11/09/2013 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today. Tonight, the case for High Speed

Rail. A report says we would be £2 billion a year better off. The new

study predicts a huge HS2 windfall for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire,

but what about Leicestershire? Really angry and frustrated because

Leicester gets no more than a passing reference in today's report.

The tenants facing eviction because of the so—called bedroom tax. It is

my home, I have lived here with my kids, why should I go out? Plus, the

six—year—old voted the UK's most inspirational child. She has a smile

on her face all the time, she has taught us all a lesson and

resilience, coping and determination. And back in time, the

house where all the MoD cons are not at all mods.

Good evening. A new report says the HS2 rail line could bring more than

£2 billion a year to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire by 2037. Critics have

claimed the route is a waste of money, but the Transport Secretary

says this fresh study proves the case for the development of the

high—speed link. It will cut through the East Midlands sweeping through

large parts of Leicestershire before heading north. This new study

analyses the economic benefits to Nottingham in Derby, but there is no

mention of Leicester. That has angered the city's politicians and

business leaders. Billed as a fast—track to regional

growth. This is not convincing taxpayers in Leicester. The

Transport Secretary and East Midlands MP is sticking with the

plan. We need HS2. It is a bypass for the clogged arteries of our

transport system. It will reap the burden from our overcrowded system.

The point about High Speed Rail is that you will not have to travel on

it to gain from it. As it cuts across the corner from

Leicestershire without stopping, there is little chance people in the

county will use the line. They are not happy Leicester is being left

out. Pretty typical. Lester seems to get left out of a lot of things.

Doesn't seem very fair, does it? I think it's rubbish. It is too much

money for so many people. In the grand scheme of things, it may well

be worth it. Politicians from all sides are not convinced. My

constituents will be damaged, we will get all of the pain and none of

the game. Even if the government had lots of money you could not support

a project which only delivers 50p of value. I am really angry and

frustrated because Leicester gets no more than a passing reference. We

could benefit from HS2 by having a direct link onto the new line once

it is built. Business leaders in the city have their eyes set on a

separate project. We are disappointed not to be included in

these plans and HS2 will have a negligible effect on the rest of the

economy. For us, the electrification of the Midland mainline meant that

we could get to London in under an hour and that could make a real

difference. Construction will not start until 2017, with predicted

multi—billion pound benefits for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire much

further down the line. Still to come, Leicestershire and

England cricketer hangs up his boots but he says he has had a ball. My

body has taken too much of a battering. I want to leave while I

still can walk. I could have squeezed another couple of years out

but it is time to go. Next, a city council is taking court

action against tenants who get into rent arrears because of the bedroom

tax. Nottingham City Council says a minority people either can't or

won't pay the occupancy charge. It was introduced by the government to

claw—back benefit payments. Around 8000 council tenants are affected by

the charge, but many of them are struggling to pay it. James Robson

meant to meet modern woman who fears she will lose her home. Although she

does not own this council house, this woman spent thousands of pounds

on it. Now she is facing eviction. It is making me ill. A tenant here

for 15 years, her three children have now all grown up and moved out.

It means she now only uses one of her bedrooms. To reduce benefit

payments, the government says councils must charge tenants for

unused bedrooms. Nottingham city homes says she must pay an extra £4

a week she has so far not paid. She has received threats of court

action. A UN inspector says the charge could be against human

rights. Nottingham City Council says they are trying to help tenants

avoid eviction. We would have to evicted they get to a stage where

arrears come to an amount that we agree is too much. What we are

trying to do is find other ways to help them through this crisis so

that we don't have to get to an eviction. A campaign group says the

council should not be considering evictions. The council must not join

in with that, they must turn pressure back on to the government

and say no, we are not going to evict people. It is wrong for the

council to pass this pressure onto individual people who are not

because of the housing problem, not because of the financial situation

which cost increased costs and benefits. We can say we are not

going to evict. Only one council and the whole country has actually made

a policy not to evict. This woman says she needs a large home to

support her grandchildren. Isn't it favour for a family to have this

house? No it's not, because it is my home. Why should I go? I am not

getting any younger. I haven't got the money to start all over again.

The campaign group meets in Clifton tonight.

The police's power to stop and search people, it has been a

contentious issue. Three years ago, the Leicestershire force was heavily

criticised. Since then, the number of searches has dropped

dramatically. From 25,000 a year to 5000.

Kenny has been stopped and searched by the police several times. I have

been searched about three times, two times, but they were a bit cheeky.

He is one of several young people taking part in a consultation in

Leicestershire to find out if stop and search powers are being used

appropriately. It has made me realise that sometimes things do

have to happen. It can change how you think about things. They want to

talk to you and why they are searching you, but sometimes they

don't say that. They don't say your rights or anything like that. To me,

it is quite a good reason to be honest. Out on the road with two

PCs. We are checking the city's car parks after a rise of break—ins. If

they see anyone acting suspiciously, they could be stopped and searched.

Driving slowly you see people hiding between cars and on the stairwells.

You can see if anybody is loitering and hanging around. In the past,

Leicestershire Police had a poor reputation for stopping and

searching too many people. From 25,000 to 5000 people now, making

sure it is much more focused on the areas of high criminality and making

sure that we are protecting people from harm as well. It has been a

pretty quiet afternoon, the officers haven't stopped and searched anyone.

The policy is still controversial, but Leicestershire Police say it is

a vital one in their fight against crime.

Council staff in Nottinghamshire are to become the latest group to be

guaranteed to be paid more than the minimum wage. The authorities might

—— the authorities' plans mean they will receive an extra £7.45 an hour,

costing the council more per year. We are talking about people who

deliver important front line services in our communities. School

cooks, care assistants, cleaners, people who don't get paid very much

for good services. I think it is the right thing to do, having them a

decent hourly rate. It gives them a little bit of spending power to help

the local economies. Members of the UK and is hearty —— UK Independence

Party have removed their leader. He was told he would receive no police

action relating to racist remarks on a social networking site. He will

face a disciplinary committee. Leicester could receive £3 million

from Arts Council England if it becomes the city of culture. The

team behind the bid have less than three weeks to submit the final

document of the judging panel. Lester's attempt to take the title

is being underwritten by the City Council to the tune of £12 million.

You're watching East Midlands Today. A long—distance swimmer from

Nottinghamshire is closing in on a remarkable record. Adam Walker has

just completed the fifth stage of the Ocean's 7 Challenge, a series of

ocean swims across the globe. Adam Swamy 18 miles across the Tsugaru

Channel in Japan. Earlier he explained to us just how long it to

and the dangers he faced. It took me 15 and have ours. It took me four

and a half hours to do the last two miles, the currents were crazy. I

had to do Sprint sets because the currents are constantly trained to

pursue West. I had to do that pace, imagine if you doing having our

sprints, the pilot did not speak any English. This is all in the dark as

well, isn't it? Yes. I finished two hours in the dark and I saw the

sharks underneath. Was that one of your worst moments? Well, I was

stung repeatedly in the face at the start, jellyfish stings, I was sick

for the first four hours. At that, I had no fuel, then I was told to

Sprint. This went on for eight hours, then the waves came over and

I was gasping. Sounds like you are having a great time. Why put

yourself through that? It's the challenge, you want to challenge

yourself and see how far I can push myself. I was breathing extremely

heavily for seven or eight hours out there. Once you've done it you

realise you can do anything you want. Were you surprised how capable

you have been? I don't think you know you can achieve these things. I

hadn't swum open water at all. I watched a movie about a man swimming

the channel, I wondered if I could do that. Once I did the English

Channel I thought what is the next channel, the Gibraltar Straits,

Europe to Africa. I went on from there, thinking I wonder if I can do

the seventh hardest in the world. What is the next big swim challenge?

Cook Strait in New Zealand. That's pretty cold. You went on the

Irish...? Yes.We will hopefully see you again when you're finished.

Thank you very much. Brave but quite mad.

Next tonight, you are about to meet the UK's most inspirational child.

She is from Grantham and last year she was diagnosed with large cell

lymphoma. She beat hundreds of others to the title, and tonight she

will be getting her reward from Prince Harry.

It happened so fast, it was like looking down, it happening to

somebody else and not being real. I started off with something that

didn't do the job and then I went to Nottingham hospital. At school she

takes on a teacher role and helps them. From what teachers have told

me, she will explain it to them. Through the whole illness and

experience, she has had a smile on her face. She has taught us all a

lesson in resilience, coping and determination. She has been

absolutely phenomenal. She had four weeks recovery time and came back

after Easter. You would never know she had been out of class. She

slotted straight back in. Her work has been phenomenal. They did work

with her at the hospital. The patients and their families have a

tough time. The chemotherapy is no problem at all, so I am just

delighted. She has been practising curtsies. She is absolutely over the

moon. I am most looking forward to getting to meet Prince Harry and

stay in a hotel and have a posh breakfast. That's lovely. She is not

the only one getting an award tonight ceremony. The children's

committee nursing team from Nottingham's Children's Hospital

also beat hundreds to be voted the best medical team. Still to come:

The perfect antidote to our wasteful, throwaway culture. We meet

a man who for decades has resisted the urge to upgrade any of his many

household appliances. And we have got everything but the kitchen sink

in the forecast, rain, sunshine, warmth and our first proper autumn

storm. Join me later. Autumn storms are coming. Kicking up

a storm in sport. Coming up tonight, our search for sport and a major new

stadium for the East Midlands. First, rugby and a big blow for

Leicester Tigers and England. What seemed an innocuous knock on

Sunday's game, Croft has had to have reconstructive surgery and his

season is over. With his mop of blonde hair, Matthew

Hoggard became one of the most recognisable and best England

cricketers. A household name appearing recently on prime—time

television shows like celebrity Masterchef and the question of

sport. But at the age of 36, he is finishing his career with

Leicestershire. The body is getting older and bawling is getting

harder. It is taking its toll. The enjoyment is still there but you

still have to be able to move in the morning and that is getting harder.

He played 93 times for England and he wrote of the 2000 that a Mac and

a key role of the 2005 Ashes. On the bus were the streets were packed, it

was amazing. People lining the streets in Trafalgar Square was an

amazing feeling. He has got countless highlights to look back on

and the final win for Leicestershire. He was disappointed

about being dropped and frustrated not to play more for his county, but

his love for the game has not diminished. There will be tears when

I walk off the pitch for the last time. I have enjoy every moment of

it, even the hard times. It makes the good times even better, as I

still enjoy my cricket. The body has taken too much of a battering, so I

want to leave while I still can walk. I could have maybe squeezed

another couple of years out, but it is time to go. And you can see the

full interview on BBC Sport website. It is Hoggard's last game, at home

to Hampshire. Today, colleagues spent most of the day sheltering

from the rain. A similar story at Derby, Derbyshire 99—1 when play

stopped. It has been a bit better down at Lord's, 106 T1— two. A major

new stadium for the East Midlands, there are currently only the indoor

velodrome is in England. This year, the fourth will be nearing

completion in Derby. Our cameras were allowed in for a first look. At

the back of this football stadium there is a new landmark going up. It

is costing 27 and a half million pounds, but the city and the

Midlands is getting something unique. It is not just the

velodrome, it is attracting interest from all around this region and the

country, exciting a lot of people locally. We have got 150 work

stations, able can come to the gym here, a concert venue for up to 5000

people, and exhibition Centre, meeting the real needs. This is what

it will look like. There are only three other in draw —— indoor

velodrome is in England. There is only one of these velodromes of this

type in Europe. Workers on time and on budget. No turning back. Cycling

has become a boom sport, in terms of those doing and watching major

events. Now there is a chance of doing both on our doorstep. We need

your help, we are looking for people in your community who make a

difference, to give their time to help others play sport without

getting any financial reward. The search is on for the BBC Sport

unsung hero 2013. For the last ten years, I have

travelled to all parts of the East Midlands to film special people who

give up their time to help others play sport. For amateur sport to

happen, wherever it is, it needs volunteers. We are hunting those who

go the extra mile. Last year, I came across sporting —— sport in

desperate. A community sports centre built by a remarkable couple. ——

Sport in Desford. The national judges agreed, these two became the

unsung heroes at the annual awards live on the BBC. This trophy is for

many of the dozens of coaches and volunteers at Sport in Desford who

make it work. It was just bananas. The noise is incredible. You look

around and see everybody standing up. This is just crazy. We felt the

award was very much for the whole group of volunteers that help to

make this work and continue to make it work. We need your help again to

honour those people who give their time and their enthusiasm to help

others play sport, to build a better community and to give great

publicity to their club or organisation. People grow through

sport, we see at all the time. We see youngsters coming in who love

it. They also growing confidence, and you can see them growing as

people. Our East Midlands winner will take their seat at the BBC

sports personality of the year award in December, but the deadline is

just a month away. You can get a form by calling:

And we are looking forward to receiving your entries.

Get them in as soon as possible. That just great. It is so exciting

when they win. Finally tonight, the ultimate recycler, the

Nottinghamshire man who has been using the same household appliances

for most 80 years. The thrifty former textile worker has largely

kept his house just as it was since his parents died 50 years ago.

John Collingwood has lived in this house in West Bridgford forfeit his

79 years. When his parents died, John stayed on in the house with his

brother. Ever since he has barely parted with the thing. I don't

believe in throwing things away. Make it last. From his clock to his

vacuum cleaner, and even this lawn mower, John guarantees things work

for life. My mother bought this than in the 50s and I have kept using it

every day seven days a week, and I have had no trouble whatsoever. ——

this oven. The house even retains a relic from the water. I am going

into the air raid shelter winner used to staging the wartime. We

stayed in here and had bunk beds in it, neighbours, children used to

come and stay as well. We used to wait here until the alarm went off

and then we would all come out after that. John's neighbours approve of

his make do and mend mentality. I think it is very commendable, there

should be more of that. We are more of a throwaway society. And it seems

John's fondness for all things vintage even extends to his viewing

habits. Who is he Collingwood vintage?

The look of horror on your face. You make do and mend, don't you? I do

make do and mend. Here is the weather forecast. It has been

cloudy, damp and very wet. And that cloud and rain, temperatures have

been struggling. 11 Celsius was high in Ashbourne. We are pulling in

warmer air, so it should improve the tomorrow. Yes, it will start off

quite grey, a bit of drizzle around. At it will brighten up, temperatures

could be back up into the 20s. We did see brightness this morning, the

clouds quickly engulfed us and the rain set in this afternoon. It is

starting to fragment and will be cleaning. It leaves a lot of low

clouds, hill fog and drizzly outbreaks of rain. On the plus side,

it is a lot milder, 11 or 12 degrees our lowest temperature by morning.

It doesn't look pretty first thing in the morning, a lot of mist

around, drizzly outbreaks of rain, mist and low cloud will be lifting

through the morning, cloud will break up into the afternoon, so some

brightness later in the day, day and I say some sunshine to end the day

as well. Temperatures responding, up to around 20 or 21 Celsius. You can

see what is lurking behind me, another batch of rain which will

sweep through on Thursday night. It should clear out of the rain for

Friday. Once weather systems. It is looking

pretty dismal for the weekend. I will have more later. Unsettled. I

am starting a bloody push at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.