31/01/2014 East Midlands Today

That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me, and on

Tonight, the Government blocks plans for a new free school in

Nottinghamshire. It was due to be run by the former

head of Derby's Al`Madinah School. A sunbed scare over salons that fail

over safety. Plus a city's on`the`spot fines for

spitting. Oh, spitting is a terrible habit. If the fine helps stop it,

that's good. I will be finding out how the East

Midlands is prepared for any potential flooding.

Good evening and welcome to Friday's programme. First tonight,

controversial free schools are back in the education spotlight. The

Government has turned down an application for a new free school at

Newark in Nottinghamshire. It was going to be led by the man who used

to be in charge of Derby's troubled Al`Madinah School which has also

seen another major change today. Simon Hare is there now.

Good evening to you. What's happened? Well, the trust which

set`up the Al`Madinah School here in Derby has gone. You remember they

came for a lot of criticism last year from the Government and its

inspectors about how they ran the school which was branded

dysfunctional and they were given a deadline of today to step down. We

now know they have stepped down and a new trust is running Al`Madinah

School. Tonight, in a letter to parents, confirmation that the

school's primary site will close. All the pupils will be moved here

and taught on this one site near Derby train station. The school will

continue to 0 Derby train station. The school will

continue to have a Muslim ethos and Barry Day, the chairman of the new

trust saying there is a lot to do at the school and its future is far

from secure. It is in special measures. It is due another

inspection and the group behind that new trust has said it will not take

on the long`term running of this school.

What about this other school that we have mentioned? Yes, well the man

who was the founding principal at Al`Madinah School, he left because

of his concerns at the trust here and threats made to his family. He

wanted to be principal of the Newark School of Enterprise. Mr

Cutts`Mackay was doing promotional events as recently as Wednesday. But

the Government has now said the proposed school didn't reach the

high bar we have set so the project won't go any further. That is news

that's been welcomed by the man in charge of the Nottinghamshire local

authority schools. Le d with the decision. I welcome

it. I think it is the right decision for Newark. I don't think it was

viable because the take`up wasn't there. The numbers of pupils that

they claimed they had to start in September was not sufficient.

Those behind the Newark School of Enterprise said they are

disappointed at the Government's decision. They said there was a

surge of interest in places in the school due to open in September and

they believe there is a need for a free school in Newark.

Two`thirds of tanning salons in Derbyshire visited by council

inspectors were breaking the legal ultraviolet ray limits. The

inspections took place months ago, but the council's yet to check up to

see if anything's changed. Here's our health correspondent, Rob

Sissons. It is one way of getting a suntan,

but just how safe are sunbeds? New rules came in 20 limiting the level

of ultraviolet rays, but how many salons are compliant? Spot checks on

32 salons in Derbyshire revealed 21 weren't. 45 sunbeds breached, legal

UV output limit and five of those had UV emissions double the

recommended level. We are working with businesses to make sure they

are aware what they need to do to make sure people aren't exposed to

risks. But even sunbeds operating a the

legal level gave off the equivalent UV to an hour's midday sun in

Australia. Shouldn't the spot checks have been done years ago? We

prioritise and use our resources in the are we think is most

appropriate. We haven't got the capacity to visit every business

that's operating in Derbyshire. Rob is with us now. Why did

Derbyshire Trading Standards give them so long to put things right?

Well, it is a big question and the answer they say is they want to take

a softly softly approach to begin with. They don't want to use a

sledgehammer to crack a nut. They want to give them time to put things

right. It was September and October that they carried out the checks and

where are we now? Almost in February. They say they will do it

in the next few weeks. Are consumers getting enough protection? Well, I

have spoken 0 getting enough protection? Well, I

have spoken to the Sunbed Association that represents a fifth

of salons and they say that they believed that Derbyshire should have

acted sooner and it is disappointed they haven't. They said the future

is enforcement. They agree the lamps need to be brought up to the right

standard, but they say that there should be better enforcement.

Trading Standards say they are in a world of completing priorities and

they can only do so much. Very briefly, what did Trading

Standards want to see? In Derbyshire they have joined calls for a

national licensing system of salons. Liverpool want to see that as well,

but the Sunbed Association say they could have a local one if they

wanted to. A public consultation on the

proposed High Speed Rail route through the East Midlands ended

today. People had until 5pm to comment on phase two of the plans.

The line is likely to pass through the region and onwards to the north

of England, with a station planned for 0

of England, with a station planned for Toton in Nottinghamshire.

A number of people have been arrested today in Leicestershire as

part of a police led operation to target criminals on the road. Police

officers joined nine other agencies in stopping motorists. They say from

40 vehicles checked, they uncovered 23 0 0

40 vehicles checked, they uncovered 23 offences and they included

immigration issues as well as driving offences. Police say they

will continue to use mobile patrols as part of what they called

Operation Tiger. Police say they are growing

increasingly concerned for the welfare of a missing Mansfield man.

Jeremy Quinn`Smith was last seen at his home at 7pm last night. Officers

say they want to trace him. He is of medium build with short, light brown

hair and blue eyes. One of the region's former leading

Conservatives has announced that he is joining UKIP. David Parsons was

the leader of Leicestershi county council. Earlier today, he was

welcomed into UKIP by its leader, Nigel 0

welcomed into UKIP by its leader, Nigel Farage. This has taken quite a

few people by surprise. Let's find out more from our political editor.

John, nothing surprises you. But how significant is this? This is a real

political turn`up. David Parsons was only cleared by Leicestershire

Police and that was over expenses he claimed while he was chairman. This

morning, well the former Tory leader and his wife were shaking hands with

their new party leader, the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage and David

Parsons only hinted a week ago that he was looking for a new political

role, but I bet his former Conservative colleagues never

anticipated this. They are a new political force. They have got

something to say to people. They are talking about things that people

want to talk about. About immigration. About the welfare

state. I'm interested in doing that. I certainly have no plans at present

to stand. David Parsons brings a wealth of

experience in Local Government, but having been 0

experience in Local Government, but having been involved with the

committee of the regions, having been involved with the regional

assembly, he has seen t impact the European Union is having not just on

national Government, but on Local Government. What's been the wider

political reaction? His former Conservative colleagues are nearly

as impressed just hear what the Tory MPs had to say on the Sunday

Politics. Well, David Parsons started in the Labour Party. David

is going to go where he feels most comfortable. I wish him well. So he

has been around the block. But what do you think is next? Well, there is

a general election next year as we know. David Parsons has ruled out

standing as a Parliamentary candidate for UKIP. Nigel Farage is

rather keen he does. If he does, well the Conservatives in

Leicestershire could have a problem that they thought 0

Leicestershire could have a problem that they thought they had dealt

with. Interesting, John. Thank you very

much indeed. When I was brought up, I was taught

never to spit, but there does seem to be a lot more spitting in public

places now. One local authority in the East Midlands is cracking down

on what it says is a flilty habit. From tomorrow, if you are caught

spitting in Leicester then you will face an ?80 fine.

If you are thinking of spitting on the street in Leicester, think

again. From tomorrow, you will end up with an ?80 fine as the city

council declares a war on spitters. Most people will agree, it is

disgusting and anti`social and looks horrible, but we have had some

fairly significant reports. A woman using a wheelchair was having to use

gloves because as she turned the wheels on her wheelchair, the spit

was sticking to her chair and getting on to her hands. People

shouldn't have to put up with that. Nearly 1200 people responded to a

city council consultation with 95% saying they supported the

introduction of a fine for spitting. Oh spitting, is a terrible habit. If

the fine helps to stop it then that's all to the good. People walk

in it. The germs go along the road. It is disgusting. I am not sure if

you went up to somebody who had spat on the floor what they would say to

you. I'm not sure they would like that job. ?80 is too much. It should

be ?50 or ?20. 0 that job. ?80 is too much. It should

be ?50 or ?20. It will be difficult to enforce because people are never

around when the incident happens. We will be able to enforce it. We do

for littering, for dog fouling. Our officers are confident about

carrying that out. Well, you have been warned. Dare to spit and you

will end up with an on`the`spot fine.

How revolting. Still to come:

Baton down the hatches. After another wet and windy day we

will be looking at what is being done to hold back any potential

floods here. I will have your weekend forecast

plus a 0 I will have your weekend forecast

plus a look back at January's rainfall. Just how wet has it been?

Find out later. Work to demolish Leicester's

Belgrave Flyover will take over two months. The city council announced

the nine week time scale this afternoon after consulting local

people. It says two`thirds were in favour of a short period of work to

dismantle the structure. It shuds for good tonight.

The East Midlands is seen a bigger boom in house building than any

other 0 boom in house building than any

other part of 0 boom in house building than any

other part of the country. Figures show that the number of new homes

built here in the last three months of 2013 rose by almost 60% compared

to the same period the year before. Nationally the rise was just 33% or

a third. 0 a third.

Now to something that's at the heart of Nottingham's plans for economic

growth. The idea is to produce a creative quarter. The aim is to

revive parts of the city with support and 0 0

revive parts of the city with support and funding for new and

existing businesses and those behind it say the plans are taking shape.

Could this be a window into the future of mobile phone apps. Ian

started his business with just two people, now he is hoping to expand

to 47. He is part of the creative quarter an initiative to loan new

businesses to an area of the city and provide financial support. That

money 0 and provide financial support. That

money is enabling us to accelerate. So we are going to go from a two,

three`man business to 50 people. The creative quarter includes the Lace

Market and Hockly Markets. Nottingham has topped surveys for

the number of empty shops so as part of the creative quarter, the council

is giving grants to businesses who open up empty spaces. This area will

be a hub for independent retailers in the spring, but the question is

given the fact that 0 in the spring, but the question is

given the fact that we 0 in the spring, but the question is

given the fact that we shop more online and the economic climate,

will there be enough to keep these businesses going?

Well, this woman thinks so. She opened her 0

Well, this woman thinks so. She opened her cafe last October with

the help of the empty shops grant. We have a loyal base of customers.

People are using this place as a secondary work space. By us being

linked in, it has grown for us and we're helping it grow. Part of the

creative quarter is about supporting established businesses. There is a

loan fund that businesses can access either to keep themselves going or

either to grow. The creative quarter company says

there are more plans to help stimulate growth, but entrepreneurs,

there is a lot riding on its success.

It is fair to say that we have seen our fair share of rain so far this

year. Some parts of the East Midlands had up to double the usual

rainfall for January. We have had another bucket load today. When the

weather is bad emergency planners are put on alert.

Add the letter P and you wouldn't find a more appropriately named road

than 0 find a more appropriately named road

than this 0 find a more appropriately named road

than this one in Leicestershire today. There is evidence of

January's heavy rainfall everywhere. In Derbyshire, the river is swollen

and in places has burst its banks. Bad news for some of the homes. Not

such bad news perhaps for the neighbours. When the wet weather

comes, so does the fear of flooding. But more measures are being put in

place to reduce the risks. Nottingham had a long history of

flooding, 0 Nottingham had a long history of

flooding, but it is much better protected now thanks to a new flood

defence scheme. It runs for 27 kilometres, along the River tenth

and it is `` Trent be and it is designed to protect 16,000 homes and

businesses. This was Nottinghamshire back in the summer and being

prepared to cope with scenes like these is a round`the`clock job. When

floods happen, a team here is ready to spring into action and they are

based in the most unusual of places. The very bowls of the business in an

underground bunker, safe, of course, from flooding. At the moment we have

got the one flood alert. A team of staff monitor information from the

Met Office and Environment Agency and work out when, where and how to

help. In a flood, and in other emergencies, if 0

help. In a flood, and in other emergencies, if we need to, we can

evacuate people. We can bring in emergency transportation. We can

open up emergency accommodation. We can provide shelter and information

to people. But what we can't do is keep back the floodwaters. A lot of

the time, you know, that's one of the problems that we have is

sometimes you can't stop it. It is about mitigating and trying to

prevent the risk. There are ten flood alerts 0

prevent the risk. There are ten flood alerts across the East

Midlands tonight. None is an immediate danger to property.

Fingers crossed we escape the worst. It is time for sport. It is the day

of the drama. It is transfer deadline day. Three of our

championship clubs look at a serious promotion forest.

David Warner will be staying at Nottingham Forest. First, Natalie

looks back at last night's action. Forest were looking to keep the wins

coming 0 Forest were looking to keep the wins

coming at the city ground, but after 47 minutes, they were down and out.

Two goals for Watford left the manager with work to 0

Two goals for Watford left the manager with work to do. The manager

got it wrong in the first 45 minutes. The staff and the manager

probably sorted one or two things out in the second. It was that

change of strategy in the second half bringing Cox, Mackie and

Henderson off the bench. They all scored. Cox with the first.

Henderson made it 2`2 on 73 minutes from an exceptional cross from Andy

Reid. Suddenly, there was a lift. Mackie headed in from another

brilliant Reid delivery and went over to celebrate with the manager.

I have got massive trust in the manager. If I'm 0

I have got massive trust in the manager. If I'm on the bench and I

have got to come on, so be it. It shows what the boys think of the

manager and what plans he is trying to execute and the togetherness we

have got with him and his coaching staff that we believe, you know,

that with the 0 staff that we believe, you know,

that with the plans he is trying to execute we have a great chance of

getting promoted. A second goal from Simon Cox wrapped it up. They have a

great spirit. It shows you the courage that we have got to come

from that 2`0 0 0 courage that we have got to come

from that 2`0 and to get the wonderful goals and wet a wonderful

three points. Forest are 12 games unbeaten now and won four in a row

at home in the Championship. Lots of goals at 0

at home in the Championship. Lots of goals at Forest. Natalie,

will Forest fans regard this as a good transfer window? January has

been uneventful for Forest fans for the last few season. David Vaughan

extended his loan deal. We have seen three new players. It has been a

good week, I think, for Forest fans. You said there might be more to

come? Dare I mention Jack Hobbs. The news is today that the two clubs are

in negotiation. They are close to reaching an agreement and it looks

like that Jack will be coming back. Nothing is 0 0

like that Jack will be coming back. Nothing is certain on deadline day.

It closes at 11pm and we will keep you updated.

Much quieter at our other clubs. Martin Waghorn has gone on loan. The

key for the meaninger was fighting off bids for his key players. City's

business was done early. We are 0

business was done early. We are happy with what has happened

so far in this window, you know, we have made a couple of signings that

we are very pleased with and also had to knock back one or two bids

for our own players. So, you know, hopefully it will close and we won't

get asked anymore questions. Leicester are off to Bournemouth

tomorrow. DErb y go to Birmingham. There were two of us at the back. We

have been like that all year. If they score two, we'll score three.

It would be nice to come off with more clean sheets than what we do.

It is quiet at Derby. Through the other sport now,

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket says he would be 0

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket says he would be interested in the

vacant England job if the national structure was right.

Andy Flower resigned earlier. There was ice 0

Andy Flower resigned earlier. There was ice hockey action last night.

The Panthers can get their revenge tomorrow as the teams meet tomorrow

night. Bath are the visitors in the LV Cup

and 0 Bath are the visitors in the LV Cup

and the Tigers have a chance of making it through to the knock out

stages. Nottingham ruggy have a test at `` rugby have a test. I am going

to leave you with Leicester's boxing binman who has a crucial fight as he

aims to re`establish himself as a world title contender. He is

fighting for the European and British titles. After giving up the

sport in 2012, he is determined to show he would be back.

I kept on training. People would say, "What are you doing up here?" I

said I enjoyed it. There is too much left, you have got to come back.

That's why I'm back. He is back ready for a fight that will decide

his future. He takes on Lee Selby in Cardiff. One, I'm fighting for the

Lonsdale belt. It puts me back in the opportunity to win a world title

which I deserve to fight for. He is fighting at a heavier weight than

before his retirement. He is enjoying the luxury of eating well

before a fight. I feel amazing. Normally today, when I'm training, I

don't want to talk to no one. I'm chilled and relaxed. I'm up here.

I'm under the weight. His ambition is to be the 0

I'm under the weight. His ambition is to be the best in the world. He

had one crack in Tokyo three years ago, but he needs a win this weekend

to stay in the elite. This is it for me. I look at it I have dreamed of

becoming a Worle world champion. I'm going to take the opportunity with

both hands. Good luck to him. It has been unusually wet this January. In

Derbyshire, 147% of the usual January rainfall. Lincolnshire 165%,

Nottinghamshire 166%, but the big number is for Leicestershire. In

Leicestershire they have had 109.4 millimetres of rainfall. That's 192%

of the usual January rain. It makes it 0 0

of the usual January rain. It makes it the 0 0

of the usual January rain. It makes it the fourth wettest January on

record, but there has been that rain today. You maybe hoping for dry

weather as we move into February. I am afraid it really is staying

unsettled. Tomorrow, it is a very cold start. It remains very windy

and there will be a good deal of scattered showers in the afternoon.

There is a brief improvement on Sunday. It is by far the better day

out of the weekend. Drier and brighter. So that area of rain is

pushing away. You can see it moving out to the east. Behind it, the

isobars are really going to squeeze together. 40 to 50mph gusts are

possible. At the moment then, here is the rain. It is slowly starting

to move away from the east. It is becoming patchy in nature. It will

clear. Behind it, we will start to see showers and these could be

winter why I across higher ground, but they seem to die out and push

away and the skies clear and the temperatures will take a quick

tumble. It is late in the night. There is the risk of of ice on

untreated surfaces. A cold start. A frost developing late in the night

into Saturday morning. So it is a cold start tomorrow. Wrap up warm.

There will be sunshine around. A few scattered showers. As we go into the

afternoon, the cloud starts to increase and the showers start to

push in. Generally falling as rain as the temperatures start to recover

as we go into the afternoon with a high of seven Celsius. Here you have

got it, those strong gusty south`westerly winds throughout. On

Sunday, a much better story. Some sunshine around. The winds are

lighter. It is a breezy day, but much lighter. It should stay dry,

but then the unsettled weather returns for Monday.

It is still the weekend. At least we are saying goodbye to January.

Nobody will shed any tears over that. And February is very short.

Soon it will be March, spring time, fab.