26/06/2013 Midlands Today

with Joanne Malin and Nick Owen. The headlines tonight: More money for

the region's infrastructure as the Government loosens the purse

strings, but business leaders say it's not enough. The government

isn't showing power to give commitment to the regions. We'll be

asking exactly what today's announcement could mean for the

Midlands. Also tonight, Muslim leaders' shock as a mosque is daubed

with offensive graffiti. How lemon juice is helping to preserve and

restore an historic German bomber. Endangered in the wild, how the

birth of this snow leopard cub at Dudley Zoo gives hope the animals

may survive. And depending upon which way you look at it, there's

some good news and bad news in the forecast over the coming days. Hear

all about it the later. Good evening. The projected cost of the

High Speed Two Rail line through the region shot up by an astonishing �10

billion today. The announcement came as the Government set out its

Spending Review including news of a �2 billion investment fund that's

expected to benefit this region. business leaders in Birmingham today

said that fell far short of the �50 billion they'd been hoping for.

There are also to be more deep cuts in council spending. Our Political

Editor Patrick burns is at the Houses of Parliament now... More

pain, which we've come to expect, Patrick, but some gain too today for

this region? Little doubt now that our part of the country is in line

for a significant chunk of that infrastucture investment the

Chancellor kept talking about. Don't be surprised if our motorway network

is high on the list when the details are mentioned tomorrow. Bob

Hockenhull has been assessing reaction to the Chancellor's

statement. The Chancellor loosening the purse strings to kick start

economic growth. That's at least �10 billion over the next Parliament,

that is a sum that local enterprise partnerships can bid for"

Aspirations for an infrastructure boost have rarely been higher in the

heart of England. The West Midlands will want as much of that cash as

possible but for some in Birmingham, the amount made available fell way

short. We are disappointed because we were expecting a lot more money

and we wanted enough more. One major project already underway is New

Street Station - being rebuilt as part of an �800 million investment.

You will see all of the old station structures demolished. A thousand

workers, many recruited locally, are involved. It wouldn't be happening

without Government cash and it's not just not about improving rail

services. This is where they are building the John Lewis complex. It

is a construction site now but in 18 months it will be full of shoppers

and more importantly, job opportunities. So has the Chancellor

done enough to kick-start similar giant projects? The Greater

Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership will be

responsible for delivering any economic revival. We've been given a

reason to believe that we will be invited early in the process. The

important thing is it is the beginning of a different process.

The budget for one huge infrastructure project for

Birmingham - the High Speed Two rail line - shot up today by �10 billion

to 42 billion. The Government says it still may not cost that much and

opponents are still determined to scupper the whole project. New

pictures show what HS2 trains could look like and one of the companies

involved believes it's a price worth paying. There are statistics across

the world that demonstrates that putting money into infrastructure is

more beneficial than making cuts elsewhere and cutting taxes.

sentiment that people in the region will hope George Osborne will agree

with. Infrastructure projects don't come any bigger than High Speed Two.

MPs are preparing to vote in the second reading of the bill. They are

still absorbing the news that the cost has shot up to �42 billion. I

am joined by two MPs who are strong supporters of high-speed rail.

Surely this news is bound to embolden your party colleagues who

feel strongly that we should not throw any good money after bad?

underlying problem is capacity. There has been a doubling in

long-distance rail travel in recent years because of the cost of

motoring. The imperative here is one of capacity and although I have

reservations about the impact on my constituency, and I am trying to get

at the compensation for my constituents, I do think for the

West Midlands we need that capacity. Surely the voices will be stronger

against it? Road capacity between London and Birmingham and the rest

of the country will give it the economic growth we need. We need to

get the calculations right which is why am worried about the

announcement because if we can't get the figures right and do the

calculations then those people who don't believe in infrastructure

investment will have ammunition. The infrastructure decision itself is

right. Moving onto the Spending Review, you are among the

signatories of the letter. It is a remarkable display of cross-party

unity. 18 MPs wrote to the Chancellor in support of the funding

growth. Lord Howe Tyne has said it is more than that. It is 15 billion

at the time you bring European monies in the play. It is important

that we have written to the Chancellor on a cross-party basis

because West Midlands needs to speak with one voice when we compete for

the money. One voice is important. The announcement today was 2 billion

which is not enough so I hope there will be more money. My thanks to you

both. Coming up later in the programme: the challenge for police

with more cost-cutting on the way. Could new technology be part of the

answer to keeping an eye on criminals? Racist graffiti daubed on

a Mosque in Worcestershire is being investigated by police. It included

swastikas and the initials of the far right English Defence League.

Officials at the Mosque say relations between Muslims and other

communities are good. Tonight the EDL said they had nothing to do with

the incident. Giles Latcham reports. At Redditch, on a mosque still under

construction, the Nazi swastika, the initials of the Ku Klux Klan and the

far right English Defence League and National Front. Their place of

worship defaced, Mosque officials were shocked and saddened - but

believe it was an act influenced by events elsewhere. My first reaction

is sadness but as you can see, up and down the country, after the

incident in Woolwich, there have been incidents highlighted in the

press. Council staff were soon on site to help with the clean up.

Police believe it began as a break-in by burglars targeting

builder's equipment - but turned into a hate crime. I think all of us

are really shocked by this activity and we are keen to see the offenders

brought to justice and provides support to our residents. Two men

have been charged following an alleged arson attack on a mosque in

Gloucester last week. A mosque in Walsall was sealed off at the

weekend when a device left outside partially exploded. In Redditch,

both police and the Mosque committee say community relations are good.

But last summer about 100 EDL supporters marched through the town

and some younger Muslims believe there are tensions. Especially with

these younger lots as well, they are making it into more of a racist

motivation. Before, it was not like this. It has gone pear shaped.

spokesman for the EDL denies they're stirring hatred or that their

supporters were involved last night. I do not accept or believe that this

was anyone from the English Defence League. We banned the swastika. All

you have to do is go on our website. We are proud supporters of Israel.

Whoever did though has caused upset and worry. The police's message is

one of reassurance, the accent is on harmony. The father of a

four-year-old boy alleged to have been starved and murdered by his

mother and stepfather has told a court his son was a "normal and

healthy" child. Erik Pelka who'd travelled from Poland to give

evidence said Daniel Pelka, who died from a head injury at his home in

Coventry in March last year, had eaten his food without difficulty

during the first year of his life. The senior investigating officer

Detective Inspector Chris Hanson said he was shocked at the severity

of the boy's emaciation. One of six men on trial for causing explosions

in North Staffordshire last year has died. Edvinas Sermuksnis from

Belfast was charged with conspiracy to cause explosions last August and

making threats to kill. The court heard there were no suspicious

circumstances around his death. trust that runs Walsall Manor

Hospital has put in a bid to take over the running of Cannock

Hospital. It's the latest twist in the health care scandal in

Mid-Staffordshire - as Cannock's part of the same trust which runs

Stafford Hospital and is now in administration. But, in the new

world of NHS competition, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals are also

understood to be keen on on staking a claim to Cannock. To explain all -

here's our health correspondent, Michele Paduano. This ward is one of

two opened in Walsall to absorb extra patients coming in from

Staffordshire. Lisa Ayre has a pulmonary embolism. She lives a mile

from Cannock and convalescing nearer home would be an advantage. Panic

would be ideal for myself and for my family and friends to come and visit

me. Walsall hospital believes that it can provide a range of scanning

and diagnostic treatment in Cannock. It says a multi million pound

development has been costed and is viable. Our main focus is to use

Cannock Chase Hospital as a base for people to get a really good local

server so they do not have to travel further afield. Royal Wolverhampton

Hospitals is also interested but has not officially made its bid known It

plans two new operating theatres and a free bus service from

Wolverhampton to Cannock, but would need a �30 million investment.

Cannock Hospital is underused and was threatened with closure. With

two suitors fighting over it, Cannock's future here looks

brighter. I understand that both hospitals were going to do a joint

bid, and this shows a new NHS where hospitals are competing against each

other. So what do the people of Cannock think? It is easier to

commute to Walsall than Wolverhampton. I have no preference.

I think, Wolverhampton. They said they would put buses on between the

two. The Trust special administrator will utimately decide its future.

There could be private sector bid as well. Michele Paduano, BBC Midlands

Today. This is our top story tonight: Hopes that the region will

receive a hefty share of the Chancellor's �2 billion pledge to

help businesses, but disappointment it wasn't more. Shefali will have

the weather shortly. Also, in tonight's programme: As England take

on the world champions in Staffordshire, is women's football

breaking through into the big time? And one of the world's rarest and

most beautiful creatures, we're live with Dudley Zoo's new snow leopard

cub. Back to the Chancellor's spending plans now - one man with a

keen eye on his finances is Staffordshire's Police and Crime

Commissioner. Matthew Ellis is expecting to oversee savings of

seven million pounds for each of the next two years. Our Staffordshire

reporter Liz Copper followed him throughout a typical day to find out

about the difficulties of cutting budgets at the same time as cutting

crime. The day begins with an eight o'clock management briefing with an

agenda reflecting the impact of government decisions on police

funding. There are some real chances of making savings on front-line

policing. We are working closer together. Next a meeting in Codsall

focusing on mental health issues. you could change one thing, what

would it be? This meeting's followed by a surgery. Parish councillors are

here to discuss specific policing problems. It comes amid reports the

Police and Crime Commissioner's role could be widened. There is talk of

expanding the role to encompass all emergency services. That seems like

a unrealistic expectation. The Fire Service is a good candidate, I

think. I talked to the Prime Minister about it. Inspite of those

high level talks, the Fire Brigades Union's attacked those plans, saying

"it's not suitable for PCCs' roles to be extended". And not everyone at

the surgery's a political ally either. I am sceptical about the

Police Commissioner's role and the way they were elected, and the

principle of it as well. I think we need to give him time. After the

surgery, there is another meeting. Then a chance to speak to officers

on the front line. Next the PCC's in Penkridge, hearing from those who've

been helped by Victim Support. Cost-cutting in the criminal justice

system happens in the wrong place. Staffordshire's the only force in

the country to use this drone - much cheaper than a force helicopter -

and it can beam back pictures to help officers. The PCC wants to

invest more in technology to improve services. There are those who would

say it is unrealistic to expect improvements in services without

more money. It is not easy but I think the sense is that we have

sufficiently high ambitions that we have to buy into. This will give us

a better chance at succeeding over the years. The day ends with a

public meeting ahead of the launch of a four year vision for policing

in Staffordshire. Of course, ultimately, it'll be voters who

decide just how successful all our PCCs have been. Liz Copper, BBC

Midlands Today, Staffordshire. German bomber lifted from the

English Channel is now being drenched again inside a hangar in

Shropshire. The process should stop the unique aircraft deteriorating

further. Only when that's done can restoration of the World War Two

Dornier begin. Our reporter Joanne Writtle had exclusive access to the

delicate operation. In a sorry state and being restored in two greenhouse

tunnels in Shropshire, a Dornier 17, the world's only surviving German

World War II bomber of its kind. Pictures of it being lifted from the

seabed in Kent were beamed around the world earlier this month.

Rescued from its watery grave after being shot down in 1940.

Conservations teams at RAF Museum Cosford are now revelling in

restoring it. There are bits that are amazing. There is painted

equipment and I have a piece here which came out of the wreckage. You

can still see part of the number and identification mark painted on it.

But mostly it's a mass of barnacles. Being drenched in ten minutes bursts

with water and citric acid - similar to lemon juice basically.

irrigation scheme is on a cycle. We sprayed and keep it wet. We cleaned

that off and start off with soft brushes. Hopefully, that will

preserve anything that is underneath like the original paint schemes.

Dornier gained the nickname "the flying pencil" because of it's

narrow fusilage. This Dornier's pencil like fusilage was separated

from the wings for its journey to Shropshire from Kent. The RAF Museum

conservation team is based here at cost for it. To illustrate how it

will be peace to gather in a couple of years' time, look no further than

this German fighter plane here. Engineers painstakingly married the

fusilage back to the wings on this Fockewulf fighter craft. Such work

is a long way off for the Dornier. Visitors meanwhile have had glimpses

through windows. A lot better than what I was expecting. I thought it

was going to be falling to pieces. Eventually the plane will go to RAF

Museum Hendon in London to be displayed, that's if it's not too

fragile to move again. Isn't that fascinating? All of those barnacles!

Five thousand young football supporters turned out in

Staffordshire this afternoon to cheer England's women off to the

European Championships in Sweden. They drew 1-1 with the world

champions Japan at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. And it's the

Japanese example the Football Association want to follow to grow

the women's game in England. Nick Clitheroe reports. This was more

than just another step on the road to the Euros. This was a chance to

inspire the next generation. Women's football is already the fastest

growing sport in the country but they're not stopping there. Four and

a half thousand tickets were given away to schools and colleges to

ensure the crowd was young and enthusiastic. I haven't seen England

play. I am going to Sweden as well so I am looking forward to it. I

have not seen ladies play before. The FA would like to make women's

football here as popular as it is in Japan. The match kicked off at

lunchtime so it could be shown live to millions back home. It is a good

chance to play against England, they are very good. 3-1 to Japan!It is a

big day for Japan. They will head off to Sweden and go one better than

losing the final four years ago. England wanted this game to give

them the toughest possible preparation for the Euros but for

much of the game it looked as if former Birmingham City striker Eni

Aluko's goal would give them a morale boosting win. Japan equalised

nine minutes from the end but it looked as if England had won the

game in the final minute until an offside flag cut short their

celebrations. We have a really tough group. We are taking each game as it

comes. I know that is a cliche but they have named it the group of

death. We will see. We have some tough games coming up. England play

Spain in their first group game on the 12th of July and after today

they'll have plenty of new young fans to cheer them on. Nick

Clitheroe, BBC Midlands Today, Burton upon Trent. Despite the

rather clinical name, Cub X, is without doubt the cutest attraction

at Dudley Zoo in decades. That's because Cub X is a rare snow

leopard. Staff still don't know its sex because the cub's had no human

contact to guard against any chance of infection. Sarah Falkland is at

the big cat enclosure now. Snow Leopards are very rare these days,

aren't they? Estimates are that there are only around 4000 snow

leopard left in round the world. He is a handsome man, isn't he? He is

the father of the cup. If you think he is handsome, you have not seen

his offspring. He is adorable. A tiny big cat. Curious and

captivating. He is very confident for an eight-week-old cup. The dad

is placid and the mum is feisty so it will be interesting to see which

character he takes on. She is still giving milk to her cub but already

the little one it is developing a taste. Horse meat, occasionally. It

depends what we get. Not easy grabbing lunch when your claws are

so small. We put the meat pies so we encourage him to climb up and

around. The cub is destined to a life in captivity. They are an

endangered species under all kinds of threats. Their bones are used in

Oriental medicine. As if being squeezed out of their habitat is not

enough, some have been blown up by landmines. Even when it is fully

grown, the cub will never roar. Snow leopards hiss and growl instead. We

will find out if the cub is male or female in a few weeks when it is

handled for its vaccinations. The consensus is that it is a female

because she is so pretty. I think it is cute. I would like to cuddle it.

It is very pretty. Nice to see him. She is lovely, yes. Well, the cub is

part of an international breeding programme. What does that mean? It

means that this is part of an international programme and the cub

will go to Europe to join another male or female to continue the

breeding programme. How long will you keep the cub? Up to about 18

months. We are being carefully watched by the father here. A proud

daddy. They had a bit of a fight earlier. Ie keeping them segregated?

Some of them are segregated. The mum will look after the baby and the

baby will make its own way so it is very similar to what we do here. We

are being cautious. They can get protective, especially newborn,

first-time mothers. Is it a boy or girl? Properly a girl.We will bring

you the news first. I think it is a boy! Temperatures would seem to

suggest things are improving. Beautiful day today. We basically

got a watered down version of what was going on across the Iberian

Peninsula and beyond with the air originating from the Azores. Our top

temperatures almost matched Gibralter's and Barcelona's.They got

twenty two We got just over twenty celsius at both Hereford and

Pershore. The North of the region didn't fare as well with Keele

reaching only 16 but as you can see from that table, a lot of places

were into the high teens but it's likely to get even warmer than that

later this week. We have a series of warm sectors to come through. The

first tomorrow. The second on Friday and the third on Sunday but while

we're at the centre of these, not only will temperatures rise but so

will the humidity. However, there will be some rain to come from them.

It's reasonably clear across us right now though there is this bank

of cloud sitting out to the East which is just squeezing out the odd

light shower. But they'll die out and the night's looking dry and some

some clear spells - some isolated mist patches and lows of 11 celsius.

So it'll be dry with a bit of sunshine tomorrow morning but, after

that, as the first warm sector pushes through, and it's coming

through quicker now, we'll see it turning cloudier and wetter through

the afternoon with a top temperature of 17 celsius. Let's recap tonight

top stories. George Osborne has announced �11.5 billion worth of