06/02/2014 East Midlands Today

Peter, thank you. That's all from the BBC

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

Tonight, joy and relief as Bombardier lands the ?1 billion

Crossrail contract. This order should secure the future of this

factory for five years and provide a bumper payday for the whole East

Midlands economy. The Leicestershire Theatre at the centre of a police

child sex investigation. And complaints arising about these `

websites which check applications online but come with a hefty price

tag. And former Tiger Matt Hanson makes it a special day for the new

school. These children deserve everything they get. It is great to

have, especially a facility they can access. Good evening. First tonight,

the best possible news for Derby and its proud history of train`making.

Bombardier, based in the city, has won a contract worth ?1 billion. It

will help to safeguard the jobs of hundreds of staff who work for the

company 0 hundreds of staff who work for the

company and hopefully help to provide work for the engineers of

the future. Our reporter, Simon Hare, has spent the day at the

factory and joins us now. Simon, it sounds big but just how significant

is this order? Well, if you consider that each of these vehicles behind

me costs about ?1 million and this order is for 600 of them and when

you add the associated costs, this is worth ?1 billion. An incredible

boost to the East Midlands economy. It has received massive welcome

across politicians. On Twitter, Derby North, Chris Williamson,

tweeted that the long campaign to secure the Crossrail contract had

been successful. Pauline Latham, the Conservative MP for Mid`Derbyshire,

said it was brilliant news. And even the Prime Minister was on Twitter

earlier saying it was great news for Bombardier and Derby. Derby is a

city very proud of its railway heritage. You do not have to look

too closely to see that Derby is a proud railway town. It might be a

city that employs more in aerospace and the automotive industry but

there probably would not be here if it had not been for the engineering

know`how already here. 1500 people work at Bombardier. The current

order book lasts until next year. But news of today's order guarantees

work for the next five years. This is a walk`through vehicle, similar

to Crossrail. Kevin has been here 27 years and says there is relief among

the workers that they know their future is secure. There was

apprehension about not knowing. The uncertainty is the biggest fear and

as soon as they got that news, everybody was jumping for joy. The

?1 billion order will provide trains for the new Crossrail route. It goes

through and under London. Ahmadi able make the trains which carry

passengers on the line. Today, the Secretary of State for transport

dropped in to see where the investment was going. He denied it

was purely political after criticism three years ago when an even bigger

order went to a German company. They have won this because the workforce

put together an excellent deal. They won this overwhelmingly. It is great

news for manufacturing in the East Midlands. We have invested ?20

million of our own money on this platform, the core technology, and

we did that without any order. This year is the 175th anniversary of

train building in Derby, which has provided work for generations.

Today's announcement means that although the designs might have

changed, it remains an industry and a career for the future. Yes, there

was a time when young people here would choose if they were going to

work for Rolls`Royce or the railway but in reality, few jobs coming up

in the railways. But there will be many more apprenticeship schemes as

part of this and I am joined by Angela Dean, the head of engineering

at the University of Derby. Great news? Absolutely great news. And

also for the new university technical College which starts in

two years and will take those very young people into apprenticeship

schemes. As well as students, we have 800 students in Derby studying

engineering and they are in different areas 0

engineering and they are in different areas like manufacturing,

production, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering and they

have opportunities behind us. They have ruled out railways? ! It was

very difficult to persuade people to move into this industry because

people were training in this industry for a long time but that

has changed in the last few years so it is not only Bombardier, it is the

supply chain that has lots of opportunities for people to enter

those areas. Derby has a largest concentration of supply companies

that feed into this? Absolutely, over 200 companies in Derby and it

is one of the places that has the highest proportion of advanced

technology jobs, 12%. Better than anywhere else. That means there is a

great opportunity for people in the East Midlands and our students to

enter those areas. Many thanks. Great 0

enter those areas. Many thanks. Great news for the engineers of the

future but also from any of the workers here who we have been

talking to. They are pleased they have worked for the next five years.

All thanks to this ?1 billion contract. Bombardier back on track.

Coming up later: The fast track to Olympic glory. The Winter Games in

Sochi haven't even started but Nottingham speed skater John Eley is

already bursting with pride. Leicestershire Police are

investigating allegations of child sex offences connected to a theatre

in Hinckley. Two men have been arrested. Meanwhile, the local

council isn't issuing any licences for children to take part in shows

and the police are appealing for any information that could help their

inquiries. The officer leading the investigation has described it as

complex and delicate. Helen Astle reports. Performances have been

staged here for more than 40 years and now the theatre itself is under

the spotlight. Last rubber, police started investigating allegations of

children being sexually abused. They do not know how many victims there

are. We have arrested two people so far and they are connected to the

theatre but the offences were not committed at the theatre itself, it

was away from the theatre. The two people banned from the theatre at

our request have not been arrested but if information leads us to

believe they are not responsible people to be part of that, then we

will. The council increased in number of visits made to the theatre

to ensure that children were safe. The authorities decided not to issue

any licenses for children to take part in forthcoming productions.

Parents are being urged to speak to their children and if they have any

concerns, they should contact police. It is a very delicate

issue, we realise it is sensitive and we do not 0

issue, we realise it is sensitive and we do not take these cases

lightly. It is very complex. We would like people to speak to our

trained detectives. The men arrested have not been charged, they are on

bail and the police have also carried out searches at for

premises, including the Concordia. Nobody from the theatre wanted to

talk to me on camera. They did give me a brief statement, saying they

were cooperating with all of the agencies and it would be

inappropriate to comment further. Derbyshire's Fire Service may back

down on plans to close a third of its stations. During a three`month

consultation, 85% of people disagreed with the proposals. The

service now says any closures are a last resort. It is proposing to

reduce its staff requirements, although it wants to avoid

compulsory redundancies. The county's Fire Authority will discuss

the proposals next week. A 27`year`old man has been cleared of

the murder of a teenager who was shot outside a Nottingham pub.

Malakai McKenzie was killed near The Hub in Sherwood in April 2012. This

afternoon, Shakir Robinson was found not guilty of playing a part in his

death. Another man, Cameron Cashin from Basford, has already been

convicted of Mr McKenzie's murder. Representatives from one of

Rolls`Royce's marine subsidiaries have appeared in court in Derby

today in connection with alleged safety failings in 0

today in connection with alleged safety failings in the management of

X`ray materials. The Health and Safety Executive says it relates to

possible breaches at this factory in Derby three years ago, when it was a

former site for Rolls`Royce Marine Power Operations. The case has now

been referred to the Crown Court. Some parents at a Derbyshire primary

school say they're angry that the head teacher has temporarily left

the school in the wake of a critical report. St Giles Primary School's

Ofsted rating plunged last autumn from outstanding to inadequate. Some

parents were unhappy about how the school was performing but others

have told the BBC that everyone involved with the Matlock school

should be backing it and the head. Here's James Roberson. Happier days

in 1992 at St Giles, when the Queen came to open officially the

Newbuildings. Not so happy days now. Far from growing, the school is

actually shrinking. It confirmed that since September, 15 children

out of 107 have left. It is understood that the long`standing

headmaster of the headmistress has left a post after some parents

handed in a 25 name inspection to Ofsted. The parents have lost

confidence and they are unhappy with the school 's direction since the

last report, when a school went from outstanding to inadequate and was

put into special measures. In a statement, the chair of governors

said the governing body continues to work closely with Derbyshire County

Council and the Board of Education. I can confirm that the head will not

be in school for the time being. We are continuing to work together to

put interim arrangements in place. One parent told us of camera that

most parents wanted the head's removal and they believe mass many

as 25% of children have left. The parents support the school. I'm not

worried about my son 's education and can only get stronger if would

just support us. And not be so negative. I will not be taking my

son away. I hope everyone shows support, it is a community school.

The way some parents have behaved is the opposite of the 0 0

The way some parents have behaved is the opposite of the Christian ethos

and I find it very disappointing. I am very angry. Ofsted have not

commented officially but they say that any complaints received about

any school are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. There's

been a huge rise in the number of complaints about websites offering

online form`checking services which do very little yet charge huge sums

of money. Trading Standards say in January they received twice as many

complaints as they did for the whole of last year. Sarah Teale has joined

us in the studio, Sarah, what kind of websites are we talking about

here? They're independent companies which offer some kind of checking

service for applications like passports or tax returns. But the

problem is they're designed to look like the official websites so people

don't realise they're paying for something they may not even need.

Nottinghamshire Trading Standards say the problem is 0

Nottinghamshire Trading Standards say the problem is escalating.

Throughout the whole of last year they received 41 complaints about

this sort of practice. So far this year, they've already had 24

complaints. I've been speaking to Rebecca 0

complaints. I've been speaking to Rebecca Hardiman from West Bridgford

in Nottingham, who lost hundreds of pounds after filling in her annual

tax return form. I used Google for tax returns and at the very top

there was this gateway. I went through and I filled in all of those

things and at the end they asked me for ?100. Did you think you are just

paying the tax? I did. I could not understand is why it came out at

?400. I was just horrified. I was really annoyed with myself because I

am usually very careful. What do you think about the company? It is

borderline legal but it is so deceptive. I hope justice comes to

them. Rebecca was told she wasn't entitled to any of her money back

and that particular website has now suspended operations. But there are

many other similar companies out there, and not just for tax returns

but also for driving licences, European health forms, visas, and

passports. Trading Standards told me one man from Retford paid ?99 for

what he thought was a fast`track passport. To avoid these checking

companies, make sure you get to the official Government websites. He

turned up at the passport office expecting to collect his passport,

which he did, so that part of the service was provided. He had an

appointment but he was not expecting to be asked for another ?140. They

are not a legal? I am afraid not. With the existing legislation, at

the moment they are being very clever and they just keep on the

right 0 clever and they just keep on the

right side of the loss of something needs to be done if the government

decides to stop this. You know when you're there because they always end

in gov.uk so make sure you see that on the web address 0

in gov.uk so make sure you see that on the web address and 0

in gov.uk so make sure you see that on the web address and you should be

OK. Thank you very much indeed. Beware. A Nottingham pub has been

forced to cancel a planned Valentine's event following

complaints. A barmaid at the Old Angel Inn in Hockley designed this

poster for an alternative speed`dating night. Nottingham City

Council had to intervene as the posters breached the licensing act.

A feminist group says that the language used was highly offensive

and that offering free shots of spirits to all women taking part

could have put some of them at risk. The references to these unpleasant

ways of describing women, those words are used by abusers to

dehumanise 0 0 words are used by abusers to

dehumanise women and to excuse abuse and assault. It is just a play on

words. And the term that I used was supposed to be empowering as much

as... It was not meant to offend, just to grab attention. It might be

safer for us not to comment on that. I was going to say there was

lots of sport, that it is not Friday! We do have action. Forest's

remarkable run continues. 14 games unbeaten and their latest win has

booked them a place in the FA Cup fifth round. It wasn't pretty and

victory against Preston North End didn't come easy. 0

victory against Preston North End didn't come easy. Here's Angela. And

inform Nottingham Forest came up against Preston and they proved

tough to beat but they did enough. Jamie Mackie opened the scoring with

his first FA Cup goal in seven years. Worth the wait. It was not an

eye for the faint`hearted as the home side pushed for the equaliser.

They might have felt hard done by when this handball appeal was turned

down. What followed was an onslaught that called for desperate defending.

No wonder the final whistle could not come soon enough. But deep into

injury time, with almost the last kick, Henderson delivered this

strike. The better team lost the game. We scored the goals, some very

good goals. We defended very well. But I have to say, credit has to go

to the home team. They were the better team. And I think we were

very fortunate. Forrest will go through. Next up, Sheffield United,

led by Nigel Clough. It should be some showdown. Someone who won't be

featuring for Forest for the foreseeable future is midfielder

Henri Lansbury. He's been ruled out for up to three months with a

fractured lower back. Given Forest's run of form, little wonder that

their boss, Billy Davies, is nominated for the Manager of the

Month award for January. But he faces some tough competition 0

Month award for January. But he faces some tough competition as

Leicester's Nigel Pearson, whose team are ten points clear at the

top, is also in the running. But certainly not getting carried away.

You know, it has been a very good month, no doubt about that. Last

January was very good as well. So everybody 0

January was very good as well. So everybody who is here is determined

to push on, really, from the position we have got ourselves into.

Onto cricket and a first senior England call`up for

Nottinghamshire's Harry Gurney. The 27`year`old has been named in the

squad for their tour of the West Indies and could also feature at the

ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh after being named as a travelling

reserve. He joins Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Stuart Broad on

tour. And finally, a Nottingham speed skater will be the man who

carries the GB flag at tomorrow's opening ceremony of the Winter

Olympics. Jon Eley, who's at his third Winter Olympics, says he's

surprised and delighted by the honour. As he arrived in Sochi, John

Eley thought all he had to focus on was skating. But now he has a

distraction. He will lead his country into the opening ceremony.

Fantastic, an amazing feeling and I did not expect. I got called back

from breakfast and I thought, have I done anything wrong? It was good

news. He is awarded for his experience and his chance for a

medal. Jack Whelbourne and Elise Christie start on Saturday. With the

national centre being built, we have brought a great group of guys and

girls together and the support we have had as truly brought this team

together well and it is just the hard work paying off. Walking behind

will be ice dance 's neck dockland and Penny Coomes. But they might

also have their eyes on competition. They go in the team event. `` Nick

Buckland. We are the luckiest people in the world. We got to compete in

Vancouver and we get to compete in the team event as well as the

individual event. It is like a dream come true all 0

individual event. It is like a dream come true all over again. For Great

Britain, this is a Winter Olympics like never before, with hopes higher

than ever. John Eley's moment is a huge privilege but a challenge. My

arm is not my greatest strength. That will not be his focus! Know

that the sport has started, it will be caulking! Really good. This was a

very special day for the staff, parents and children at the new

Ashmount School in Loughborough. Not only was their ?9 million building

officially opened, but they also had a visit from the former Leicester

Tigers player Matt Hampson. Pupils from four to 19 are already enjoying

the new hydrotherapy pool and sensory rooms. Before the official

celebrations began, our reporter, Eleanor Garnier, was given a guided

tour by the head teacher, Dave Thomas. I must chew you the pool. We

are very excited. This is just fantastic. It means all of the

children will get at least one swim a week. This facility means children

that need that therapy in the pool can be 0

that need that therapy in the pool can be hoisted into the pool using

the latest state`of`the`art equipment. This is the best resort

we could have. We are so delighted. Let me show you the rest. Thank you.

Pupils only moved in weeks ago. Today, former Leicester Tigers rugby

player Matt Hanson officially opened the school. These kids deserve

everything they get. It is great to have a special note facility where

they can access all of the areas and just feel like a proper school. You

cannot help but coming to 0 just feel like a proper school. You

cannot help but coming to a brand`new building and feel alive,

everything is there for them. It is amazing to see how well they have

settled. I ground. Is here and she loves it, so much space. `` my grand

daughter. She comes home every day and tells me what she has been

doing. She never used to do that. A key theme is art. But professional

pieces and work done by the pupils. You can see how we use the space to

display the work at the best advantage so you get this calm

environment but the colour and excitement and enjoyment. That is

central to everything. Another room is the library. This is very

important. Books will always be important, the matter the

technology, and the school is all about children and learning. One of

the resources that has turned a drab school into something exciting and

new. An interesting 0 school into something exciting and

new. An interesting place to be and to learn in and we are thrilled.

Thank you very much. It has been really lovely. We also enjoyed that.

Sometimes you cannot see where the money has been spent but you can

there. Great facility. Not relent is the weather. `` brilliant.

More rain is waiting in the wings. There is a brief rest tomorrow and

we shall see some sunshine but it will be quite breezy throughout.

Here we are at the moment, this area of low pressure sitting, where it is

bringing the correct rainfall and that also the track 0

bringing the correct rainfall and that also the track north overnight

and we have this brief rest in the middle before the next area of low

pressure starts to push in on Friday evening. Really quite unsettled into

the weekend and the Met Office has issued a Yellow Warning. That is in

force for Leicestershire with saturated ground and some flood

alerts. Do be aware of this until Saturday evening. The current

position of the rainfall, quite heavy and 0 0

position of the rainfall, quite heavy and places and tracking slowly

north through the evening. Into the early hours of Friday, it starts to

become quite light and patchy and really quite unsettled over the next

few hours. A mild night and the cloud helps keep temperatures up

with lows 0 cloud helps keep temperatures up

with lows of four degrees. Quite busy and the wind starts to

strengthen towards the early hours of Friday. Tomorrow morning, patchy

rain first thing that starts to ease and the cloud starts to break and we

shall see some decent sunshine as we go into the afternoon. Really quite

breezy through the day with a high of seven Celsius. Waiting in the

wings is that rain, here it comes, with us after rush hour and gives us

a 0 with us after rush hour and gives us

a spell of very wet weather into the early hours of Saturday morning. The

isobars squeezed together and we have gusty south`westerly wind

throughout Saturday, blustery showers so really quite unsettled.

The good news is things improve on Sunday, still quite breezy Badger

wind and it should be a drier story. But the unsettled theme really is

set to continue. Thank you! Even though we do not mean at! Back to

our main story. Bombardier in Derby has today secured a ?1 billion

contract for the Crossrail line. Simon Hare has spent the day at the

firm. Simon, the whole company must be so happy but also very relieved

tonight? It is a mixture of joy and relief

that they know they have got work for another five years or so. Thanks

to this massive order. And also a sense of 0

to this massive order. And also a sense of pride that a project that

people have put so much hard effort into has been given this

overwhelming vote of confidence from this order. That particular train,

it mist out on the Thames Link contract 0 0

it mist out on the Thames Link contract in 2011 and that led to

protests on the streets of Derby. Thousands of people worried that the

factory could close. And the effect that would have on the entire

economy in Derby. The company to the decision to keep the factory open

and they have won some small contracts and we know they are

getting this big payday. It is from another project, this banner on the

wall sums things up. We did at! They did indeed. That is great. Some good

news to end on. We thought it would happen and it did. That's it ` we're

back at 10:25pm. Goodbye.