing. The same competitors of there and we

race at the same pace. I am a bit wiser now!

He will have to prove they he is in the best over three coming races.

Everyone in sport has to compete against everyone else in the

country to get places. It would be very dull if you did not have to

compete feel spot because how do you push yourself an improved if

the only people you have got to compete against a York

International races? The past few years have seen 10 expense highs

and lows. He gave up the sport and to concentrate on his medical

career and more recently, he had to fight back from his illness.

looking at winning medals, not just getting qualifications. Athletes

tend to be quite positive and you like the challenge of coming back

from adversity and problems like that. It makes you feel like more

of an accomplishment when you achieve the result you want. It

would be boring if it was all easy. Tim competes in the canoe sprint in

the canoe slalom there's also a big weekend ahead for two silver medal

winners from Athens and Beijing. They have their one and only chance

to qualify for the London Games. Now, the team used to be based in

Nottingham but have now moved to the Olympic Course at Lee Valley.

Campbell Walsh is still living here in the East Midlands. David

Florence who won silver four years ago also made Nottingham his second

home. They both want medals. But first they have the pressure of

making the team. I am 34 and I have been going

through this process since I was 14. I have done this 20 times before so

I am kind of used to it. We know what it is like, we know it is one

weekend. The most worrying thing is not to get ill or injured. If you

are, then that is it. That is the most concerning thing.

Well, one person who can definitely plan for London 2012 is

Nottinghamshire's Natalie Blake. The powerlifter's been named in the

British Paralympic squad today so congratulations to her!

Indeed, congratulations. A Nottinghamshire artist who took

up painting after he retired will be making waves at this year's

London Olympics. The Royal Yachting Association has

asked Brian West from Farndon, near Newark, to produce an original

painting showing the British sailing team in action. Geoff

He has been a sportsman since he was a teenager, but it is art not

athleticism that is taken prime west to the Olympics this summer.

For a frustrated armchair sportsman to be involved this closely in this

way with sports, it is a nice feeling. In 2012, I have a

particular Wrabness to be involved this way with the Olympics. --

particular pride. Brian has been awarded the commission to paint the

Olympic sailing teams. It is the 5th time he has been called on to

paint the National sailors. Primarily it is movement. I call my

work trying to capture the colour in movement. It is a bit like still

framed photography, you have to do it at a certain speed. It has to be

-- has to convey the action. Also, I have an obligation to make it

real whiff connection to politeness. The original prints will be sold to

raise money for the British sailing team.

We have had the sunshine and showers around today. Reports of

bone and pale as well in parts of the East Midlands, and some showers

will be stubborn overnight tonight, although drying up for a time.

Firstly, this photo of two men in bless crowds. -- this photo of

clouds. If you have any stormy photos like this, please send them

to us. Low pressure firmly anchored, bringing in these showers and

keeping us unsettled for the next two days. The if sunshine and

showers will be staying with us until the weekend. Still some

showers around at the moment, a bit of Hayle in places, and you might

still hear the odd rumble of thunder this evening before they

die out overnight tonight. Just a couple will be stubborn and places,

but you will see some dry and clear spells at times. Temperatures

falling close to freezing, possibly lower in rural or sheltered spots.

Thursday, we do it all again, another day of sunshine and showers,

the showers increasing in intensity in the afternoon. Again you could

get Hayle and possibly some thunder. At best, a high of 11 Celsius.

Light winds for Thursday, so showers will be slow. On Friday, a

cold front will sink South, bringing in cold air so you will

notice the temperatures will be a bit lower. Showers on Friday and

that is how it stays in to Saturday. Sunshine and showers on Saturday. A

high of nine degrees. At night, a frost will take us down to freezing.

Sunday more in the wake of sunshine. Temperatures below and feeling

chilly for this time of year. We will not be seen much are you as