18/11/2013 East Midlands Today

Dominic Heale and me, Anne Davies. Tonight: The East Midlands

businesses predicting a more prosperous New Year. Half expect

higher profits, so is it curtains for the crisis? We are going in the

right direction. Also tonight, 25,000 motorists get points on their

licence for using phones at the wheel.

Plus paintings inspired by the pop art era go on display in Nottingham.

And the highlights of this year's record`breaking Children In Need.

Hello. Welcome to the programme. First tonight, is his confidence in

the East Midlands is at its highest level in six years with half of our

company is expecting profits to rise over the next year. It is the most

promising economic outlook since before the downturn, so light at

last at the end of the economic tunnel here in the East Midlands.

But what does it mean for jobs and are we beginning to feel that long

lost feel`good factor? The recovery has finally taken hold.

The governor of the Bank of England promised a brighter economic

outlook. It is a view echoed by this Derbyshire curtain firm which is

enjoying a boom again after going through the toughest time it has had

in its 30 years of trading. It would have been quite easy to just close

the door and throw away the key but you cannot do that. You have to come

through it all and thankfully we have. There is invest ability back

in the country now which is encouraging people to come out and

spend some money. And people are feeling much more positive about job

security. A new study shows 76% of people here in the East Midlands are

more confident about either getting a job or keeping the bond they have

got. And that is backed up by the latest unemployment figures, which

have fallen by 8.6% in this region in the last quarter, from 181,000

down to `` 166,000. And feedback to the Chamber of Commerce paint the

most positive picture they have seen since they started measuring

business confidence six years ago. Over half of the businesses

questioned expected to see a rise in profit in the next year. People are

starting to feel slightly more confident that things are going in

the right direction. They are feeling a bit more stable so they

are willing to spend money again. Businesses are beginning to see more

positives. So they can grow as well. But I'd only streets of

Nottingham, not everyone is sharing the confidence that the economy is

picking up. `` but out on the streets of Nottingham. You hear it

is picking up and the next day you hear interest rates have gone up.

Every time you see the television, somebody has lost their jobs or

hospitals are shutting down .Mac I do not think times have got a lot

better, because things are still struggling. There is propaganda

making everyone believed Binks are getting better, but really they are

not. It might be a note of caution for

Mark Carney, who said this in August. This is real bellwether for

the UK economy. Why is our region used as the benchmark for the UK? It

is a microcosm in the East Midlands. But in Nottingham, the

recession has forced a change of business direction to ensure

economic buoyancy in the future. Nottingham is a city that has always

designed and made things. It is famous for that. But now we have to

rethink what that means. Light sciences and creative industries,

technologies, these are the sorts of sectors that in the future will

provide not just employment at what we want to be. Companies are pinning

their hopes on the recovery and believe it is full steam ahead for

an economic boom. I can enjoy the next three or four years, I think,

as a result of it. D2N2 is the local enterprise

partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It

plays a key role in deciding our economic rarities. Its chief

executive, David Ralph, joins us in the studio. Where are the new jobs

in our region coming from? There is a lot of work to do. Cautiously to

mistake `` cautiously optimistic. The big numbers of jobs are coming

in with Rolls`Royce and in the small to medium`sized enterprises. That is

important because we do not have as many of those as we would like to

have. We have seen a bit of a housing bubble and are starting to

see growth in real estate and other key areas. So the little microcosm

is beaming at the moment but I do not want people to get carried away.

You mentioned a key sectors. Which one will do outstandingly well? We

are committed to revival in manufacturing. This is about

sustainable jobs and here in Derby and Nottinghamshire and the wide

area, we have some fantastic options particularly for high`tech

manufacturing. Plain, trains and automobiles in Derby. I sciences,

health and beauty in Nottingham. Low`carbon. The digital and other

sectors are really important. The Peak District offers good tourism.

We have good industries. In one sentence, you mentioned the bubble,

is it going to continue or could it collapse because it is fragile? We

are seeing some very positive signs but there is a lot of work to do. We

are definitely seeing signs of housing growth and business is

growing and orders coming in on our supply chains. A bit of an economic

upturn. So fingers crossed? We are in a better place. Still to come, a

world champion takes a trip to the shops.

Boxer Carl Froch prepares for Saturday's big fight with a warm up

at his local shopping centre. And we are about to be jabbed with a

low blow this weekend. Thermals to the ready. It is about to get a lot

colder. `` this week. Next, it has emerged that 25,000

drivers in the East Midlands have points on their licences for driving

while on the phone. The road safety charity Brake is now calling for all

hands`free phones to be banned from cars or even locked in the boot.

Loughborough University researchers have a special test car which

monitors just how easily drivers can get distracted.

Most of us think we are quite good at multitasking, and I guess I am

not alone. But driving while being asked difficult questions on a

hands`free phone certainly showed that you really cannot do anything

other than drive. 266 .Mac? No. Out in Loughborough and it seems many

people are distracted by their phones. I have no points and I do

not answer the phone when I'm driving, or text or anything. It is

not a good idea. I set my hands`free up before I set off. You are on the

way home and somebody contacts you to say pick`ups of milk or meat here

and you want to read the message because it might change your journey

but you know you should not. A leading charity is calling for a ban

on hands`free calls. People who are speaking on their phone at the wheel

are at a similar level of risk as those who are over the drink drive

limit. You struggle to adapt to changing road situations and respond

to hazards. People would be quite surprised to learn that if you take

your eyes away from the road for even two seconds at a time you are

increasingly significantly increasing your risk level. So when

I am on the phone and being given something to think about, I

accelerate? You do, yes. Your driving is different. Brake is

calling for the penalty for using the phone behind the wheel to be

increased to up to ?1000. So next time, we'll you pick up?

Other news. The Derby`based engine maker Rolls`Royce has secured two

orders worth ?3 billion. The first is from the United Arab Emirates'

national carrier, Etihad Airways. The firm will provide engines for 50

Airbus A350 planes. The second contract is from Qatar Airways, for

engines to power five Airbus A330 freighter aircraft.

Two men have been charged over a security alert in Derbyshire in the

summer. The incident happened on Victoria Street in Clay Cross in

June and led to residents being moved out of their homes and part of

the town being closed. A 20`year`old was charged with a bomb hoax

offence, possession of a firearm and theft of diesel. A 23`year`old was

charged with two counts of theft of diesel.

This is rather fabulous behind us. What is it? It is Reggie Reilly,

1967. One of the most influential private

collections of modern Art is here. It is about to be made public for

the first time in the East Midlands. Partly inspired by the explosion of

pop art in the 1960s, the Nottingham exhibition features an array of a

list artists. Our arts reporter was given a special preview.

It was an era that shook up the art world and paved the way for a

generation of new names. Pop art began in the 1960s and mirrored a

rapidly changing culture. From David Hockney to Peter Blake, many of the

founding fathers are here. Rusted Mac it was emerging from that really

grim post`war period and it was the influence of Americanisation.

Artists were starting to look at advertising and popular culture

generally, but they were looking for ways of trying to reinvigorate

painting. Whilst the collection idioms in the 1960s, it spans almost

five decades and is a roll call of letter a list artists. `` A list

artists. These artworks are all owned by an entrepreneur most famous

for setting up the carphone warehouse. Is a former Nottingham

University student and these paintings are just a fraction of his

private collection. Paintings would normally be in the home, a very

large home, but they are a private collection. We are seeing them in

different circumstances here. Normally they would be surrounding

by the furnishings of somebody's home. Ford Neil Walker, the earlier

works are particularly exciting. I think I have to say that this has to

be a strong contender. It is such a bold paintings and it just sums up

that era. The artworks will be on display at the Lakeside arts Centre

until February, after which they will be packed up and returned home.

They do look fabulous. We like them a lot. Next tonight, a complete

change. Cardiac arrests. They do not just affect older people. The young

can also be victims. 19`year`old Sam from Derby died from heart problems

almost two years ago. Now thanks to fund raising in his name, a piece of

life`saving equipment was presented to his old school.

When someone suffers heart problems, this could save them. Remove all

clothing from pace `` patient's chest. A defibrillator was presented

to the score of a former pupil, Sam, who died suddenly after returning

home from a run. His mother says that with the kind of Ings `` events

were organised to raise money. His mother says they were the kind of

things he would enjoy being involved with. He liked runs, cycling,

swimming. He had boundless energy. When someone suffers a cardiac

arrest and somebody performs CPR on that person, their chance of

survival is only 21%. But if a defibrillator is used, the survival

rate goes up to 75%. The defibrillator is designed for

anyone to use. It starts to talk to you and tells you when to put the

pads on the chest. It instructs you. Funds will also be used for

preventative checks on people 's' health. We will screen 16 and

17`year`old boys particularly for cardiac risk and we will be able to

do that next April. We offer that to stick form. They hope the

defibrillator will not be used but in an emergency, this school is

ready. Figures released today show more

than half of children in the East Midlands use the internet without

parental supervision. The anti`bullying Alliance says more

than a third of parents in our region also believe their child may

have been bullied online. Earlier this year, Hammersmith from

Leicestershire is thought to have killed herself after online

bullying. `` Hannah Smith. They child bullying charity says it has

seen an increase in calls since her death. An RSPCA centre in Darby says

it has seen double the number of animals come through its doors since

2012. It has been full for a year and

there is a waiting list of at least three months. They are reminding

people to only buy pets this Christmas if they will be cared for

responsibly. Many people who want to leave their animals at the shelter

have already been turned away. A great big thank you to everyone

who raised money for BBC Children In Need this year. We raised more than

ever before in the East Midlands. Nearly ?1.2 million. He is a big

bear! Nearly 1000 people came to the

Nottingham celebration. Here are just a view of the highlights.

It is Friday, it is November, it must be Children In Need. We are

down here at the Nottingham Tennis Centre.

They have raised ?3365. What did you do? A flash mob in Leicester. That

is when you secretly start dancing and nobody knows, right? I did the

story of four different victors. The first one is from when I was

homeless. The others are where I came from and where I am now.

Children In Need funds the group that helps you. What has it done for

you? It has given me so many opportunities to show off my work

and it has opened a massive career path. It is one of the stories of

what Children In Need is all about. Brilliant. We did the sponsored walk

from Nottingham to Derby, 80 miles. It is 14 years since we have done it

this year. We raised ?45,000. You raise so much every year. 5000 this

year. Yes, all be children have been doing a sponsored sing along.

MUSIC. It is all about raising money so it is time to say a big thank you

to all the groups who have done just that. ?1000 from this scuba diving

club. What did you do? We had an underwater tea party. How many of

you? 17. Mad but brilliant. Thank you. What have you done? We walked

1800 miles. We raised ?1800. # She wore blue Velvet... We have

had 27 people in a taxi. Did they have to be very small? Smaller than

me. What does Children In Need mean to you? It has enabled us to reach

more children with cerebral palsy. A giant thank you to everyone who

raised this money and help us here on Children In Need. We do not know

what we would do without you. And another thank you, as well,

thank you for sending all your amazing fundraising pictures. We

have put a whole selection of them on our Facebook page, so have a look

at that. We have a fabulous weekend of sport

coming, do we? Kind of mixed. We start with the world champion

oxer, Carl Froch says he's confident he'll be the clear winner when he

puts his title on the line on Saturday. He's fighting fellow

countryman George Groves in what the promoter is calling The Battle of

Britain. Today, Froch made his final preparations in front of shoppers in

his home town of Nottingham. Mark Shardlow reports.

He has stood many grand entrances. Now a walk through a busy shop. Very

good. Ready. It would not be Christmas without a man with a beard

and this was the chance to see a close`up training routine. It is

great for the fans to see him. Is from round here and it is nice that

he comes back and does all this. It is five years since col frock first

became a world champion. His camp say he is in no mood to let that go.

Every fight has its dangers, underestimating opponents, it is all

possible. That he is top`notch. Around 1000 fans came to wish him

well, including some from a local primary school. He is a well`known

boxer and everyone knows about him. It is fantastic. He is an amazing

boxer. Thanks to everyone for coming. I really appreciate it! If

no one had turned up it would have put me on a downer, but it has

raised my spirits. The carrot for a big win on Saturday is another week

pay day and a night successive world title.

And we've got more from inside the Carl Froch camp all week, including

a behind`the`scenes look as he does his cardio work out in the gym.

On to the football now, and Derby have confirmed the signing of

much`travelled midfielder Kalifa Cisse. The Malian, who played

Premier League football with Reading, will stay at Pride Park for

at least the next two months. Notts County hope to find out by the

end of the year whether new manager Shaun Derry will also be able to

play for them this season. He's already played for two clubs and

usually that would rule him out, but Notts have asked the league to

clarify their rules. For now, Derry is strictly in the dugout, where he

saw Notts lose again at the weekend. But it wasn't all doom and gloom.

Kirsty Edwards reports. Plenty for the new men in charge to

ponder before Saturday's game. Shaun Derry arrived at Meadow Lane 12 days

ago, knowing he faces a huge challenge in his first job as a

manager. And what a challenge he has. Notts County have won just

three league games out of 16. They are bottom of the league, with just

ten points so far this season. There are now 30 games left to escape

relegation, but Derry is convinced they can do it. He reckons a vastly

improved display on Saturday gives them plenty to feel positive about,

despite the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers ending in

defeat. They should have taken the lead in the first half. This was the

best chance of the half. They were eventually made to pay when walls

broke the deadlock well into the second half. `` walls. They deserved

more for their efforts. Listen, I do not think Wolverhampton Wanderers

are going to have much harder games this season than what we gave them

today. I'm proud of the players and I have told them it needs to be

every single weekend that they turn it on. I am really proud of them.

In League Two, Mansfield's good start is ebbing away a little, going

down to ten men at home to Oxford United not helping them on Saturday.

The Stags were already a goal behind to Oxford United when it happened.

Jamie McGuire left the ground, making this challenge on Sean Rigg.

The red card was decisively instant. The eight minutes of added time at

the end of the first half featured drama too. An equaliser for

Mansfield swiftly followed by what turned out to be Oxford's winner.

They added another later to make sure.

On to the ice ` speed skating first. And there was mixed news for the

Nottingham short track skaters at the World Cup event in Poland. With

Olympic qualification up for grabs, the much talked`about men's relay

team couldn't get the result they needed to go to Sochi. But Elise

Christie ` the World's best woman over a 1,000m ` HAS qualified,

overcoming injuries to get a bronze medal.

A dramatic weekend for Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey ` won one, lost

one against old rivals Sheffield Steelers. After going down in a

close game in Sheffield on Saturday, Panthers delighted their home fans

last night. Sunday's first period featured just

what you might expect from a Panthers`Steelers game, a good

old`fashioned, if one`sided dustup, as accounts were settled from

Saturday's match. As a bonus, once Brett Henley had been thrown out of

the game, Panthers responded with Matt Francis' related short`handed

goal to take the lead. Great stuff. The Steelers found an equaliser in

the second period, and with a series of injuries and penalties, Panthers

looked to be up against, but what a third period they produced. From the

moment they went ahead on the power play, they never looked back. Five

goals in 20 minutes, including Francis completing his hat`trick.

That is certainly the way you want them to finish the weekend. Did you

enjoy Children In Need? Especially the tennis centre.

Seeing those youngsters loving it. I did not go into the tennis bit.

Some of the able`bodied kids got into the wheelchairs and they played

wheelchair tennis. I thought that was lovely. It is magic. Talking

about magic, there was a rainbow. Did you see it?

It was gorgeous. But it is about to get a lot colder, unfortunately. No

reason to panic. Nothing particularly scary. It is a cold

front and this is the dividing line between the milder air in the South

and colder air in the North. As it sinks tonight we will get a blast of

the colder air. Certainly turning colder. We have been bracing

ourselves for it for the past week but it will be one of those dutiful

crisp and sunny autumn days. This weather friend has practically

cleared across the East Midlands and we have had a sharp edge to the

cloud as well. It will be cleared for most of us tonight. The chance

of a wintry showers. It could turn icy in the Peak District. Elsewhere

dry and very cold. Close to freezing in the towns and city centres but we

will be be going just below that in rural spots by morning. It is cold,

it is crisp, it is a very frosty start to the day tomorrow morning.

But lots of lovely son tried to keep us going. Little to spoil backed by

the end of the afternoon. The chance of a wintry flurry. That is in the

afternoon. But that will be very isolated. Lots of lovely sunshine.

Add on the wind and it will feel freezing literally tomorrow

afternoon. Into Wednesday, an area of low pressure that will sink

southwards through Wednesday as it hits that cold air. There is the

chance it could turn a big win to read on the leading edge of that,

mainly across the higher ground of the Peak District. `` turn wintry.

And it is only big N. I was shocked. It is only the 18th of the month. We

will 'We wanna do

a science fiction series.' CS Lewis meets HG Wells meets

Father Christmas, that's the Doctor. Can't we have Doctor Who

without Doctor Who? Travel back to the birth

of a phenomenon.