17/12/2013 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Geeta Pendse.

Tonight ` campaigners call for the NHS to scrap its contract with a

private ambulance service. Arriva are paid to drive patients to

hospital. Clients like Ron say it is in chaos. I would like the contract

taken away from them and given to a proper ambulance service who are

trained. Plus the student flats building boom

in Nottingham, as the city tries to get them to move out of houses that

could become family homes. Also tonight, the young Roma

students 0 Also tonight, the young Roma

students using education to counter Pres `` prejudice. I am better than

some of the English people, so I guess I am doing well.

And the mail centre dealing with all of Notts and Derbyshire's Christmas

mail. Welcome to Tuesday's programme.

First tonight, tough criticism for a company 0

First tonight, tough criticism for a company given a ?26 million contract

to take patients to and from their hospital appointments.

Arriva was awarded the five`year contract in July last year. It's for

patients in Leicestershire and Rutland. But it's already been

docked more than ?30,000 for its poor performance.

Now some patients and health campaigners are calling for that

contract to be scrapped. Jo Healey reports.

Ron is housebound at his home. He is diabetes and his legs are bad. But

every three months he needs to get the Leicester Royal family. He says

with Arriva he gets too late. `` Leicester Royal infirmary. I missed

one appointment, and I did not get home until 5pm. I had to spend the

next two days in bed. An earlier time, when they picked me up, they

got me there that late but I had a hypo and finished up in A

The report from East Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group found

Arriva failed to meet all the target times they were set. They criticised

them for how they handled complaints, and 0

them for how they handled complaints, and also for how they

controlled infection. In a statement today Arriva said

they had had to do what `` more than they had been contracted to do. They

have now taken on more staff, working longer, 0

have now taken on more staff, working longer, but they recognise

there are improvements that need to be made still, and say they will

continue making them. Not good enough, says Ron. He and

some health campaigners know what the contract scrapped. `` they now

want the contract scrapped. Well, earlier I spoke to the health

campaigner Zuffar Haq, who also believes the contract should be

terminated. He described other examples where patients have been

left waiting. I have heard of cases where patients have been left

waiting, sometimes for an hour or two hours, and I have had cases of

four or five hours as well. What you think happen next? I would

like Arriva to lose the contract, it to be re`tendered out, and for

another company to take this contract. And run an effective

service for these patients. The Clinical Commissioning Group say it

would be costly and in effect to describe Arriva's on track because

of the lengthy procedure of re`tendering. Is it in the

patient's' best interest? Of course. You have 0

patient's' best interest? Of course. You have hundreds of patients

relying on this service on a daily basis. It should be in their best

interest to deliver for those patients and the patients should

come first. Arriva say they have made

improvements. Have you heard of these improvements? They have, but

this service simply is not fit for purpose. This contract needs to be

taken away from them, and action needs to be taken.

Next: A student flats building boom in Nottingham. It's a deliberate

policy ` designed to coax students out of traditional residential areas

so families can move back in. The council says thousands more bed

spaces are on the way for students in the city centre.

One 0 in the city centre.

One senior councillor says it's the best place for them ` as they'll

help to keep the centre of Nottingham thriving. Mike

O'Sullivan's been to see the progress of one huge complex which

is currently under construction. 14 floors up on one of Nottingham's

latest student accommodation complexes. It is being built for

foreign students who will be going to Nottingham Trent University. 450

bed spaces, costing ?30 million. It will be ready in September next

year. The developer told me the city Council wants to see more of this

type of building. And student tastes have changed as well. They always

wanted to get out of the institutional halls of residence and

go out into the private housing market. But now they much prefer to

get into purpose`built, modern design economical accommodation. The

City Council says there is around 43,000 students in Nottingham, and

around 20,000 of them live in houses of multiple occupancy.

A senior counsellor told me he would like 0

A senior counsellor told me he would like that 0

A senior counsellor told me he would like that figure reduced around a

half, although that we probably upset private landlords in what are

now student areas. `` that would probably upset.

In the two years to 2015, the council says another 0

In the two years to 2015, the council says another 3,000 dead

spaces will be provided in the city centre as private developers step

in. `` bed spaces. This empty office block is part of

the boom as well. The challenge is for the city to get students out of

residence and into dedicated accommodation.

If demand for students drops, the developer has a long`term plan to

allow conversion for the residential market. But for now, things are

looking up. This is East Midlands Today. Still

to come: The sport's live from Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

There are stars all over here. Manchester City, and Sam Bailey,

winner of the X Factor. With Christmas and the New Year just

round the corner, our local councils have been looking ahead to 2014. It

won't surprise you to learn that there's not a lot of festive cheer

about. 0 there's not a lot of festive cheer

about. Yes, it's the time of year when local authorities prepare their

budgets for the next financial year, and many are warning of big spending

cuts. Nottingham City Council is the

latest: It says 76 jobs will go as it cuts its 0

latest: It says 76 jobs will go as it cuts its budget by ?25 million.

Let's find out more from our Political Editor John Hess.

Money is still being squeezed out of council spending as the coalition

attempts to reduce the national deficit. Labour leaders at

Nottinghamshire County Council need savings of ?154 million over the

next three years: That's a 23% spending cut.

But the Conservative leader Councillor Kay Cutts says a proposed

council tax increase of just under 2% is unnecessary, and has set up an

online petition to demand a further tax freeze. We have had quite a few

comments so far, and they have been, my income has not gone up, I

cannot afford a council tax increase. That has been the strength

of feeling coming over. Labour`run Nottingham City Council

is warning of 76 job losses as its attempts to find ?25 million worth

of savings. That's a 9.2% annual cut.

It says 0 cut.

It says library 0 cut.

It says library services and arts funding will be hit. The opening

hours of children's centres will be reduced. Council tax will also rise.

But is that fair? Vulnerable people depend on councils, and it is the

vulnerable that are being hit. What makes me more angry is that if I

were living down south I would not be hit as hard as if I am living in

Nottingham or Liverpool or Sunderland.

So what's the picture, say, in Derbyshire or Leicester? Let's find

out, first from BBC Radio Derby's political reporter Chris Doidge.

The in the city the council says any service it doesn't have to provide

is vulnerable to being cut. So street cleaning will be reviews a

smack reduced, parking charges will go up. `` street cleaning will be

reduced. We will know about the County Council's plans in the New

Year, but we do know that the mobile library service faces big cats.

The Leicester the city Council says it has already planned ?21 million

in saving from April. `` here in Leicester. In Leicestershire they

are still talking about saving ?110 million in the same period. They are

putting up council tax by 1.5% over the next few years. `` three years.

Eric Pickles is the Coalition's Local Government Secretary.

Tomorrow, he confirms how much spending our councils will be

allowed. If he turns into Father Christmas, that WILL be a turn`up.

Our councils are already budgeting in the knowledge there'll less money

around. East Midlands Airport could grow

faster than any other small airport in the country, according to a new

report. The Airports Commission ` set up to

look at Britain's airport capacity ` says passenger numbers at Castle

Donington could more than treble over the next 35 years. It says the

airport, which had around four million passengers in 0

airport, which had around four million passengers in 2011, could

have up to 14 million in 2050. It adds it's also only using 18% of its

runway capacity. Police in Derbyshire have released

dramatic footage of a shopkeeper fighting back against three men who

ram`raided his store. It happened at the Londis store in

Ilkeston in October. The first man forces his way in just after 9:00pm,

but is confronted by a member of staff. When a second man breaks in,

the shopkeeper tackles him too. The raiders make off with an empty cash

machine cassette. Two men have been arrested in connection with the

robbery, and released on bail. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Severn Trent Water has defended its decision to install wind turbines at

some of its sewage treatment plants across the region.

Two now dominate the landscape on the eastern side of Derby after

being erected in Spondon. Similar turbines have been erected at Wanlip

in Leicestershire and Newthorpe in Nottinghamshire. All four are due to

be switched on in the New Year. We understand some people love them and

some hate them. We are doing this for good reasons, to reduce our

carbon footprint and help keep our customers bills low. `` customers'

hills low. They will produce around 25,000 megawatts of power per year.

`` Meghan... A college in Leicester's helping

schools across the country to integrate Roma people who've come to

Britain for a better life. Some pupils arrive at Babington without

speaking English, but still get good exam grades.

Roma parents are being offered English lessons too. And one Roma

worker's been tackling community tensions in Leicester. This

exclusive report from our social affairs correspondent Jeremy Ball.

Andre is one of more than 80 pupils here who 0

Andre is one of more than 80 pupils here who come from European Roma

families. He is in the Army cadets and on course to get through ``

grades for a teaching career. Some of his friends want to get into

business of banking. But 0 of his friends want to get into

business of banking. But they usually arrive in Leicester well

behind in their studies because the old schools in parts of central

Europe still segregate Roma minorities. There is one room for

Roma, other rooms for whites. They thought that we are not mentally

capable of doing education. They think we are stupid so no point

giving them work to do. Dominik arrived without speaking a word of

English, survey focused on his music skills to get him out `` up to

speed. `` so they focused. Just by watching others, I learned. I was

looking at them, thinking they are good, so why cannot I be like them?

But does that mean diverting teaching away from other pupils? We

never take away from other groups. We are very careful to focus on all

our children and include all our children. The mistake people make is

that `` thanking you must treat everybody the same. The Roma pupils

are getting significantly better results than students elsewhere in

Britain. Now those lessons are being shared with goals in the check

Republic, `` schools in the Czech Republic. We make sure our lessons

are engaging and exciting, that learning is fun, and that the

aspirations are boosted through the way we teach our lessons, and that

helps our Roma pupils to make progress but also helps all of our

students to make progress. The school's trying to engage Roma

patient `` parents as well. This DVD explains the system in a language

they understand. And one Roma worker has set up a youth club to tackle

emerging 0 has set up a youth club to tackle

emerging tensions 0 has set up a youth club to tackle

emerging tensions with the local community. We do not know `` they do

not know `` they do not know what the laws are. Now they know that

they have to go home at 0 the laws are. Now they know that

they have to go home at 10pm. At this primary school, several Roma

patients `` parents have been offered places on 0

patients `` parents have been offered places on these language

classes. I live in the UK, I need to speak English. This is all about

equipping new arrivals to contribute to British society rather than

becoming a burden, and if it succeeds they think is extra help

will more than pay its way. `` they think this extra help.

Coming up: A bit of high drama ` or should that be Hi`de`Hi drama? Soup

and art here. Tune in later and find out what I am holding. `` Su

Pollard. If you thought you were busy this

Christmas, spare a thought for Royal Mail. This week they're handling

more post than at any other time this year.

In one mail centre they're sorting millions of items a day, and it

seems sometimes we're not much help to them. Here's Quentin Rayner.

Any letter or parcel with NG Ord E.ON its postcode comes through

here. This is where all of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire's

mail is sorted. Yesterday and today are the busiest

in the year for the centre. Up to 2 million items of mail are handled

each day. An extra 250 staff are taken on, bringing the 24`hour

workforce up to 1000. How is it going? Great. I like it when it is

busy. Do you think it has been this busy this year? I do. Busy sorting

cards 0 busy this year? I do. Busy sorting

cards and helping people make their Christmas for them.

Staff say they have not noticed any difference since Royal Mail's recent

privatisation, and the increase in the price of stamps has not put

people off. We are seeing comparable volumes 0

people off. We are seeing comparable volumes in credit `` business cards.

An increase in parcels this year, and a healthy growth in that area.

`` Christmas cards. No sorting office Christmas would be

the same without the impossible clients to deliver. Name, but no

stamp or address. At least here, there is a stamp, but

no address. And what about this? !

It is anticipation of all the vague mail that we get, mail that is not

addressed properly. You have to use all your knowledge to be sort that

male. Second`class items have to be posted by tomorrow, first class by

Friday, but all Royal Mail wants for Christmas is a postcode.

Sport now, and Leicester City are not just our leading East Midlands

Club, they also have a really exciting cup tie tonight. Colin's at

the King Power Stadium. These 0

the King Power Stadium. These are the weeks you want as a

football fan. Tonight's glamour match for Leicester City against the

Premier League stars of Manchester City, just one of three huge games

in eight days. Of the three, tonight's Carling Cup quarterfinal

probably matters the least. But of the three, it's definitely 0

probably matters the least. But of the three, it's definitely the most

exciting. The stadium is going to be sold out, and Manchester City have

just beaten Bayern Munich and thrashed Arsenal.

But I am delighted to say I can introduce you to the winner of the X

Factor, Sam Bailey. Huge Leicester City fan. You have a senior Dutch

back season to get. Yes, and I have not been for ages. `` you have a

season ticket. You are singing on the pitch. I am, singing at

half`time, my new single. It is my chance to give something back. How

much are you looking forward to the game? I am so excited to be actually

watching a foot or match. I have not watched TV for ten weeks. `` foot

all match. You have not had the chance to follow anything? I have

not had time, but I have put this in my schedule to make sure I was here.

I want to chat to you again in a second.

Dzeko, Toure, Silva, Negredo ` Manchester City have no shortage of

star names. They won't all play. But that doesn't mean Manuel Pellegrini

doesn't want his team to win this. He just has a squad so strong, he

can change it for games at every level. That is why we went last week

to play against via Munich with five or six players, and we made six or

seven changes. Tomorrow for me, we will make some changes again.

There he is putting Leicester City on it power with Bayern Munich. ``

on a par. Intimidated prospects for Leicester City. It is going to be

tough, but I have high hopes for the boys. I have not watched a game in

ages, but I think the boys are going to be all right. I think they are

going to be good. Never mind the foot or, number one download,

prospect 0 foot or, number one download,

prospect of a 0 foot or, number one download,

prospect of a Christmas number one, are you thinking about that? No, I

just want people to buy it or download it. It would be amazing to

have a Christmas number one, I just really excited.

Thank you for talking to us. I heard Sam's sound check, she sounds

amazing? `` she sounds amazing! We're starting to buzz for it in

here. Let's get a taste of how things have been building up

outside, with Mark Shardlow. River Place Manchester City will be

expensive, world`class players, but do not roll out a shock. In the last

five seasons I have seen three times East Midlands club 's bring these

teams down to earth. Three years ago Leicester City drew two to two. Five

years ago Forest beat them three 2`0 in Manchester.

The first sell`out for three seasons. What are you thinking? Very

excited. Who is going to win? Leicester. Leicester City. Are you

equally confident? Yes, Leicester is going to win. It is going to be a

shock tonight. `` the fans say it is going to be a shock.

Thanks, Mark. Tonight's game here is live on BBC Radio Leicester.

There is another big cup game tonight. Mansfield replay Oldham in

the second round of the FA Cup. The prize there is a trip to Liverpool!

BBC Radio Nottingham have full live commentary from the One Call

stadium, starting in just a few minutes.

But here, it is all about the glamour boys. Manchester City, here

to play Leicester City. Let us not forget Leicester's history in this

competition. Three times finalists in the late 1990s. They have won it

three times overall. So there is an awful lot to take into this game,

but they are the big names of Manchester City. Follow it here on

East Midlands Today, we will have a report in our late bulletin. And all

the goals and a full report tomorrow evening. You can already feel it

here this evening. How exciting!

It's nearly half a century since an actress from Nottingham began

learning her craft before going on to achieve national fame.

Su Pollard 0 to achieve national fame.

Su Pollard ` who's currently appearing in panto at Nottingham's

Theatre Royal, was presented with a drama award for best performance

when she was just 16. But for the past 30 years, that trophy has been

kept in the back of a cupboard. That is until now. Angelina Socci

reports. 0 Thank you so much. It is such a

wonderful surprise. It is 47 years since Su Pollard was

presented with this award. Today pupils at this primary School had

the honour of reuniting the two. It has been lying around all this

time, but in beautiful condition. It was found in an office in Nottingham

by John Clayton. His daughter taught at the school, but she sadly died of

cancer last year. It was always her wish to reunite the trophy with the

past winner. We wanted to keep that association with the school, to do

the things she found important in terms of actually giving them the

chance to experience different things. For these pupils it was

certainly a unique day. She was amazing and really, really nice. It

is weird because I have never met a celebrity and it is the first time.

I am gobsmacked, because I did not know she was coming in. The only

thing left to decide is whether to keep it. Wherever it is, it will

just be pride of place. I am thrilled to bits. And thank you!

Time now for the weather. We had a super day today, and that

deserves a super photo. Some lovely festive holiday shining in the

sunshine. Beautiful blue skies in the backdrop. `` Holly.

Our final day today is thanks to a ridge of high pressure, but

yesterday's front is reluctant to clear away. Eventually it clears out

of the way, we dry up for a time, and you can see what is waiting in

the wings tomorrow, another weather front which will liven things up for

tomorrow. The majority of the daylight hours should not be too

bad, but we are going to be seeing some very wet and windy conditions

as we head on into tomorrow evening. We have some rain for this evening,

across 0 We have some rain for this evening,

across southern parts. 0 We have some rain for this evening,

across southern parts. Clears out of the way quickly, some clear spells

and light winds as well, so a little bit of mist and fog, and turning a

little chilly for some of us as well. A dry start tomorrow morning,

a bright start across eastern parts, but the cloud thickens up very

quickly. The winds will be picking up through the morning, and we will

see some rain as we head through the afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon's rain

light and 0 afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon's rain

light and patchy, 0 afternoon. Tomorrow afternoon's rain

light and patchy, just an average wet and breezy afternoon, and

bridges not much to write home about, but warmer than today. ``

temperatures. Tomorrow evening a second weather front moving in,

turning really windy for tomorrow evening. Gusts of up to 45 mph. For

Thursday it is a much drier, brighter afternoon, temperatures

around to six `` up to six Celsius. But at least we will have some

sunshine by Thursday. Never a dull moment!

Back with the late news.