23/10/2013 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Anne Davies.

Tonight: 600 jobs under threat as a Leicester firm goes into

administration. Funding problems have left W R Refrigeration Ltd

facing imminent closure. Also the killing of Rachael Slack

and Auden. A call for an inquiry into domestic violence. And people

see red at Derby's brain bank levy. And a lifeline for food specialists

like this. Good evening and welcome to

Wednesday's East Midlands Today. First, 600 jobs are under threat as

a fridge repair firm goes into administration.

W R Refrigeration Ltd based in Leicester has cash`flow problems

and, earlier this month, the taxman issued a winding`up order.

Administrators say the level of losses is so great that there is a

real risk of imminent closure. For the latest, we can go live to the

company's head office and Rebecca Sheeran. Rebecca, what does this

firm actually do? Behind me is W R Refrigeration Ltd. This is their

head office. They have depots all over the UK. Now, they install and

service air conditioning and refrigeration unit is to major

retail outlets and employ around 600 staff. This news may come as a huge

surprise to many because just weeks ago this firm won two awards. What

else are they saying? Today, PricewaterhouseCoopers have been

brought in. They are the administrators. Despite huge

investment, the company was not able to turn itself around. It is

PricewaterhouseCoopers's job now to see if there is a way forward for

this company. Has the company said anything about the job losses? I

have tried to contact them but they have not commented. In a statement,

PricewaterhouseCoopers said they would continue to pay wages until

further notice but they say the company faces a risk of imminent

closure. They say they could lose those jobs if they cannot find a way

forward. A man from Nottingham is due to

appear before Stafford Crown Court in November charged with two

offences of kidnap. 40`year`old Saleem Taheer is alleged to have

taken two children from a hotel room in Stoke`on`Trent last Friday. The

children were found safe and well in a guest house near Derby on Monday

evening. Mr Taheer has been remanded in custody.

A woman from Leicester accused of causing the deaths of two toddlers

in a car crash has appeared in court. 41`year`old Sharmila Mistry

from Bushby was bailed after pleading not guilty to two counts of

causing death by dangerous driving. The pushchairs of one`year`old

Oliwer Bazak and two`year`old Zofia Tabaka were hit in the accident

involving two cars. It happened at the junction of Braunstone Gate and

Narborough Road in the city last August. The trial will start in

March. Workers at a crisp factory in

Leicester had to be moved out in the early hours of this morning because

of a fire. It happened at Walkers at Beaumont Leys. It's believed the

fire started in a fryer. No`one was injured in the blaze and a nearby

road that had to be closed has now reopened.

Still to come: Could Derby's new levy on brown bin collections

backfire? Some are predicting that people

won't pay the ?40 fee, and more garden waste could end up in

landfills. Details later. ?NEWLINE The Leicestershire teenager

on trial for terrorism offences, has admitted trying to build improvised

explosive devices. The Old Bailey's been told that he was preparing a

Columbine`style massacre at his old school in Loughborough.

Our social affairs correspondent Jeremy Ball has been following the

case and joins us from the newsroom. What's the latest? This new guilty

plea means the 17`year`old's now admitted three separate explosives

offences. The jury's already heard that he accepted possessing petrol

bombs and pipe bombs. But this latest admission involves component

parts for improvised explosive devices. The police found several

partially`constructed home`made bombs. The trial heard that some

were loaded with ball`bearings and other types of shrapnel. And a

forensics expert said they were capable of injuring people and

damaging property. And the jury's also heard about notes written by

the teenager on trial. One section is headed "Plans. How to make a

bomb". Then he describes adding "bolts, nails, screws, pins and

metal ball`bearings" to a can of fuel. And he's added "possibly add

napalm" at the bottom of the page. Now the teenager denies preparing to

use those explosives and other weapons for an act of terrorism. And

the jury's been told that he identified several potential targets

in Loughborough and that he was motivated by a combination of

far`right extremist politics and personal grudges at school.

The family of a woman murdered by her ex`partner are demanding an

inquiry. The calls have come in the wake of the inquest into the murders

of Rachael Slack and her little son by her former partner three years

ago in Derbyshire. James Roberson reports.

This bench, by Rachael Slack's former partner and placed here only

a few yards from where she and her son were tragically killed is not

only meant more real to them at a reminder to all others of the

domestic violence in the UK. One charity says the statistics are

startling. In the year 2011/12 800 thousands `` 800,000 incidents were

recorded. There has been a 65% increase in prosecutions. Outside

Derby coroner 's court the family were joined by another leading

charity which supports victims of domestic violence. Women are being

let down by the police and other state agencies. Refuge supports 3000

women and children on any given day. That's why we are calling on the

government to open a public inquiry into the police and state response

to domestic violence. I would welcome a public inquiry. I think

the more that is looked at and spoken about domestic violence then

it is not hidden away and it can only be a good thing. There are two

women per week being killed. It is atrocious that these figures are so

high. Today, the Home Office minister Norman Baker said,

high. Today, the Home Office Police have released pictures of two

men they want to question about a stabbing in Nottingham city centre.

A 26`year`old man was knifed in the stomach outside a takeaway in

Hockley in the middle of the day on Saturday the 5th of October. He's

since left hospital. Detectives also want to find the driver of a white

van who was approached by the victim on Lower Parliament Street.

The Department for Food and Rural Affairs has decided a pub in

Cambridgeshire won't be allowed to make Stilton cheese and compete with

East Midlands producers. The Bell Inn in the village of Stilton in

Cambridgeshire challenged an EU law on the geographical protection given

to the cheese. DEFRA rejected the application. Only producers in

Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are allowed to make

it. Next ` an over`hyped white elephant

or a huge economic boost to the region? The arguments for and

against the controversial ?50 billion high`speed rail project have

been hammered out at a conference in Nottingham today.

Transport experts had plenty to say, with one supporter claiming the

region needs a Michael Heseltine`type figure to lead the

campaign for HS2. Mike O'Sullivan can tell us more. Yes, no`one put

themselves forward for that job, but it's an idea from the conference

that Patrick McLoughlin, the Secretary of State for transport and

West Derbyshire MP could perhaps have a think about. The conference

also talked about the economic ups and downs. In a recent report for

the government it was said that: Nottingham would benefit by ?430

million a year. Derby, ?97 million. Leicester, ?90 million. But Rutland

could lose more than ?5 million. Now those figures were described as a

joke by one businessman at the conference, who claimed they were

overstated. But a former transport adviser to the Government said the

figures were spot`on. HS2 is 20 years away but there is a lot of

talking to come. HS2 plan was announced in January

and arguments have raged ever since. Today at the Nottingham business

school, a chance to thrash out the pros and cons of the ?50 billion

project and its station between Derby and Nottingham. One delegate

told me it could become a magnet for development, competing with Derby,

Nottingham and Leicester. He questioned the origins of HS2. It

has been oversold and overhyped. There has been a lot of publicity

and lobbying to raise the profile to get the short attention spans of

politicians to raise the whole thing up there and then `` up the agenda.

It was said that leadership was needed. I worry that there is more

fragmentation in the East Midlands. Unless there is a figurehead, the

benefits will not be maximised. 1300 businesses were invited to the

conference but only a handful turned up. The business community is not

engaging with HS2. 20 years is a long time in the future for them

what they need to be talking about what they want from it. No answers

today. But one thing is for sure down the line, more controversy.

Residents are being reminded that their free garden waste collections

are being binned from the end of this month. Derby City Council says

it's had to introduce a charge for the service due to budget cuts.

Many other councils have already introduced a charge. But some argue

it could backfire ` costing much more in other ways. Simon Hare

reports. One of the last rounds of free brown

bin collections underway in Derby this morning. When they return in

April, people will have to pay. Derby City Council says it has had

to rethink garden waste recycling because of government budget cuts.

If you want to have it collected from next year, it will cost ?40. It

is estimated this should save around ?1 million per year. This man has a

big garden and says he is left with no choice but to pay the new charge.

He thinks it may prove to be short`sighted. I try to persuade my

friends and family to recycle and now people are just saying they are

going to dump things in the black bean and not pay the cost. This will

just increase landfill. Campaigners have accused the council of wanting

more waste so that they can justify a gasification terminal.

Now, if you're one of the many fans of The Great British Bake Off you

won't need me to tell you that the winner was crowned last night ` and

it's our very own Frances Quinn from Market Harborough in Leicestershire.

Frances impressed the judges with a rainbow`style savoury picnic pie and

her show`stopping three`tier wedding cake, inspired by Shakespeare's A

Midsummer Night's Dream. The result was announced on BBC Two last night.

And the winner of the 2013 The Great British Bake Off is France's. I

think I just wanted to combine my love of designing and baking. I just

want to go in and collaborate then, bringing the style and substance

together. I don't know what the future holds but I have so many

ideas and aspirations so watch this space.

Frances is going to be with us on tomorrow night's programme to give

us the inside story on all that is The Great British Bake Off.

And, keeping with our sweet theme, it's the first in a new series on

fine foods. Foods that are made and sold locally.

Tonight I've been to a Nottinghamshire patisserie. Baking

has been in their blood for generations, but without local

farmers markets they wouldn't be here today.

How long have you been baking? 27 years. Edward has been baking longer

but, here, 27 years. He does everything by hand. He is making

bread now. Baking is in Edward's blood. It is a skill he learned

working with his father. A family business going back to the 1860s.

Not so long ago, the High Street almost destroyed their livelihood.

We could not have survived in a city centre because the rent was so high.

But thank God for farmers markets. Farmers markets are becoming more

popular not only with customers but also with fine foods specialists.

The keyword is provenance. They like to know they can speak to you

direct. It is the best way of promoting your food to the consumer.

Farmers markets, people really want to buy the food. Do you think the

quality of products sold here is better than the High Street? Yes. It

is what each individual stallholder specialises in and everything is

made with love. So, farmers markets have turned out to be the real icing

on the cake. Business should be flourishing for a long time to come.

I'm starving. The sport's coming up, plus the

weather. Kaye's got a special offer on sunshine for one day only. And

are you happy or sad? I'll be finding out what a survey said about

people in the East Midlands. Carol is always happy. Now, the

weather. First football, and Nigel Clough

says he was disappointed and a little angry at the way he left

Derby County. Clough was speaking this afternoon as he became the new

manager at Sheffield United. Nigel was sacked last month after four and

a half years with the Rams. He brought many up`and`coming, young,

talented players into the first team and had to drastically cut the wage

bill. Today, as he became the new boss at Bramall Lane, he admitted he

did feel let down when he was sacked at Derby. I am disappointed and

there was an element of anger in there as well. Now, I have to put

that behind us. I had a great four and a half years in there. I have

left them in a great position. I'll try to do this same thing here.

Staying with football, and the misery continues for Notts County.

They're second from bottom of League One after yet another defeat last

night. It means Notts have only picked up seven points out of a

possible 36 so far this season. Manager Chris Kiwomya said they only

had themselves to blame for the 2`1 defeat at Gillingham. They gave away

two sloppy goals in the first half an hour. One positive for Notts has

been the form of on`loan midfielder Callum McGregor. His second`half

goal a mere consolation though. In League Two, Mansfield had to settle

for a goaless draw at Berry. The Stags were down to ten men for the

last 35 minutes after Captain John Dempster was sent off for a tackle.

They held on for a point though to move them up to seventh in the

table. Cricket and the Nottinghamshire

all`rounder Stuart Broad has signed an extension to his contract at

Trent Bridge. He will be with Notts until the end of the 2016 season. He

played just three times for the county this summer, but took 15

wickets and was part of the team that won the YB40 Trophy at Lord's.

Broad remains centrally contracted with England and flies out to

Australia today for the Ashes tour. And in women's cricket,

Nottinghamshire's Jenny Gunn took five wickets for England's today as

they beat New Zealand by 19 runs in a Twenty20 game in Barbados.

Finally from me, the Derbyshire`based rider who became

the youngest ever winner of British Superbikes at the weekend. Alex

Lowes is just 23 and lives and trains in Derby. Today he was back

at the garage and celebrating with his team mates, as Kirsty Edwards

reports. A hero returns. Alex Lowes and his

team are still coming to terms with his amazing achievement at the

weekend. It is a great feeling to work so hard and for it to finally

happen, there are lots of different emotions. Everything about this year

was great. I will remember it for the rest of my life. He picked up

the British superbikes title in a gym attic style on the final day of

the season. The celebrations were made sweeter as earlier this month,

his twin brother became the world super champion. I felt bad for him.

He won his championship and I didn't want to get involved in celebrating.

But now we can chill out together. They both live and train in Derby

and have been racing since they were six. Today, they watched old BBC

footage when they were teenagers. We are still as competitive. I still

want to beat him as much as he wants to beat me and I think that helps us

get the best out of each other. It is so nice to achieve what we have

achieved. Looking back, the same arguments are still there over who

is faster. I bet they are a nightmare at home.

Now, can you guess which part of the East Midlands is the happiest? The

Office for National Statistics has for the first time released data on

life satisfaction in each of the local authorities across our region.

We sent the ever`cheerful Carol Hinds to the areas that had the

highest and levels of happiness and anxiety.

Congratulations. This District Council, according to the Office of

National Statistics, has the happiest people in the East

Midlands. So, what makes people here happy?

Food and sleeping. Sunshine. I'm happy because I'm retired. Grantham

football club. I'm the leader of the District Council and I'm very

pleased we are so happy. According to that survey, the

unhappiest people in the East Midlands live in Ashfield.

I'm not one of them. I couldn't be happier. I've got my kids and my

husband. People are very happy around here. I'm happy. It's my

birthday today. It is a dump. And this is what makes me happy. A

slice of cake. And some of you've contacted us to

tell us what makes you happy: Pam Wells from Fleckney says: That's

easy ` my extended family and wonderful grandchildren.

Kia Kozoi from Mansfield Woodhouse called us to say that the sun and

holidays in Norfolk make him happy. A tweet from Proud Emmerdalian says:

When other people are happy, I'm happy.

And finally ` we didn't make this up, I promise ` Richard from Derby

says: Watching Dom and Anne on EMT makes me happy!

It has been the lovely today. We have had some sunshine and there is

more on offer tomorrow. It took a while to get the sunshine. We had

showers this morning but eventually it did come out. We have some

high`pressure which will keep us fairly quiet for the next 24 hours.

It will stay dry tomorrow with lots of sunshine and the winds are

getting lighter. He was the satellite picture. The showers have

cleared away with the clouds. We will have a dry and clear night. The

wind is easing. Some mist and followed will form `` mist and fog.

Tomorrow morning, no blue on the chart. Lots of sunshine. A little

bit of cloud in the afternoon but we will stay dry and bright all the way

through the day. A light southerly breeze. Make the most of that,

though, we have another area of low pressure coming in on Thursday

night. The clouds and wind and rain will be with us by Friday morning.

Heavy rain on Friday morning. It should clear out of the way but it

will stay quite unsettled at the weekend.