08/10/2013 Midlands Today

The headlines tonight: Failing in almost every respect — a scathing

report on one of the newest prisons in the country. There are calls to

shut oak—wood Prison in Staffordshire for good. We'll have

live reaction. Also tonight, a sex abuse charity

says it's overwhelmed by an 80% increase in cases since the Jimmy

Savile scandal came to light. I don't think any service in the land

can cope at the moment. Jimmy Savile has opened the biggest Pandora's box

you've ever seen. The changing face of the

countryside, with four large solar energy farms in the planning.

Reviving the wildlife, as an old quarry's transformed in a ten—year

plan to restore a Shropshire beauty spot.

And Shefali has the weather. After a lengthy run of warm weather, we may

have to finally say goodbye to it after today. The cold is about to

set in — join me later for the forecast.

Good evening. Failing in almost every respect — that's the damning

conclusion of the Chief Inspector of Prisons, following an unannounced

visit to oak—wood Prison near Wolverhampton. The private prison is

run by G4S and only opened in April 2012. It can hold more than 1600

prisoners. The report found that levels of violence and victimisation

were high, that drugs were easier to get than soap, and that prisoners

were frustrated by staff inexperience and their inability to

get things done. Sarah Falkland has been investigating what this means

for the future of the prison. When it opened, G4S said it would be

the best prison in the world. So what's gone wrong at oak—wood — the

prison some have now dubbed "Jokewood?" Oak—wood may be big and

impressive, but it has big problems, and this latest report makes for

some quite disturbing reading. Inmates saying it's as easy to get

hard drugs as it is to get a bar of soap, sex offenders not being

properly rehabilitated, and staff here are said to be passive to the

point of collusion. The Chief Inspector of Prisons says his report

into conditions at oak—wood is possibly the most damning he's ever

compiled. It wasn't safe, health care was very poor, one in seven of

the prisoners said they had developed a drug problem while in

prison, and there simply wasn't enough purposeful activity for

prisoners to do, so they weren't kept occupied by work or training.

He says too many inexperienced staff lie at the heart of problems here.

G4S' head of prisons says just 15% of the total 300 staff at oak—wood

have had experience of the prison service — that's less than half than

what he would have hoped for. Remember, this is a growth period,

and the staff are now six months more experienced than they were when

the inspectors came in. I know from personal experience across many

establishments that staff take a while to get used to the custodial

environment, which is a strange environment and can be very

challenging. And so they get more expertise in dealing with prisoners

and fellow human beings. In the Commons, the Shadow Justice

Secretary asked if the Government now wanted to rethink its plans for

so—called "super prisons." "To my mind, it's an excellent model for

the future of the Prison Service." That's what the current Justice

Secretary told us earlier this year. Do you stand by those words? The

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling conceded there was work to be done,

or as one former inmate put it, in his opinion, G4S weren't ready for

the London Olympics and they weren't ready for oak—wood. You We're joined

now by Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for

Penal Reform. Good evening to you. You refer to the prison as Jokewood

and say it should close — that is very strong stuff! Are actually,

it's not funny. It is not really joke, but the inmates and staff

apparently called best. Don't forget, you and I pay for this

through taxes, and G4S is making a profit, so something is going very

seriously wrong. When there are high levels of violence and the chief

inspectors prisons say he can trust what is being said. Prisoners are

coming out into the community without any proper support and

inevitably, will commit more crimes and more violent crimes do. Surely

it is hardly an option to close a prison so soon after it opens, when

presumably its facilities are in top order, "an excellent facility?" To

be the government are threatening to

close a school today, and... They say the facilities there are in top

order, so surely it just needs sorting or improving? The building

is new, but what is going on inside is a disaster area in every possible

way. The chief inspector said it is failing in every way, and of course

it should close. It should be a planned closure so it is done

safely, but G4S is not running this properly, and it is not safe for the

public. Would you then abandoned the building? I would, and let G4S pay

for it. It is their problem. Surely the whole point of an inspection is

to find where there is room for improvements? The chief inspected

didn't find any areas where there could be improvements, only the

building was good. This is very serious. People may come out and

commit more crimes, so this is the problem for us, facing people who

may have had their legs made worse by going into prison. The prospect

for staff, prisoners, and victims is a very poor, and the taxpayer is

paying into the profits of G4S for the privilege of this. Thank you

very much. And you can read more about how private prisons are

performing across the country, as well more analysis about oak—wood,

on the BBC's website for the Black Country. Plenty more ahead,

including: He's less than a year old, but he's already stopped

breathing more than 20 times — but why?

A Black Country charity which helps people who've been sexually abused

says they can't cope with the number of people contacting them since the

allegations of child abuse by Jimmy Savile first came to light. It's a

year since the documentary highlighting the historic abuse was

broadcast. And, as Cath Mackie's been finding out, it's had a huge

impact on victims as well as the authorities trying to deal with

their cases. This report contains flashing images.

One year ago, and Jimmy Savile's face is in the news. The face of a

prolific sex offender who'd fooled the nation. Watching her TV at home

in the Midlands was a woman we've called Yvonne. Her words are spoken

by someone else to protect her identity. I always felt sorry for

the victims, not knowing that I was a victim. I just went to bed, we'd

watched the 10pm News, and then, when I woke up the next morning,

there were all these vivid images. Yvonne was remembering sexual abuse

she suffered as a child. Memories which had been buried for years.

Pandora just opened her box, and now it's there. It can't be put back

away. Do you have any idea how long you were abused for? Years.

Throughout childhood? Yeah. It sounds extraordinary — almost

unbelievable — until you discover her abuser has since confessed to

the police. I'm frightened to go to sleep now in some ways, because I

don't know what I'm going to wake up with the next morning, and that's

exactly what happened. I went to bed and walk up the next morning with

all these images. The police referred Yvonne to Crisis Point — a

charity in Walsall which helps victims of rape and sex abuse.

They've seen an 84% rise in calls to their helpline, with more than 1100

calls in just six months. Can you cope as a service with the amount of

people bringing your hotline? Of course not. I don't think any

service in the land can cope at the moment. Jimmy Savile has opened the

biggest Pandora's box you've ever seen. Police, too, are under

pressure. The West Midlands Force is investigating 170 more cases of

historic abuse this year than last, and they're now reviewing whether to

increase staffing levels in public protection. Officers can cope, but

they have seen an increase in their personal workloads, and in many

cases there carrying significantly higher workloads. Subsequent cases,

like the jailing of Stuart Hall for a series of indecent assaults,

usually results in more calls for help. We need more money. We always

need more money and need to employ more people. Police say despite the

pressure, every case is investigated, and they are securing

more convictions. Yvonne is glad she's spoken out. This person dead

wrong, and —— this person dead wrong and I don't know how many years it

has been, but for me, I need justice.

A Coventry man has appeared in court, charged with murdering a

3—year—old girl in the city two years ago. Mariam Alam died in

hospital after ambulance crews were called to a house in the Foleshill

area of the city. Kamran Khalid denies murdering her, but he's

admitted perverting the course of justice.

Jaguar Land Rover have announced they're to stop production of the

Defender model. The last vehicle will roll off the production line at

the company's Solihull plant in December 2015. Although the name has

only existed since the 1990s, the vehicle has close links to the

original Land Rover from 1948. More than 6000 people have

registered to use a car rental scheme, set up in Birmingham earlier

in the year. Car2Go members can rent one of the 250 vehicles parked

anywhere around the city. Most journeys are under three miles — a

figure that leaves environmentalists with mixed views on the scheme's

value. If it's replacing journeys that are cycleable or walkable, and

they're just a quick hop round the city centre where people might have

walked previously, then obviously that's kind of increasing carbon

emissions and the environmental cost.

Not so long ago, the outlook for solar energy was definitely cloudy,

with subsidies being cut and grim talk that much of the industry would

be going out of business. In fact, the Midlands is seeing a solar boom,

including large scale solar farms — many of them in Shropshire. And

that's where our environment correspondent David Gregory—Kumar

has spent the day, David, I gather there are plans for a solar farm

near the village where you are? That's right. This is Condover, just

south of Shrewsbury. And in the village hall today, people have been

getting a first proper look a plans for a local solar farm. Really, the

people here are at the sharp end of a resurgence in the sector.

Inside Condover village hall plans are unveiled for a solar farm. So

what do local people think? 99% in favour. I think the only issue I

would have is probably some of the visual impact from various

viewpoints around needs to be addressed carefully. I think it's

good what they're doing, and I think it's good that animals can still

place. I think it's a good proposal. Here are some of the larger solar

farms in planning or being built in the Midlands. The largest being

planned is at a quarry in Burton upon Trent — 62500 panels. In

Shropshire, there are two schemes of around 35000, including Condover.

And Telford and Wrekin Council wants to build a 20000 panel scheme at

Wheat Leasows. If built, and when the sun is shining, the four schemes

could provide power for 65000 homes, or about half of Shrewsbury's energy

needs. But at the UK's biggest solar power conference in Birmingham

today, the Government was keen to stress it wants responsible

development of our countryside. I do not want to see inappropriate solar

developments in beautiful countryside. There is a place in

some cases first solar on brown field sites and low—grade

agricultural land, but it must be screened and muscle discarded beauty

of the countryside. And big solar farms might be good news for our

Midlands wildlife. We're seeing in interest from local wildlife trusts

in the —— looking at creating habitats. A lot of wild flowers and

habitats for birds and thinks and we're small animals within a fenced

off wildlife refuge, if you like. If Condover goes ahead, it could be

twice the size of this Nottinghamshire solar farm. Green

energy generator and wildlife haven — or blot on the landscape?

Well, let's talk now to the people involved in this. Jane is from the

solar building company working with the land. Many of the people we

talked to were happy, but many people were also not happy. That is

very true. Their prime concerned was due to visual impact of the site,

and we're going to listen to those comments and do what we can to

mitigate it, but overall, I think it was very positive. It is a big

project for the area, and I think we will see the benefits of the amount

of renewable energy that will be generated, so generally positive. It

is a bit of a boom, as we said in my report. Why are so many of these

farms appearing in Shropshire? I don't think there's a huge density

here. There is a good limitation, but in the UK, is an interesting

market. The support for the renewables is strong, and healthy,

and I don't think it's overgenerous. But it allows developers to take

place, and I think there are some opportunities. You say there is a

problem with the great in Shropshire. As it up to this? We

have struggled to find suitable capacity, and I think that issue is

generally a problem with the UK. The country does have a limit on how

much exploit can be made into the existing grid structure, and it's

hard to see how the renewables targets can be met within that red

constraint. It is a concern. Thank you very much, James. Tonight, we

will be live at the solar conference in Birmingham and taking the

temperature of the industry. This is our top story tonight:

Failing in almost every respect: a scathing report on one of the newest

prisons in the country. Your detailed weather forecast to come

shortly from Shefali. Also in tonight's programme —

restoring the breathtaking beauty of one of Shropshire's most famous

tourist destinations. And we catch up with Brummie comic

Joe Lycett as he returns to his home city for the comedy festival.

A mother from Coventry is desperate for answers about why her baby son

stops breathing and appears lifeless, only to recover minutes

later. Despite tests at her local hospital, everyone is still baffled

about what's happening. Nicole Drakeford has been speaking to our

reporter Kevin Reide. Baby Kyle looks as healthy as any

other 10—month—old, but since he was born, his mum says he's suddenly

stopped breathing more than 20 times. It was his older sister that

first noticed it. I was playing with him, and he stopped breathing and

went pale and grey. It really scared me and I didn't know what to do. For

his mum, it means keeping an eye on him 20 47. I can't leave him. The

minute he goes to bed, I am panicking and making sure he is OK.

I hate him being away from me. In spite of numerous hospital fillets,

he has not been diagnosed with anything wrong, and to hospitals are

at a loss. The hospital said they turned out numerous tests, but they

said they will continue to monitor him and he has an appointment with a

consultant at the end of the year. Less than one in 1000 is well

present with episodes like this, and in two and three quarters of them,

we may find a particular medical reason for those events, but around

about one quarter we will never find a reason for it, and those of the

cases that we need to continue to observe and monitor, giving that the

assurance that we expected the baby will in time great of it. I left

thinking, has been missed something? I want them to find something so

that they can get him the help that he needs. His mother has been

advised what to do if this happens again, unfortunately, the chances

are he will grow out of it. The Birmingham Brummies speedway

team will have to be on top form next Monday night, if they're to win

the Elite League Grand Final. In last night's first leg, the Brummies

were well below par, losing away to Poole Pirates by 57—36. They'll need

to make the most of their home advantage at Perry Barr in the

second leg if they're to overturn that 21—point deficit.

Stoke City are to be granted the Freedom of the City of

Stoke—on—Trent. The club was one of the founder members of the Football

League, and is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The Stoke

City chairman Peter Coates says it's a great honour for the club.

And staying with sport, a reminder that time's running out for you to

submit your nominations for this year's BBC Midlands Sports Unsung

Hero Award. We're looking for an individual or pair aged16 or over

who give their time on a voluntary basis to help others to participate

in sport. You can download a nomination form on the BBC Sport

website or call 0845 308 8000 and we'll send one to you. Calls cost up

to 5p a minute from a landline, but may be more from mobiles. The

closing date is Wednesday week, that's October the 16th.

"On Wenlock Edge, the wood's in trouble, His forest fleece the

Wrekin heaves." Perhaps you know AE Housman's famous poem about that

inspiring Shropshire beauty spot. Well, for years, it's been scarred

by a limestone quarry, but now work's begun to transform it and

bring back its wildlife and native plants. It's owned by a renewable

energy company which initially faced opposition. Joanne Writtle's been to

see the start of the regeneration. The lunar—like landscape of this

former quarry is being restored so that it can be returned to its

natural state. How much of a challenge is it turning what was an

industrial landscape back to nature? It is, actually, very challenging,

but it's a very rare opportunity to do such habitat creation on this

scale. So we are very, very excited. The land now belongs to a renewable

energy company employing 50 people. It buys in timber and produces wood

chip fuel. But the years of quarrying have left its scars.

Ecologists have been brought in to advise to advise on the 10—year

regeneration. The lagoon is part of the legacy of the quarry, the

quarrying that has been done so far, and in order to maximise the

biodiversity of the quarry, we are levelling out gradients in order to

create more valuable habitats. When the company first took over a week

ago, it faced opposition from those eager to preserve this geologically

important site on Shropshire's Wenlock Edge. We're standing on

20—odd miles of really nationally important wildlife site, and it

would be fantastic to see the whole lot going back, but we've got to

compromise. We can live with that, and we would really like to work

with the company to get the best deal we possibly can. It's hard to

imagine that 400 million years ago, this area was a tropical sea bed. It

is common to find fossils here, even coral, and that's why this area is

so important in geological circles. There are plans for a visitors

centre and large swathes of land will be open to the public. We did

get a lot of objections. We didn't think they were very well—informed

objections, but we have listened to them and we have acted on those, but

I think the end result is actually positive for all involved. It will

take time for the wildlife and native plants to return here. But

work has begun, and it's hoped that nature will soon take care of the

rest. Comedians from all over the UK are

in Birmingham this week for the annual comedy festival. This year,

Hollywood star Russell Brand is one of the big names to come to the

city. The festival also showcases local talent such as Barbara Nice

and Joe Lycett, who we'll be meeting in a moment. But first, our arts

reporter Satnam Rana joins us from an exhibition. What has this got to

do with comedy? Well, the Birmingham comedy festival

isn't just about stand—up comedians and their acts. It is also about

showcasing some of the other characters connected to the comedy

industry here, and behind me, we have a very unique exhibition of

some of the classic characters from through the decades of British

comedy. The man behind this is Steve. What is the inspiration for

this? Well, I actually grew up on them when I was a kid, I absolutely

loved them, and I wanted to wear them. —— on them. How has comedy

helped you? The comedy Festival has really raised the profile, and I am

an official artist in residence at the Dad's Army museum, so it's

brilliant. Much like Steve, it is much about raising their profiles,

and I went to meet one of them today.

Funny man Joe Lycett is back on home turf in Hall Green Birmingham, ahead

of his performance at the city's comedy festival on Thursday. So,

Joe, it began here? Yes, well, I went to scout group here, and I

tried to be a masculine boy, and they put me in a bin, so I realised

it wasn't possible and I wrote some stand—up about that. I think I've

always had, like, stupid voice, so everybody already thinks I'm a bit

of an idiot. For her epic challenge tonight, Jessica Green is going to

serve up ice creams using her hand and feet. He's been on the comedy

circuit for six years and has already made it on screen, in shows

like Epic Win? For their Epic Win tonight, our vertical tricksters

will be changing the wheels on their car whilst driving it. ..and Never

Mind The Buzzcocks. But for him, stand—up is his passion. In the last

few years, there's not been a lot of Birmingham comics coming out, so,

you know, I think we're a very funny group of people, and people should

be encouraged and given the option to do comedy here. And Joe is doing

exactly that. His current show has been compiled in this Birmingham

City centre cafe. I love the people here. I think they're so funny, and

they're just good Brummies, and it's a great place to work, is a good

place to be, and yeah, there's a lot of odd characters that come through

this place. There's loads of great characters here. Have you used them

in shows? I've used some of them, and some of them a bit frightened to

use them in case they kill me if I take the Mick out of them too much.

Joe is now touring with his first solo show, taking with him

inspiration from his home city and its people. Jill was following in

the footsteps of the like of Frank Skinner and Jasper carrot. The

festival has been running since 2001, and has become one of the

largest regional independent events of its kind. It has been another

sunny day today, hasn't it? Not for much longer? I'm not saying

we haven't got much sunshine, but still get some, and it leaves even

still be better than today. Some people started today on a cloudy

zero, but it is really the temperatures this week that are

going to give the game away and make us finally realise that autumn is

here. Not only are the days going to be colder, but the nights as well,

with a chance of frost and fog. This is the plunge of cold air that is

going to be filtering through to us by tomorrow, leading to the crash

and temperatures by Thursday. That's when the really well be a sharp

drop. For the time being, we are looking to the temperatures staying

in double—figure 's, with loads of around 10 Celsius, but for most of

the night, it will be dry, just towards the end of the night, we may

see some spots of rain here in there. That will herald the arrival

of small army of shower that Dominic —— a small army of showers that are

going to be in the region during the middle part of tomorrow. They will

be with us in the rest of the day, and they will move rapidly, because

the wind will be freshening up from the Northwest and because it is a

cold direction, temperatures model will drop from 45 cents US, only has

a 15 Celsius. Tomorrow, you will do we feel the cold bite. Temperatures

in towns and cities will drop to five or six Celsius, but in rural

areas, even lower than that. A touch of ground and even air frost, so

word of warning for farmers, gardeners, anyone with plants that

need protection. After that, high—pressure, and this is typical

these conditions, we have lighter winds and lower temperatures. You

will notice just a cost of showers to the east, which will affect us on

Friday, but Thursday will be dry and sunny, but as I see, cold.

Friday, but Thursday will be dry and sunny, but as Tonight's headlines

from the BBC: Bottom of the class — young people in the UK lack key

skills compared with the youth in other major economies.

And the banks start unveiling their