05/12/2011 Midlands Today

Hello, welcome to Midlands Today with Suzanne Virdee and Nick Owen.

The headines tonight: Automotive firms create 1,500 new jobs in the

last year and there's a prospect of more on the way. We have created

and the last 12 months 57 new jobs, after to 2% increase. How a

university graduate's taking the government to court over what she

calls enforced and pointless labour. Stacking shelves, cleaning, just

basic jobs that were not giving us in a valuable experience. The joys

of football as Tamworth land a big one: away to Everton in the FA Cup.

And back home celebrating 30 years of success around the world: Duran

Duran thrill their fans in the Midlands. We certainly were not

thinking about after 30 years. We Good evening, welcome to Monday's

Midlands Today from the BBC. Tonight: stepping up a gear. New

figures from the automotive industry suggest an increase in car

exports from firms in this region has helped create more than 1,500

new jobs this year. The posts have been created in companies which

supply components for firms such as Jaguar LandRover, Aston Martin and

the Morgan Motor company in Malvern. And firms say they're optimistic

the boom will continue next year. Two car component firms. Two

success stories for the West Midlands. Winston Duncan was taken

on recently at Machined Component systems in Redditch. I have been

doing engineering for 30 odd years. And the years ago when the were a

lot of redundancies and police as closing down I came out of the

industry. What is it like being back in? It is something I know,

and I am glad to be back in. He's one of ten new workers, including

two apprentices. The company's had its highest turnover ever. Three

years ago it was cutting jobs. investment has been dramatic,

something in the region of �650,000 in equipment and in people,

allowing them to have training on new machines. At Cabauto in Tipton

similar stories of investment, growth and recruitment. Significant

investment, �2 million worth of equipment coming into the factory,

ready for orders that we have one already. We have created 57 new

jobs, after to 3% increase in the size of the business. These two

success stories aren't alone and what makes it remarkable at a time

of national austerity is that car component firms across the West

Midlands are reporting increasing confidence. Now that there is a

level of confidence across the UK and across the world, people are

beginning to buy cars, but quietly, behind the scenes, development of

new models has been taking place and that has been a real boon for

manufacturing. And there's been a commitment to support the component

supply chain from UK-based car makers like Jaguar Landrover where

sales are up 16%. One other major customers his Jaguar Land-Rover and

they have been doing particularly well, so that volume is feeding

into a business directly. There are still serious issues that need

addressing like the skills shortage - but these two firms are hoping to

keep expanding and take on more staff next year. The Manufacturing

Advice Service has been holding a networking event for company

directors this afternoon in the centre of Birmingham, where our

Business Correspondent Peter Plisner is now. So a pretty upbeat

mood there, I should think, Peter, as the car component sector seems

to be beating the economic gloom? Indeed it is. Talking to company

directors, you would not believe there are still many economic

worries around. Those companies in that film you saw are booming. But

there are concerns about 2012 and I am joined by Simon do this of the

manufacturing advisory service. Can it continue? 2011 has been a great

year with �1 billion of investment in automotive industries.. We

estimate 1500 jobs across the region and growth of 30% of experts,

-- exports, so it has been really good. Automotive is doing well, but

other sectors, not so well, so it is a mixed picture. Absolutely. We

are hearing about issues in Europe with some volumes flattering of or

reducing slightly, so there are concerns outside of the automotive

industry. And what can be done about the skills shortage? There is

some good work happening on apprenticeships. Companies

recognise they have to invest in youngsters, and that is good news

for the future. The annual report would suggest 2011 was a good year,

but there are still many concerns about what the next year, 2012,

actually holes. -- holds. Thanks for being with us this evening.

Later in the programme: It's all very traditional but do cities

really need a Lord Mayor? In Stoke on Trent, many don't think so. The

court has heard that a soldier serving with the British Army to

look at the set fire to a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent last year. It is

claimed he and an accomplice connected a gas pipe into the

building and started a fire that could have resulted in a serious

explosion. Simon Peach, senior at an hour their court appearance, was

a soldier based at backs in Preston at the time of the arson attack. He

is accused, along with Gareth Foster, are setting alight the city

centre mosque. The mosque at Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent was still under

construction when a fire was started here in December last year.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that a paper was connected from a

gas mean act and neighbouring property and when along an alleyway

for a distance of 150 metres. It was then fed into the mosque, up

the stairs to the first floor. Damage following the fire total to

�50,000. The prosecution claimed, had it not been for a poor

connection with the Pike, the reality that have been an explosion.

The jury was told snow was lying on the ground at the time of the

attack and stroke Prince lying in the snow matched those of trainers

worn by Gareth Foster. When detectives searched his flat they

found two balaclavas, one containing fragments of glass from

the mosque and the DNA of Mr Beech. Detectives analysed comments in

which he had agreed on a social networking site, Facebook,

including the phrase, nuke all mosques" and when we said, they

bomb our poppies, we burn their place. Both defendants deny arson.

The trial is expected to last three days. The owners of Daw Mill

Colliery in North Warwickshire say it could be shut down, putting 800

jobs at risk. UK Coal is carrying out a review of the pit because of

falling production levels. The company says rising labour costs

and an inflexible workforce are partly to blame, but denies it is

scaremongering. We are having to review everything, from the worst

case being closure and being mothballed, we will look at

absolutely everything. We will not brushed it. We will do it in a

considered way, but by springtime next year we should have an idea.

Concrete blocks have been dropped from a bridge onto a main road in

Shrewsbury. Two motorists called the police at 2am yesterday morning

after seeing breeze blocks smashed on Robertson Way. Last week, a

woman's car was hit by a concrete block dropped from a footbridge in

Essex. A University of Birmingham graduate is taking legal action

against the government for forcing her to do unpaid work at a

Poundland store for two weeks, or risk losing her benefits. 22 year-

old Cait Reilly had been put on one of the new "Sector based work

academy" schemes while she received Job-seeker's Allowance. That scheme

provides pre-employment training, a work placement and a guaranteed

interview. It's meant to improve the job seeker's employability. Ben

Godfrey reports. This is one up -- 1 other biggest pieces. While Cait

Reilly's looking for full-time work, she volunteers at Birmingham's Pen

Room. Passionate about museums, this graduate of geology is on a

rocky road to employment. You can see they all have different letters

on them. She receives Jobseekers Allowance and was placed in the

Sector-based work academy. She says a job centre sent her for a

fortnight's unpaid work in Poundland - and told her that

failure to attend would result in reduced benefits. You asked-you are

doing basic jobs, stacking shelves, cleaning, that were not giving us

valuable experience. Maybe we could choose work experience placements

that could benefit eyes, the most. How England said it has had a

positive experience of the work placement programme, adding that

that is comprehensive, and that it offers on the job training to those

looking to take retail as a career opportunity. With more than a

million young people out of work, the Government believes placements

can help get Britain back to work. But accusations that graduates are

spending weeks stacking shelves, brought a robust defence in the

Commons last week from the Employment Minister. Few months ago,

I met a man who was given a job with the major supermarket, and

with a few months had graduated to running a department of 20. A law

firm's calling for a judicial review of Jobseeker Allowance

regulations, arguing they lead to forced labour. There does not seem

to have been much consultation about these schemes, very little

tailoring to the needs of those subjects, and that affect a very

large number of people. Government has said work experience

isn't mandatory but if job seekers agree to take part, they're

expected to turn up and work without pay. There will be some

people that say you are claiming state benefit, surely you should

just take the experience, whatever it is. I have no problem with

working. I do my own experience within the museum. I was just

unhappy about the fact that I was taken away from that and put it

into a world that had nothing to do with the job that I wanted to get

into. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is due to respond

to Cait Reilly's allegations next week. A final decision on whether

to go ahead with the controversial HS2 high-speed rail line between

London and Birmingham is being delayed until the New Year. The

Transport Secretary Justine Greening is understood to be

considering whether a �500 million tunnel should be bored to minimise

impact on the Chiltern Hills. Inside Out has a special programme

looking at the HS2 proposals tonight and Mary Rhodes is here to

tell us more, so Mary, why the delay? It is all to do with

proposed alterations to the plans. The decision has been pushed back

once already. It has now been pushed back to January. The

committee needs more time and more information so we have to wait

another month to see whether it goes ahead. We will be looking at

for and against arguments tonight. Yes, we have given both sides of

the argument a cameraman, producer and editor and asked them to

produce a nine-minute film, each. Those who are in favour of the

scheme say it will bring huge benefits to the region. High-speed

rail can put down 22,000 jobs for this region. It can add �1.5

billion to the economy. What right have we, to turn that aside, to say

to future generations, we have the chance to create thousands of jobs

but we did not take it? In the opposite corner, those who say that

it would be an economic disaster for the country, including Coventry

West MP Geoffrey Robinson. It has got to be effective and this is

anything but effective. We cannot just invest in a narrow stretch of

high-speed motorway between two premium points that does not help

the rest of the country, at all. And you will be looking into the

history of high-speed travel. I made a visit to the National

Railway Museum in York, and looking at inventions in the past on the

way to high-speed rail, including one which did not work, which made

passengers feel sick, which was dubbed the queasy Rider! And you

can see the High Speed 2 special on Inside Out here on BBC 1, at 7:30pm.

Thanks for joining us this Monday evening, coming up30 years after it

all began in Birmingham, the "wild boys" of pop return home. And we

have the seasonal trappings of ice, and frost and a chilly wind, and

more details coming up in the weather forecast, shortly. It's a

nice privilege but not a necessity. That's the view of Stoke-on-Trent

city council about whether or not to relinquish the duties of its

Lord Mayor.The role isn't being scrapped completely, but the

council believes it can save �130,000 by axing the ceremonial

duties. It's all part of plans to save �24 million next year. A group

of former mayors have started a petition. They say it's vital to

have an ambassador for the city. Laura May McMullan reports. There

are currently 30 lord mayors across the country. They're seen as a

great british tradition. But at Stoke-on-Trent city council, the

Lord Mayor's ceremonial duties could be scrapped. We visit schools,

factories, everything to do with the city, you represent the city.

The position currently costs the council �130,000 a year, with the

car, chauffeur and allowances for attending events. During the next

three years it would be reduced to just chairing meetings. The Lord

Mayor's role is just one in a whole series of cuts. Stoke-on-Trent city

council has to save �24 million next year. That's on top of the �36

million this financial year. We're facing unprecedented Government

cuts in Stoke-on-Trent. In every department within the council

they're having to look at making savings. This is part of that

process. A group of former Lord Mayors have now started a petition.

They believe it's a vital tradition. If the monarch believes we are good

enough to be a city, where there is a city, there is a lot mayor. That

is why it is important that we have to keep this going, for our

heritage, history and people. city has had a Lord Mayor since

1928. A position that recognises them as the first citizen of the

city. But during such tough financial times - the council says

it has to cut it cloth accordingly Sports news now. The magic of the

FA Cup continues, but sadly, not for Starr Bridge. -- Stourbridge.

Tamworth are looking forward to the biggest game of their lives after

drawing Everton in the FA Cup. They beat Gateshead on Saturday and

their prize was a trip to Goodison Park in round 3. It's the stuff of

boyhood dreams for the non-leaguers. I doubt there was a happier place

in the country this morning. Forget Monday morning blues - Tamworth's

players are on a permanent high. On Saturday they were thrilled to

reach the third round of the cup but yesterday it got even better.

Good cup pedigree as well. Number 59. You have pulled out Tamworth.

When I got called out it was unbelievable. Everyone was jumping

up and down. It was Kyle Paterson's goal which put them in the draw.

Francino Francis gave them a half- time lead. But it was 1-1 when

Paterson struck in the final minute. A couple of years ago he was

playing with David Beckham at LA Galaxy. Now it's the Cup with is

attracting the cameras. For the next five weeks the main job for

manager Marcus Law will be keeping the players focused on the league.

Tomorrow night they're at Forest Green. Life goes on at Conference

level. The capacity is only 4,000 here, and an average crowd of 1,000.

It could not be any more different from going to Goodison Park and

Everton. I am not going along just to be part of the party. It is not

in my nature. I will be going there, trying to prove a point.

Stourbridge were also showing their colours on Saturday. But sadly that

wasn't enough against league one Stevenage who won 3-0. But

Cheltenham Town are through to round 3. They won a thriller 4-2 at

Luton on Saturday. And they've been rewarded with a trip to Premier

League Tottenham Hotspur. Shrewsbury are also through. They

came from behind to beat League Two rivals 2-1. And Walsall were made

to do it all again by Dagenham and Redbridge. The Saddlers went in

front through Claude Gnapka with just 16 minutes left. But Jon

Nurse's fine equaliser means they'll have to do it all again in

a replay next week. No such problems for Tamworth through.

They're bound for Everton. Whether their screeching minibus will make

it there is another matter! I am delighted for Cheltenham to get

such a great draw. Those are the memories that you talk about for

years to come, the big cup games at those big grounds. Cheltenham were

excellent, it was a terrific game, it could have gone either way. A

couple of good results in the Premier League. It could have been

a defeat which left Wolves fans demoralised but a dramatic comeback

has left them feeling much happier ahead of the Christmas

programme.And Stoke supporters are also feeling jubilant after ending

their Europa League jinx.Nick Clitheroe reports. Wolves fans were

clearly hoping Christmas might come early, but there was also reason to

be nervous. New managers often inspire struggling teams and Martin

O'Neill's presence in the stands promised that effect on Sunderland.

Those fears were seemingly realised when Kieran Richardson put the

visitors in front at Molineux. But the game turned in a dramatic 90

seconds. First Sunderland won a penalty despite replays suggesting

Larsson had dived to get it. It seemed like justice had been done

when his kick was saved but that wasn't the half of it. Wolves went

straight down the other end for Steven Fletcher to draw them level.

Nine minutes from time Fletcher made it two and it was O'Neill who

was left to worry and Mick McCarthy to celebrate three points which saw

their teams swap places in the table. That is the easy thing to

say when you are getting beat, that the manager has lost the dressing

room or there is a lack of spirit of the matter not fight any more.

Well, watch that again, and see. Since reaching the group stages of

the Europa League Stoke City have lost the following league game

after every Thursday night European adventure. So it was a huge relief

for all in red and white when Robert Huth's goal gave them three

points at Everton. Birmingham City have decided not to appeal against

the red card shown to Curtis Davies in their 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City

yesterday. Davies was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring

opportunity when he brought down Kenny Miller. Minutes later Miller

pounced on a clearance by Davies' replacement Pablo to score the only

goal. Tomorrow, we'll meet one of the best-loved sportsmen in the

region. Bert Williams, MBE, the former Wolves and England

goalkeeper has just officially opened the new Leisure Centre in

his home town of Bilston, near Wolverhampton. It's cost �18

million. It's been named in Bert's honour, and it's fantastic inside,

as you'll see when Bert gives us a guided tour of the centre tomorrow

evening. Bert will be 92 next month, and he's in great form. He's a

lovely man as well. Duran Duran are one of the biggest bands ever to

have come out of the Midlands, with more than 80 million albums sold

and number ones across the world. This weekend they were back where

it all began, in Birmingham, to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Ben Sidwell went along to meet them. A warning his report does contain

some flashing images. The band has had an amazing career spanned,

which I would never have expected in a million years. We were the

right band, at the right time in the video moment. Was that the with

the decades? It is extraordinary to me because it feels like it was

yesterday. The March 1981, and the band make their first live TV

appearance. Back then no one could foresee that this five piece band

from Birmingham were about to become one of the biggest groups on

the planet. I remember playing at Birmingham Polytechnic. Going

upstairs and testing my tape- recorder and my synthesiser before

going on. Living with my parents in Castle Bromwich, one month, then in

New York playing Madison Square Garden, the next. There was a huge

turnaround in our fortunes, from zero to hero, in a day, almost. It

was amazing. The band had the looks and the songs, but it was the

videos that went with them which helped turn Duran Duran into global

superstars. Right away, we got how significant this medium was that we

would not have to go and perform, we could just send out this did

your, there was this language that was invented around the deal. And

we were there to exploit it. -- a rand video. Almost 30 years after

Rio, the band's latest video is just as big and ambitious. A nine

minute film for their song Girl Panic, featuring five of the

world's top super models. The great thing is that it has got humour.

All of the great Duran Duran videos have got a little bit of Shearer in

them. We have never taken ourselves that seriously, -- a little bit of

humour in them. And so, yes, it came together, and it turned out to

be something very special. In 1981 when Duran Duran were playing tiny

venues around Birmingham, they could never have imagined that they

would be performing the same songs, and front of thousands and

thousands of people. I travelled the world to go and see them.

are seriously hot! There isn't a one is as good as anything they

have ever done. I get excited every time I see them. We have kept

working, and we have never quit. could not complain about anything.

We have had a very interesting I would love to be called

"Seriously Hot"! Not the answer I was looking for a! Fantastic. They

looked so good, very well preserved, as you put it! Time now for the

We have had some wintry flurries and those of when to continue. The

emphasis will be on cold weather, and the wind chill. Other than that,

this week, we have got some showers around. The period to keep an eye

on his Wednesday night through into Thursday, when we have got some wet

and windy weather on the way. That warm front should raised

temperatures on To stick, but for one day only. -- on Thursday. We

have a cap in the cloud across as right now. -- and gaps in the cloud

across us right now. Overnight, zero degrees, that is going to lead

to a widespread frost with icy patches where we have had those

showers through the day. Moving onto tomorrow morning, and it is a

frosty start. Dry and clear in the knot of the region. -- the north of

the region. Good spells of sunshine developing in the afternoon. It

will not be quite as windy as today. Tomorrow night, showers starting to

die away, but more cloud moving in from the West. Then having that

rain going into Thursday. headlines. France and Germany

called for a new treaty to deal with the eurozone crisis which they