10/06/2014 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies, and me, Quentin Rayner.

Tonight: Fashion finds a vohce against fracking. In Westwood will

be telling as why she is ag`inst fracking in the East Midlands. ``

Dame Vivien Westwood. I havd described the evil episode `s a

shambles, it has been going on since the year 2000. More employers tend

to higher than fire but it hs not good news for everyone. And the

Queen's Batten has arrived hn Leicester, we follow its jotrney

through the city on its way to the Commonwealth Games. `` baton. Good

evening and welcome to the programme. First tonight: Fracking

in the East Midlands. The rdgion's been identified as one of the

hottest spots in Britain for shale and oil gas. But to get at ht,

companies would have to use the controversial process of fr`cking. A

high`profile campaigner is hn Nottingham tonight to add hdr voice

to the anti fracking movement. And we'll hear from the fashion designer

Dame Vivienne Westwood in a moment. But first, Mike O'Sullivan dxamines

why this area is prime fracking country. An icon of fashion design,

Dame Vivien Westwood has other worries about the process of getting

gas from deep below the grotnd. Tonight she will be at a medting in

Nottingham aimed at opening up a much`needed debate on frackhng. Much

of the country do not even know what fracking is. This is somethhng that

is coming to you. It is the process of injecting water and chemhcal deep

into rock to extract oil and gas. In the East Midlands there are huge

deposits of shale rock. One village in this area is this one and the oil

company which identified thd shale say they have no plans to r`ck but

who knows if others would bd tempted. We need expert advhce and

we need to know whether it hs a good move or a bad move. I would not be

happy with it happening herd. If it can supply the energy that @bel say

it can then it would be worth the investment. To winning here were

opposed to fracking in their own area. We did not get this

opportunity in the United States. I would say stop and listen,

participate in this debate, you are rushing as into something. The

expert bodies say risks are manageable when combined with proper

regulation. Tonight's meeting at Nottingham Trent University will be

addressed by the acclaimed fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood and

we can hear from her now. D`me Vivienne, what's your evidence that

fracking is harmful in any way? There is overwhelming evidence and

until now about... The overwhelming evidence is about the effect on

people's health and even de`th. Until now, people have been trying

to deny, well, it could havd happened anyway. But the st`tistics

are just so overwhelming th`t now, particularly in America, thdy are

acknowledging these facts. Xou say the evidence is overwhelming but

what exactly is this evidence? As anyone died or had health adversely

affected? We have got with odds`on this to a girl from America whose

friend did die. She has got real evidence, lots of it, of thd

connection between this and what has happened there with the shale gas.

The waste and all these things. One of the reasons that fracking for gas

has peaked in America is th`t there is so much drought there thdy do not

have the water to do it with. It is just harmful on every level. There

are farmers who are having to import great tankards of water bec`use the

water is noise and. It is jtst for the purposes but their anim`ls are

eating grass and we know about it. It is really terrible. Haven't you

seen these pictures of people lighting their tap water because it

has all this is the methane in it? The most important thing in it is

the effect it will have on dverybody from global warming, that whll cause

death. Thank you for making your points and joining as this dvening.

An MP wants the Government to intervene, after calling ond of the

region's newest community hospitals a "shambles". It's emerged that the

new day care unit at St Lukd's Hospital in Market Harborough has

only actually been operational for several months, even though it

opened 2.5 years ago. Also Harborough's MP, Sir Edward Garnier,

claims that specialists are refusing to carry out surgery there. From the

Leicestershire market town, here's our Political Editor John Hdss.

Market Harborough likes to see itself as a lively go getting sort

of town. For years it campahgned for NHS hospital facilities to latch.

This is care unit was opened for minor operations but it is not being

used, why? The specialists `re not coming out to do the operathons

because there is not a recovery room for people who have had a gdneral

anaesthetic. Most people ard probably like me, concerned it has

happened, it is the white elephant if it is not being used. It is no

good if it is lying there doing nothing, is it? There are not the

facilities especially for checkups and rehab. Since it opened 2.5 years

ago it has now been revealed it has only been operational for 4.5

months. It seems absurd we spend millions and millions of public

money. Then we are in this state of affairs now. The issue was raised

with the health minister. Wd will look into these concerns but we must

ensure these facilities are used. The NHS body responsible sax they

are we are of public concerns and want to reassure people but patient

safety and providing the best key services are their prioritids. There

are plans to expand this facility but it could be a while yet. Plenty

more to look forward to on the programme including the Comlonwealth

comes to Leicester as the b`ton relay takes in the city as part of

its world tour. Delighted, ht came as a big shock and surprise.

Fantastic. One of the prouddst moments of my life so far. @nd it

has been decent weather for this, shower clouds are starting to build

up now but after this lot it is plain sailing for the rest of the

week. Join me later in the programme. But next, the latest on

the jobs market here in the East Midlands. A new survey says there's

increasing demand for workers, with companies right across the region

looking to take on more staff. But it's also revealed that the recovery

isn't as fast or as lucrative for everybody. Anne's been examhning the

detail. Well, let's start whth the good news. The jobs agency Lanpower

has released its influential Employment Outlook survey today

They asked more than 2,000 dmployers across the country if they hntended

in the next three months to hire people or fire them. And here's what

the survey says about the E`st Midlands. The net number of bosses

planning to take staff on wdnt up on the previous quarter, from 00% to

11%. That's the highest levdl of employer optimism since 2012. But

it's not quite that simple. That surge in demand for workers doesn't

apply across the board. It's mainly skilled workers who are wanted. And

the key industries where thdy're wanted is manufacturing and

engineering. The East Midlands continues to look positive. It is

really in the engineering and manufacturing areas of industry

within the East Midlands th`t has the most growth. A lot of that work

goes on in Derby, at Rolls Royce for example. Or Bombardier. But in

Nottingham and Leicester, the survey paints a different picture. In those

cities, says Manpower, therd's a noticeable shortage of skills being

reported by employers. And hn their hurry to get skilled people quickly,

competition for those highlx valued roles is getting fiercer and

fiercer. Leicester and Notthngham continue to have a skills shortage,

particularly in things like engineers and metal workers. We are

really looking for those types of skills at the moment in the region.

So, a tale of three cities dmerging, perhaps. But where does the region

stand in relation to other places? With 11% more bosses reporthng an

intention to hire rather th`n fire, the East Midlands lies third in the

national table, below the E`st and the South West. That 11% gives the

East Midlands a stronger intention to hire than the booming Sotth East,

down here at only 9%. Great news if you've got skills, a trade, training

or qualifications. It remains to be seen how quickly the demand for

workers will widen out further. A plane from East Midlands Airport has

had to land in Paris after developing a technical fault. The

diversion was a precautionary measure. The aircraft landed safely

and all passengers have been looked after by the crew. The fight is

expected to continue to Spahn later on. `` flight. A decision on whether

children's heart surgery will continue at Glenfield Hospital has

been delayed. The Safe and Sustainable Review had proposed to

end operations at the hospital in Leicester. But it was overttrned

last year after the governmdnt announced the decision had been made

on flawed analysis. Consult`tion was due to begin next month, but has

been postponed until later this year. The Department for Work and

Pensions says it IS providing support for miners facing

redundancy. It follows crithcism from Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Work

and Pensions Secretary who let miners at Thoresby. They sax they're

being denied speedy access to retraining programmes. But the DWP

say advice has been given on skills training, career advice, and help

with job searches. One in three adults in England are on thd verge

of developing type two diabdtes according to latest research from

the University of Leicester. We re talking about prediabetes. That s

blood sugar rates above norlal but not high enough for a diabetes

diagnosis. As our health corresponent Rob Sissons reports,

doctors are hoping the latest findings in the British Medhcal

Journal will serve as a wakd up call for people to take up a healthier

lifestyle which can stave off the condition. This man here in Derby

has a fight on his hands to control his diabetes. He had been dhagnosed

for years ago. He had been overworking and ignoring sylptoms. I

was feeling tired, thirsty `nd going to the toilet regularly. I put it

down to working long hours. I lost weight and I put it down to

exercising and walking more. Others may follow in his footsteps without

intervention. Studies make for grim reading. Cases of prediabetds rising

rapidly. These are going to be people who are more overweight, have

a raised body mass index, pdople who are older. It is also possibly more

comments from people from significant minority groups which is

important locally. We are jtst going to have a tidal wave of people with

type two diabetes and the NHS will not be able to cope. Around 200 000

people are currently diagnosed with type two diabetes. It is up 15, 00

from three years ago. There is a tool available. If you go to the

Diabetes UK website there is a self assessment tool which can bd a

helpful assessment about an individual's risk of developing

diabetes. There are complic`tions affecting the eyes, kidneys, feet,

heart attacks and strokes. H'd battle we need to move more and eat

healthily to prevent a lifelong condition having a serious hmpact.

Investigations are underway after a train hit a shopping trollex in

Nottingham. No`one was hurt, but the train was damaged. British Transport

Police say the trolley had been deliberately placed on the railway

line underneath the footbridge near to Rosedale Drive and Wollaton Vale

on Friday night. Officers are also appealing for information after a

wheelie bin be great to see it reopened. It has

the huge history and is a place that people in the city now. We do not

want to see it close for good. It is not belong to go

was carried by six different Batten breeders `` baton beaters. They were

joined by the first woman to present the baton in a robotic suit. It then

moved over to Abbey Park for an afternoon of sporting activhties. To

be a baton Baylor is a great achievement for myself. The

Commonwealth Games is fantastic `` bearer. Yell macro I thought it was

very nice and it was very slooth when I touched it. It makes our city

stand out. Normally people do not really recognise us but this makes

us stand out. I'd macro Leicester is part of the journey that has so far

taken the baton 269 countrids and territories around the world. What a

remarkable journey it has bden. I am with Ross Davenport who won two gold

medals in Melbourne 2006. What is it like to compete in the games? It is

fantastic. They call it the friendly games and it is. It was the

highlight of my swimming ye`r and it is a huge compliment to be chosen to

be here today. It is a huge honour to carry the baton. It is an honour

to represent your country at the Commonwealth Games but to bd

recognised eight years later for your achievements and to st`nd here

in Leicester today is a hugd honour and privilege. It is somethhng to

remember for a long, long thme. Inside the Batten is a mess`ge from

the Queen which will be read out loud at the Commonwealth Gales

opening ceremony on July 23. The hope is that having the batting here

will inspire many more sports men and women of the future. Th`nk you

for that. I bet she was tempted to take it out and read the message.

You would be sent to the tower! Now we go to the World Cup. Comhng up,

hockey victories and the first of our World Cup week reports but some

quick news to start because Nottingham Forest have confhrmed the

signing of striker Matty Frxatt He turned down an offer from ctrrent

club Hull City so he could come to the City Ground on a three`xear

contract. The deal for Dutch striker Lars Veldwijk still has "technical

issues" to sort out. In Rugby, Leicester Tigers face a tough group

in the first European Champhons Cup. They've ended up with Heineken Cup

champions Toulon, Welsh sidd Scarlets and Ulster. County

Championship games are at the end of day three. In the old East Lidlands

match, Derbyshire are the tdam on top. So, onto the hockey. And a

double success to report. Englands men, with four local players in

their ranks, are through to the World Cup semi`finals. And, as you

may have seen at the end of last night's programme, Leicester Ladies

have finally laid their hands on a European Gold Medal. Two huge

games, won here and one in Holland and two huge victories decided on a

penalty stroke. For England's men only victory would take thel to the

semifinals. There was a broken farm but the man managed to clear the

ball before revealing the p`in. As the game seesawed, it was the

Belgians in the semifinals bought with just seven minutes left and

then came the big moment. It might have been an England goal btt

instead a penalty stroke was awarded. This moment was huge. I do

not think I have kissed as lany men before. Just ecstatic. I am so

proud. The semifinal? Yes, H believe it is all and it is going to be

incredible. Some of the best in Europe were in Loughborough. The

ladies came out victorious. Once again it was a penalty stroke which

one it. `` won it. There were tears of joy after what has been ` tricky

season. We were close to it this year. It is hopefully a sign of

things to come. Whether this confidence, you would not w`nt to

bet against Leicester becomhng top of the core keep idle. And now with

the World Cup getting closer we have been to meet the Derbyshire school

girl who will be playing a starring role of her own. The England boys

are getting ready for their Brazilian adventure and 6000 miles

away on this playing field so, to is 14`year`old George Hynde. She has

never been abroad but tomorrow heads of board the Brazilian jungle. I

have always loved football. I want to meet all the players in the next

year. I want to see Steven Gerard. I feel happy and excited. She was

chosen to be a flag Baylor because of her coaching achievements and

encouraging girls in her arda to take up football. She would see

people in the park and ask them to come and play. It is a great

opportunity. She is an amazhng young girl and is always playing football.

So, when Steven Gerard and Cork line`up in the tunnel on Saturday

for that huge game, George will be alongside them ready for thd biggest

in her life. It will stay whth her throughout her life, if she can pass

it on. It is an amazing achhevement. I am so proud of her. So, wd may not

have any players here in thd East Midlands to watch out for on

Saturday but keep your eye out for George for what is sure to be a day

she will never forget. I cannot imagine what that is going to feel

like. I have drawn Italy in the office sweepstake. I think H would

go with Italy if I were you Pessimism all around. Such ` huge

person! When is the kick`off? 1 o'clock Saturday night for

England's game. And you are a football fan? Yes! Not quitd

Brazilian weather forerunners but it is getting wetter `` better. What

has been most impressive has been the size of the heel. This was taken

yesterday afternoon in our region. This is where we have certahnly seen

the worst of the weather. Wd have had some thunderstorms developing

but pressure is starting to build from the side note though the end is

in sight. A lot of dry weather to come. Some brightness and some

sunshine around. Day in warl. Highs around 22 Celcius by Friday. We

thought we had got away with it this morning. Cloud starting to build and

we have a line of showers ptshing eastwards. We will be drier with

some clear spells towards the end of the night. Cooler and freshdr later.

We will start dry and write once again tomorrow morning. The lot of

cloud developing as we head into the afternoon. It will stay dry all day

tomorrow. Not feeling too b`d in the brightness with temperatures back up

to the 20s tomorrow afternoon. Staying settle into Thursdax and

Friday with that high presstre remaining. Weather fronts to the

north. A lot of dry weather to come on Thursday. Temperatures starting

to creep up, reaching 21 Celcius, 22 on Friday. So, we know ours, who

have you got in the sweepst`ke? I have not got one. I think not having

one is better than side could yet! We will see you on the late news.

Goodbye.