22/02/2012 Midlands Today

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

The headlines tonight: Boost for jobs - the greenfield site that

offers hope for up to 2,500 thousand workers.

Businesses that want to design, work with local universities, take

advantage of local schools, want to come here.

A man's charged with the murder of retired teacher Betty Yates. Jess

Varnish dreams of Olympic glory, but few of her family will have

tickets to see her. My view is they need to go to the

people who have really supported them.

And the Polar explorer stopped in Good evening, welcome to

Wednesday's Midlands Today from the BBC.

Tonight: The hi-tech fightback in the battle

against soaring unemployment. Work's set to start in September on

a new business park in Staffordshire which could create up

to 2,500 jobs. The new park will be aimed at the research and

technology sector and follows the announcement of Jaguar Land Rover's

major new plant in the county. Here's our business correspondent

Peter Plisner. Just a field north of Stafford but within a couple of

years this site could be helping to create thousands of much needed

skilled jobs. Close to the M6 it's earmarked for

a research and technology park and is being planned by Staffordshire

County Council. Real interest from manufacturing businesses. Some

great success last year. JCB off back to full-strength. -- are back.

A neighbouring site has already been developed and has attracted a

number of high profile businesses including this plumbing and a

heating firm. Its managing director says it's an ideal location. We are

a national distributor, need good transport links, being a minute

away from the M6 is the perfect location. We are within an hour and

a quarter of London on a fast rail link. And despite the recession

even here new jobs are being created. Lesley Bateman was made

redundant from her last job, now she's the company's new HR manager.

It is a fantastic opportunity for youngsters. We have got the

University, colleges, all within a 50 mile radius. It is the best

thing that could happen to this region. Jobs of many business parks

are seen as vulnerable to the ups and band of the technology but jobs

on technology parks are seen as much more sustainable because what

will be produced here will be exported to countries that are

continually growing giving workers much more Dock -- job security. But

will the jobs coming here actually be new? NXT, new jobs, jobs

relocating, also from abroad -- a mixture. We have a lot of those

will have local employment. Great skill set, a good customer service

reputation and good value Labour. Plans for the business park follow

Staffordshire's success in attracting Jaguar Land Rover's new

engine planned. It's due to be built at the I54 site near

Wolverhampton. And Peter joins us now. Obviously, ambitious plans in

Stafford. How realistic is it that those 2,500 jobs will be filled?

The site has space for seven major businesses and that figure is only

a projection. It's based on experience elsewhere in the county

where new business parks have been created. Have to say maybe more

could also be jobs in the supply chain in the wider region to the

companies based there. But not all will be new jobs. As you heard the

councillor say in the film, some jobs will be relocated from

elsewhere as companies are attracted to the site because of

it's location and perhaps a need to expand.

More positive news from Jaguar Land Rover? Tata, the Indian owners

planning to double the amount they're investing in the Midlands

brands, said 1.5 billion a year to fund new models both here and

abroad. The cash could mean thousands of new jobs. Some money

used for plans to begin producing vehicles in China. Details of a

joint venture with a Chinese car maker are said to be imminent. Not

clear how much of that money will be spent here. But research and

development work on those new models will be done in the Midlands

Police have charged a 47-year-old man with the murder of a better

Yate. She was found at a remote cottage on the banks of the River

Severn on January 2nd. Steven Farrer has also be charge of the

murder of a South Gloucestershire vicar. -- been charged.

The clergyman and Betty Yates it was stabbed to death in Heron Homes.

Steven Farrer, 47 years old, has been charged with murdering them

both. But Yates lived alone in a house beside the River Severn in

Bewdley. She was found dead days before his 77th birthday. She had

been stabbed and beaten with her and a walking stick. It was six

weeks after Betty was found here that there was another murder at,

at 70 miles away in the neighbouring county of

Gloucestershire. Police started to think there may be a link. The

Reverend John Stoddard's body was found just over a week ago in the

vicarage of the town of Cornbury. He had been stabbed many times. He

had moved to this small, quiet market town last summer. Before

then he worked in Essex where he was filmed for the BBC. Both have

been described as pillars of their community. Candlelit vigils and

memorial services have been held for both of them. Police believe it

was the same man who took both of It's a controversial police tactic,

the right of officers to stop and search people in the street who

they believe may be breaking the law. It can lead to resentment

among young black people, who are seven times more likely to be

stopped than white people, according to official figures. In

Birmingham tonight, a new Civil Rights Card is being launched by a

lobbying group for the African and Caribbean community. It explains to

young people why they might be stopped and what they can do if

they are. Giles Latcham reports. Stopped and searched - important

powers say the police but their use can anger and antagonise. I know

you were detained when you are arrested. Daniel's been stopped and

searched several times, he thinks the power's used disproportionately

against people of a certain colour or background. Just because people

are from lower-class backgrounds doesn't mean they are aiming for a

life of crime. To be in the area and just tarnished with the same

brush as your neighbour is not right, everybody is an individual

and has the right to do what they want. A So how about those rights?

The officers who stop you have to give their names and stations,

explain the grounds for suspicion and provide you with a written

record if you want one, rights explained in this pocket sized

guide produced here in Birmingham. It's the work of solicitors

involved in a campaign group for the African and Caribbean

communities. Relationships between the police and community will never

improve whilst there is a disproportionate and improper and a

lawful use and exercise of these powers. The latest figures for

England and Wales show that per 1,000, 125 black people are stopped

and searched. Compared to less than 50 Asians. And about 20 white

people, making black people seven times more likely to be stopped.

The man who oversees West Midlands Police says the force must be

mindful of the harm the misuse of stop and search can do. It needs to

carry the public with it on any aspect of policing organisation it

carries out. Stop-and-search is contentious, necessary, but needs

to be used appropriately and sensitively. There's anecdotal

evidence that anti-police sentiment during last summer's riots was

exacerbated by anger about stop and search. The reality is its use in

the West Midlands has decreased drastically in recent years, but

for some it's a power which tests to breaking point the concept of

policing by consent. Let's talk now to Dr Robert Beckford, author,

academic and supporter of the civil card scheme who joins us now from

it's launch event in Birmingham. Good evening. What do you hope

these cards will achieve? A to empower people within the Community

to know their rights if they are stopped by the police and to

encourage the police to do their job, observe the legal framework in

which they are meant to be working in. How realistic is it that young

black people will bother to carry one though? We hope it is snazzy

enough and a portable enough for young people to carry it, given the

gravity of the situation. It is not really a matter of choice, it is a

matter of necessity. We need to insure their good police and

community relations and we feel this will go some way towards

improving the situation. I have got one here, it is wallet sized.

Police say stop and search is necessary, it cuts the drug and

knife crime, do you agree? course it is necessary. But when

you have a situation where African- Caribbean young people are seven

times more likely to be stopped in comparison to their white

counterparts, and in addition 150% increase in stop-and-search amongst

African Caribbean men, that is not just about police doing their job,

that is harassment. What effect is that having a young people you talk

I think it makes you people fear the law in a negative way. Rather

than having respect for the Lord they fear that the law is corrupt.

This kind of thing used to happen in apartheid South Africa, you

don't expect it to see it happening in a modern, democratic society

like Britain in 2012. Obviously it upsets people, frustrates them.

Police do say using stop-and-search, they are using it a lot less, what

is your view? It is not so much about the quantity, it is about the

quality. It is about having informed approaches to stop and

search which is intelligence based, rather than racially pro felt based.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has paid tribute in the House of

Commons to a Worcestershire teacher who was killed in a coach crash in

France at the weekend. Peter Rippington died when the bus he was

travelling in with a group of schoolchildren plunged to the

bottom of a motorway embankment on Sunday. A number of children from

Alvechurch Middle School were injured in the accident. I know he

was much respected in the local community and at the school, and

will be hugely missed. The thoughts and seedier -- sincere condolences

of everybody in the house will be with his constituents and everyone

affected. Our consular staff in France continue to provide support

to all those in France. Our ambassador has visited passengers

in hospital and is liaising with local authorities and will do

everything he can with a fridge or The father of one of our top medal

hopes at the London Olympics has hit out at ticketing allocations

for families at this summer's games. Bromsgrove cyclist Jess Varnish is

gunning for gold, but her family are only allowed two tickets to

watch her in action. And Jess has four grandparents and two sisters.

There's nothing better than celebrating a triumph with your

loved ones and on Friday night Jess Varnish was able to do just that

after winning gold at cycling's World Cup in London. A minibus full

of friends and family had travelled down from Bromsgrove for this test

event for the new Olympic velodrome and they weren't disappointed.

Jess's blistering start set the stage for Victoria Pendleton and

together they smashed the world record for the team sprint. Great

memories for Jess's dad Jim but there's no guarantee he'll be there

again if the 21-year-old wins Olympic gold in London this summer.

Because they didn't get any cycling tickets in the public ballot and

competitors are only allowed two tickets each for friends and family.

I am using just as an example, but I am sure it is the same for all

the athletes. They have got a family, appeared at her parents,

some have got husbands and wives, what about grandparents, sisters

and brothers? Two tickets on allegation, it isn't really enough

when the need to be getting a hide our athletes. -- behind. In a

statement London 2012 said "We believe that it is important that

those people who have supported the athletes are able to share in their

However we also want to ensure that the public has the chance to cheer

on these athletes, so we have to strike a balance on ticket

availability." On the day there may be vacant seats. I believe you can

go to certain double-agent and buy a package to go to the velodrome as

long as you buy a nice hotel. -- travel agent. My view is that

tickets need to go to the people that really deserve them, the

people who have supported athletes through their career. So if Jess

gets the chance to go for gold again at the Olympic velodrome in

August her family are desperately hoping they'll be there to roar her

on. I do hope so. The thought of her family not being able to see

her. You can find all the Olympic

information you need on the BBC 2012 website. Later in the

programme, just what the doctor ordered, an explosive storyline for

the popular BBC1 series made in Birmingham.

And things are certainly looking up for tomorrow but could the same be

said of the weekend? I'll have a full update for you later.

A Coventry man who hoped to become the first person to trek solo to

both poles has revised his route because of the "unpredictable"

nature of the Arctic. Mark Wood travelled 612 miles in 50 days to

reach the South Pole last month. But instead of skiing to the North

Pole from Canada later this year, as he was planning to do, he has

had to change his plans. Kevin Reide reports. Back home in

Coventry Mark Wood's still recovering from his epic solo ski

across the South Pole. In seven weeks he covered 612 miles.

Q really have to live for the them back. Take every day as it comes.

Mark had no human contact for 50 days filming himself with a camera

on the end of a large pole. And he spent Christmas day in his tent

letting his imagination run wild on this audio blog.

Hello? My word, it is Father Christmas. I had a visit from

Father Christmas in my tent. I did, I pretended he came I visited me or

my own in the tent. With being away so long Mark's fridge is looking

pretty sparse but he has got one thing in here, some water all the

way from the South Pole. He collected Antarctic water by

thawing snow into his flask and hopes to do the same in the Artic,

he's setting off for that leg of his epic journey in a few weeks

time. It's a harsher place than the south because it's all water and

ice, and he recently decided to travel outwards from the pole

rather than towards it to take advantage of the natural ice flow.

He'll also prepared for the added risk of polar bears. I am fully

aware it is their environment and the last thing I want to put one

down, but if one attacked me for whatever reason you need the last

line of defence so I do carry a shotgun. He has received many

letters of support including this one from the Prime Minister and his

adventure begins in mid-March. He can find out much more on the

face but page. Not sure I could do Christmas they

are my own at the sample. -- Football, and Birmingham City moved

another step closer to the Premier League by beating Barnsley last

night. It was their 15th match without defeat, and means they're

now third in the Championship. Walsall also secured back to back

victories, but Shrewsbury Town suffered a setback in their bid to

win promotion from League Two. Birmingham City are brim full of

confidence. Their last defeat was just before Christmas. But they

knew a midweek trip to Barnsley would be a tough test of their

promotion credentials. And the Blues rose to the challenge. An

early own goal from Rob Edwards set the ball rolling. But when Barnsley

equalised ten minutes later Birmingham fought back strongly.

Keith Fahey, who's on top of his game, rifled in their second. And

it was no more than they deserved when Nathan Redmond wrapped up a 3-

1 victory 12 minutes from time. Blues are now lying third after 15

games without defeat. At the foot of League One Walsall moved out of

the bottom four with a vital victory over one of their

relegation rivals Scunthorpe. Florent Cuvelier on loan from Stoke

settled the match in the first half. It was feisty affair at the top of

League Two. Matt Richards gave Shrewsbury a first half lead at

Swindon. But this was the key moment. Terry Gornell looked to be

fouled, but the referee said no penalty and no red card. Swindon

went on to score twice in 12 minutes to go top of the table

above Cheltenham who drew 0-0 against Wimbledon. Frustration all

round for Shrewsbury and their manager Graham Turner who was left

fuming with the referee. That looked a definite penalty, it

drives you mad. It promises to be a highlight of

the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a flotilla of 1,000

boats travelling along the Thames. And taking part will be a

narrowboat currently being restored at the Black Country Museum.

It's steam powered, it's called The President and it'll be representing

Staffordshire at the pageant and it'll take three weeks to travel

the 336 miles from the county to London. Bob Hockenhull reports.

Dating back to 1909 The President is one of 31 steam powered narrow

boats built by Fellows, Morton and Clayton at Saltley in Birmingham.

It's the only one that survives and at its permanent home at the Black

Country Living Museum, enthusiasts are restoring the vessel for the

jubilee celebrations. Staffordshire businesses are paying for the

refurbishment so the county can be represented at the Diamond Jubilee

flotilla on the Thames. The it is the only coal-fired steam powered

narrowboat left in its original position. It is part of the

National Historic fleet. Other boats on a late victory, could

It'll start out from Stoke in April on route inviting interested

onlookers aboard as it makes its way to the Capital. If you look at

it it is in excess of 100 years of age but it was breakthrough

technology in its era. He we are now, going through the county, and

it has more miles of canal and any other county in the country, so

another reason why we are proud of There are still quite a lot of

maintenance to be done before it is ready to meet the Queen, but the

crew are confident everything will be ready by April, so the boat can

make its journey to London 336 miles in a very sedate three miles

an hour. The space taken up by the boiler

meant there was limited room for the cargo, so narrowboats like this

were reserved for specialist, highly priced goods. One of the big

contracts for this boat was being date and spices to HP sauce in

Birmingham. And then taking it back to London. It brought here up from

the docks, a very valuable cargo and easy to get there quickly. For

those who drive on the M1, quickly, London to Birmingham was 56 hours

non-stop. In contrast the journey to London

in the spring will be much more leisurely taken over several weeks

but its cargo of good wishes for Her Majesty will be just as

As the countdown to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations continues,

we'd love to hear your stories if you've ever met the Queen. Email us.

Next month it'll be 12 years since television audiences were first

introduced to the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, and

its medical centre. More than 2,000 episodes later and Doctors still

has a regular afternoon slot on BBC1.

Produced by our colleagues at BBC Birmingham, the drama's gearing up

for a dramatic storyline. And today was an explosive one for crew and

cast. Lindsay Doyle joined them on

location. A cold, grey morning in Birmingham,

forget glamour, this is hard graft, the start of filming of what's to

be one of the most powerful storylines Doctors has run in its

twelve year history. I can tell you that it is very bad. It is a life-

changing situation, a life-changing accident. The BBC drama which tells

the story of the staff and patients of a fictional practice in the

fictional town of Leatherbridge, has never been afraid to tackle

dramatic and sometimes controversial storylines. With 220

episodes each year it isn't often able to film on such a major scale

but it is embarking on one of his biggest story lines ever and this

is one of the most expensive episodes they have every shot.

have got five camera operators, to sound recordist, camera assistants,

a crane in play, specialist crew who have come to fit up the stud

vehicle, still scored later, ambulance, fire engine, a lot of

people. Centred around leading character

Julia Parsons the lead up to today's stunt begins with an

argument then disaster. The driver who happens to be a new love

interest that is coming into her life, about time too. I know you

all agree. She needs a man in her life and terriers, he nearly kills

her, or we do know whether he does, he might? Some cot comes out of the

side road and there is a terrible No, that would be telling. All will

Quite a way to park. The steaming angry at the foot ball and worried

about Julia. And the Doctors episode which Lindsay saw being

filmed will be shown on the 14th May.

You did appear in doctors didn't you. One episode.

Let's talk sensibly and look at the We have done quite well with the

temperatures over the last couple of weeks but everything comes to a

head tomorrow. Hopefully you will feel the difference as we sit in

this one sector. On Friday this called for a start to move through,

cold air filtering in behind it. High pressure takes over by the

weekend and back to square one. Back to the cold and also back to

eat night frost. It will be quite cold. One drawback is that we have

all cloud today and we hang on to it tonight. The rain will gradually

die away. With that cloud it is quite mild. Temperatures exactly

the same as during the day. Very mild. Tomorrow we haven't got a

long way to go to achieve this temperatures, quite cloudy to start

with. The breeze will start to pick up tomorrow. That will help to

break up the cloud, producing brighter, sunny spells. Generally,

across the board, looking at 14 or 15. Not a bad day. Fairly cloudy.

Some sunny spells. Tomorrow night, almost identical to tonight. The

temperatures only a degree also lower. A lot of cloud. It will be

dry. Friday, we have a front heading down from the north so we

could see some rain perhaps but it is a generally dry picture, quite

cloudy, still in the warm sectors are still quite mild. During the

weekend, high pressure takes over. The colder air sinks in a rickety

temperatures back to normal with A look at tonight's main headlines:

A Sunday Times journalist is among dozens of civilians killed in the

Syrian city of Homs. Marie Colvin was covering a two week assault by