10/01/2012 Midlands Today

Hello, and welcome to Midlands Today. The government says yes to

the NHS to line up, to the delight of many business leaders. I am live

in Water Orton in Warwickshire, where villagers say HS2 will wreck

lives, and the economic argument is badly flawed.

The government said the country needed HS2 for long-term economic

growth. It will cement what was envisaged

at 10 years ago when Eastside was created. Because of the recession,

it stalled, as the announcement will really make it happen.

But the No campaign say they will fight it. They say the country

cannot afford it. It means that my home of 27 years

is going to be demolished. For what?

I am in a helicopter flying above the Midlands and looking at the

impact of the new, revised route. How this region is one of the worst

in the land for child poverty. We have to ration what we eat,

because I have to wait until I get my next set of money.

Plus he has had thousands of winners in a glorious career, and

he is still going strong. The oldest racehorse trainer in the

Good evening, and welcome to a special edition of Midlands Today,

on the day the government said yesterday controversial �17 billion

high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London. I am in

Water Orton in Warwickshire, wearing number of homes will be

demolished to make way for the rail line. Let's tell you a bit more

about this village. If it is home to 3500 people. It has shops, a

primary school and two pubs. Life will change dramatically. Anti HS2

campaigners say the line will damage some of the country's most

beautiful countryside. But the government says it is vital.

It will deliver a �6.2 million more of benefit to the country. -- �6.2

billion. So by slashing journey times as well as providing the

changing capacity that we need, it will give a return on the

additional investment of more than it four to one. Of a modern,

reliable service between hour major cities befitting the 21st century

will transform the way we travel and promote Britain's economic and

social prosperity. The issue of high-speed rail has

really hit the headlines in the past few years. But people in

France and Germany have been able to use them since the early 1980s.

But it was only in 2007 when High Speed One that began operating

between London and the Channel Tunnel in the UK. Three years later,

the then Labour government unveiled plans for High Speed Two between

London and Birmingham. In December that year, the new government

published its preferred route. A public consultation took place

between February and July last year. Now, the government has approved

the route, and are hoping construction will start in 2018.

And by 2026, high-speed rail travel between London and Birmingham could

be a reality. Many businesses in the region have

welcomed today's announcement approving the high-speed rail route.

It is claimed HS2 will create thousands of new jobs and lead to

greater levels of investment in the region. There is also the potential

for extensive regeneration in Birmingham's Eastside. It is

already happening at King's Cross in London, where the arrival of

High Speed One resulted in a huge redevelopment project.

Once derelict and run down, now the largest city centre development in

Western Europe. 4 million square feet of offices, 2000 new homes and

the promise of 30,000 jobs. It really is urban regeneration on a

massive scale here at King's Cross. Over the next decade, as the work

continues, it is estimated they will be spending more than �1

million every day. And it is all happening just yards from St

Pancras International station, terminus for High Speed One, the

line that goes to the Channel Tunnel. For developers, being close

to the high-speed rail has made a big difference.

It is a big factor. It is not the deciding factor, but possibly

without it, 50% of the deals we have done would not have happened.

Deals may carry on having a bit slower, but not everyone wants to

go to London or Paris or stood guard. Some people do, and they are

the decision-makers. He was another run-down area,

Birmingham's Eastside. Part of this will become the station for HS2.

Regeneration has been slow, but like at King's Cross, experts are

now predicting rapid development. A it will make a huge difference.

It wasn't meant what was envisaged some 10 years ago when Eastside was

created. Because of the recession, it stalled, and the announcement of

HS2 will really make that happen. Development here could bring in

more than �500 million of investment and help generate in

excess of 15,000 jobs. Some of those could be created here.

This is the site of an old factory which has now been largely

demolished. Part of this site could be used as a train maintenance

depot. But in other parts of the region,

the effect will not be so great. In places like Telford, business

leaders are not so keen on a project.

Shropshire is the only county in the UK without a direct links to --

direct link to London. So what Direct Line to Telford is critical

for me. -- so a direct line. As far as the government is

concerned, the regeneration impact of a just to appear to have been

seen as much more important than any environmental factors.

Patrick Burns has spent a day at Westminster, where there was a

demonstration supporting the HS2 rail link outside Parliament.

Another of our MPs, including the Conservative MP for Redditch, Karen

Lumley, and John Hemming from Birmingham Yardley, who is a Lib

Dem, took part. Patrick, not all of Our MPs support HS2, do they?

That is true. Two of Coventry's three Labour MPs have come out

against it. A lot of Conservatives are also opposed to it, as their

constituencies are along the ridge. This is a project which commands

the official support or all three main political parties. I am joined

by Gisela Stuart, the Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston. Dan Byles,

the Conservative MP for Warwickshire North is also here. We

have just been hearing about the regenerative potential, job

creation in areas that desperately need a boost in the West Midlands.

You are booking -- you are putting brooch or considerations ahead of

the greater good. I disagree with that. Coventry City

Council are against this. I am hearing a lot of hope about

regeneration and not much evidence. What do you say about -- to Dan's

constituents? They are deeply upset about the damage to their homes and

environment. It was going again it -- through my

backyard I would ask that it was minimised. But we have to look at

the Horn of the country and the infrastructure which will provide

jobs for the West Midlands. We always keep talking about

Birmingham and London. It is about connecting Birmingham then on to

Leeds and Manchester and Scotland. At we need to improve that national

infrastructure, but also hour regional network. I would give you

one example. In Birmingham, one third of people over 25 do not have

a job. We need to provide jobs. Dan, this commands a very powerful

parliamentary force. Are you backing a loser?

I agree that with all three parties favouring it, it is an uphill

struggle. But I still think it is the wrong thing to do. I need to

make that case. The Transport Select Committee did a very good

report highlighting a number of questions which have not been

answered. Will it happen? Yes or no?

Yes, it will. The Transport Secretary told the

Commons deceiving that she will be visiting Birmingham tomorrow, where

even the Labour MPs say she is guaranteed a warm welcome.

Thank you very much. Thousands of people across the

Midlands have campaigned against the proposed rail link. Farmers,

environmentalists, homeowners and some business people joined forces

to lobby the government against the proposals. They argue it is too

costly, and the environmental and economic arguments do not stand up.

We have spent today speaking to residents of what autumn, just one

of a number of areas that will be affected by the. -- Water Orton.

Today's announcement came with neighbours gathering together for

support. I am absolutely devastated. It

means that my home of 27 years is going to be demolished. For what?

Faure trainer. It is a big worry.

If this goes ahead, it went to just be us living close to where railway,

it means that we just went have a home.

Householders living in the path of HS2 say they have not been

contacted by the company behind the scheme or the government. They have

years of uncertainty ahead. It will run straight through these

houses. Literally straight through? Yes, straight through.

There has been a school in this village since the 18 Nineties.

Trees have been planted and an outside classroom created. That

will now run parallel to the new rail line.

I do not want it because it will run in the atmosphere around here.

It looks really nice at the moment, and it will make it look horrible.

I would rather go on a train that is lower than have one next to a

school. It will be years before a train

comes through this field. But in the meantime, local communities say

generations will be blighted by the desire to give Jenny times reduced

from Birmingham to London. -- journey times.

Let's talk about to Susan Willis, who lives here in the village, and

to Linda Davis, who helps to run at the Campaign Group against HS2. We

saw you, Susan, a very emotional today?

Yes, it has been a very trying day. I will lose my home which I have

lived in for 27 years and built from nothing to what I have now.

Many people say you will get compensation. While I use are

worried about losing your house? The conversation being offered is

nowhere near the market value of our house. If not only do I lose my

house, I will also be financially challenged as well.

The financial situation at the moment, houses right here are cut

by 25% because it HS2. The so you're worried you will not be able

to find a home? And the compensation? It is only

You've been running the campaign group, isn't it all over? We hope

not. There are grounds for a legal challenge. It was decided months

ago it would go ahead, before the consultation. It would be a

disaster for the whole country, not just us. It would stop investment

in local transport infrastructure. They are to be passe you have to

look at the big picture -- a lot of people are saying you have to look

at the big picture. High Speed One hasn't worked, a lot of money will

go from the local infrastructure. No one will get more money for the

next 15 years. We have run out of time. Thank you very much. You can

read more about the decision on our website. I'll be back later with a

look at the environmental impact that HS2 would have on the local

region. In other news, the campaign group

End Child Poverty says that in Birmingham won a third of children

are living below the poverty line. In Sandwell and Wolverhampton have,

31% of children are in poverty. There are 29% of children in Stoke

and Warsaw. We look at one mother's attempts to help her children.

Marsha Edwards is spending just �1 on sweets Farhad two boys. She is a

single mother, she lost her job last year. Her temporary property

is so bad it is infested with mice. They have to play games because

mice overran the flat. The children used to walk down the path, they

clapped their hands, and stamped their feet, and said that they were

back. The mouse went from there to be covered. They would scurry back

off to where they were. They were homeless last year just before

Christmas, they moved back to their council flat in Birmingham. This is

the children's room. This is practically all the staff we our

own. -- staff her. The flat was an empty shell. Some people give up

good homes because of their lack of money. They have no way of

preparing a meal, they have to get takeaways, they are cold, so they

will go and sit in the pub to keep warm. They have nothing to sleep on,

so very quickly the lovely flat feels like a prison. The children

are well clothed, they have computer games, but at times she

says she hasn't had the bus fares to send them to school. I would

rather feed them. He does his homework, his numbers, his colours,

he does everything he does at school, I still teach him. It has

been suggested that half a million children were slipping to the

poverty trap by 2013. Marsha Edwards is a trained a nursery

nurse, she hopes to get a new job, and a brighter future for herself

and her sons. Police in Manchester have confirmed

that they have found the body at a student from West Bromwich who had

been missing for more than one week. Gurdeep Hayer was last seen getting

out of a taxi in Manchester last Monday. He had been celebrating the

New Year with friends. Officers say his body was found in a weather

yesterday, and was formally identified yesterday. -- in a river.

Staffordshire Police have saved more money than expected. They had

�8 million to spend, after more people left the band were planned.

They will not be recruiting new staff, but saved the money will be

reinvested. Plans to build a �60 million waste

incinerator in Shrewsbury have been Shropshire Council there really

turned it down, but they are planning inspector has approved the

scheme. The Coventry explorer, Mark Wood,

has reached the South Pole. He completed the first leg of a

challenge to trek to both Poles unsupportive. It took him the 30

days to complete, in at temperatures as low as -50 degrees.

He will fly to Chile, and up to the Arctic Circle to complete his

journey. I feel on top of the world, that I am on the bottom! -- but I

am on the bottom! It has drained everything out to me. I'm

completely exhausted. The last couple of miles felt like I was

pulling a big truck behind me. It is incredible.

Well done. We have talked about endurance, how

about this for staying power. At the age of 88, Reg Hollinshead is

the oldest racing trainer in the country. He has nurtured champion

horses and jockeys along the way. His son does the day-to-day running

these days, our reporter found out Reg is just about ready to hand

over the reins. This is the grass gallops for the

Hollinshead racing team. We have the first group. It is a family

effort. He wheelchair pin. -- we all pidgin.

Back in the yard, we found his dad, Reg was born here, and his life is

spent the racing horses. How his life? -- how his life? Can't

complain. Six out of ten. Reg does not venture to the races any more,

but he does not miss them if one -- on television. He is proud that the

Hollinshead name lives on. It is nice to see it carrying on.

fondest memory is Remainder Man, who finished third in the Derby in

1978. It is not all about the past, they are sending a three horses to

race in the south of France. It is hoped that the team can keep the

Hollinshead team in the racing headlines.

Back to our top storey, the controversial high-speed rail link

that will go ahead. We are in one are the villages affected. Back to

them now. Thank you very much. To appreciate

the scale are HS2, you need to see it from the air. We explore the

road by helicopter, Warwickshire in particular.

We are starting out above Water Orton, where we are broadcasting

from, above the east of Birmingham. We are going east just part 42 --

past the M42. HS2 will slice past this, and then into Birmingham.

This village will end up sliced apart split between road and rail.

We are now above Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, this is the location

of the Royal Show. It is also home to the National Farmers' Union, and

they say the key fact is the impact on bursars are farmland, and food

production. -- on a versatile farm land. This is one of the key parts

of the HS2 roots. They are spending �500 million on a new tunnel. From

up here, you can see the Midlands is a remarkably green and pleasant

land. The many, what is going to be lost is just too important.

Birmingham Airport says it's good news, our Transport Correspondent

is there for us right now. The airport has been a big supporter of

HS2? Yes, potentially it is a big winner. 38 minutes from central

London. That is quicker than central London to Stansted or

Gatwick. They will be more destinations from here. You have

been a big supporter of the high- speed rail, you must be pleased?

is great news for the people of the region. It is going to create jobs.

How will the appal benefit? It is going to spread our reach, we will

have most of the major cities in England within 50 minutes of this

airport. We see a role for the airport are taking pressure out of

the south-east. We were keen to do that before HS2, it is another

string in our bio. Our calculations suggest it will be two-and-a-half

minutes away from the terminal, we have talked to the government about

relocating a terminal over there. You will enter the airport at the

station. Could potentially Birmingham become a a large airport,

the fourth-biggest? We have permission to guard the 27 million

passengers, we are part of that solution. If it brings jobs to the

Midlands, we make no apology for that. Let's do it. HS2 is still a

long way off. There is a lot of work to do between now and then. It

is not going to happen overnight. is not going to happen overnight.

Thank you very much. Time for the weather.

Another day spent soaking up the unseasonally mild temperatures. The

comforting and yellow colours are going to drain away. It will become

colder by Friday onwards. You will see a return of the night frost.

Maybe some snow in the hills on Sunday. As far as the night goes,

resemblances to last night. A cloudy picture, some spots of rain

in the West. Slightly milder than last night, temperatures of 7-9

degrees. Not cold tomorrow morning, but a dull and damp start to the

day. We will start to see that cloud a thinning in the afternoon.

Because of the good head start because of those temperatures, they

will be up to 11-12 degrees. Above average. Thursday and Friday, a

shift in the winds. That will drag temperatures down on Thursday night.

We are looking at a double figures, but a cloudy day. Patchy rain

spreading southwards. Thursday spreading southwards. Thursday

night, the cloud clears. Friday, a lovely sunny day.

A only one main story tonight, nationally and in the Midlands. The

government has approved the High Speed Two rail link. We have been

in Water Orton, one of the villagers affected.

An emotional day here. HS2 is controversial, whether you think it