30/01/2014 Midlands Today

the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me, and on

If Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: Staff

injured and protestors arrested in violent clashes at the University of

Birmingham. Just a small minority have caused trouble. Police describe

it as serious public disorder. We'll be talking live to a protest leader

to find out what they're trying to achieve and whether he condones last

night's violence. Also tonight, a care worker filmed rifling through a

handbag and stealing from the elderly woman she was supposed to be

looking after. It was really hard to watch and to have the know it was

true. How drones and robots are revolutionising agriculture Absolute

screamer: one of seven goals in an absolute thriller at Villa last

night. This match could not be improved upon. And today we finally

got some wintry weather with snow flurries across the West Midlands,

it's all change again tomorrow though as we turn our attention to

flooding. Your full forecast is coming up later.

Good evening. Students clashed with police during a demonstration at the

University of Birmingham that officers said escalated into a

serious public order incident. 13 people were arrested after violence

erupted ` and the university said smoke bombs and fireworks were

thrown, doors were smashed down and staff injured on its Edgbaston

Campus last night. The protest was being staged against rising tuition

fees and low staff wages. Supporters of Defend Education Birmingham

unfurled a banner on the university clock tower and occupied two

buildings. These were the scenes as a rally

turned ugly at the University of Birmingham. Students from around the

country had travelled here. The University said staff were injured,

fireworks and smoke bombs thrown and doors smashed down. Protesters claim

they were "kettled" by police ` something officers strongly refute

Two groups ` Defend Education Birmingham and the National Campaign

Against Fees and Cuts were involved in the rally. I was trapped on a

rooftop forth for hours with the police not letting anyone call. But

the university's Guild of Students has expressed its disappointment.

Graffiti appearing to promote the demonstration was still in evidence

today where we spoke to a student who condemned the protests: they are

a minority and did not represent the student body and they are not

representing students and are damaging university property. How

much damage has been done? There is graffiti. The University has issued

a statement saying that while peaceful protest is part of

university life, they will not condone damage to property. It

emerged tonight that some students are still occupying a building on

campus. A legal notice for them to leave is expected to be enforced on

Monday. I'm joined now from outside

Birmingham University by Michael Chessum, of the National Campaign

against Fees and Cuts. Good evening. People were hurt last night. Do you

defend the actions of your supporters? Violence came

overwhelmingly from police and security guards.

What is the point of the whole thing? We are fighting for a free

and accessible education for everyone which is democratic and

does not rely on exploiting staff and education workers. That was the

message of the protest yesterday and the message of the growing student

movement. The Guild of Students at Birmingham University have distanced

themselves from your protest ` hardly a recommendation. I think the

statement was unfortunate but I think that the message that was

taken out yesterday and spread across the country has an enormous

backing and is very widespread. At the University say you are on your

representative. `` on representative. The student movement

is far more representative of the filling on campus. From one

university to another` Staffordshire University has today confirmed plans

to shut its Stafford campus and move students to Stoke`on`Trent. Nearly

3,000 students will move from the Beaconside site to the university's

main campus by 2016. The university said there would be job losses as a

result of the decision. Here's our Staffordshire reporter, Liz Copper.

Moving from Beaconside is a decision that's been widely anticipated and

widely criticised by some students The decision was made by the

university's Board of Governors. There are a lot of good facilities

but now it is going to stoke and I do not think they will have the

space. The decision was made by the University board of governors. The

university says it has made the decision because it has made

economic sense. The Chair of the Board of Governors wouldn't be drawn

on how many job losses there will be or on the precise plans for the

future of the buildings in Stafford. It is not appropriate or sensible to

have two campuses when we can accommodate all students on one

campus. The priority is to release money and spend it on the right

things for students. This is where most of the university's 9,000

full`time students will study, in Stoke`on `Trent. The university will

be looking at investment needed here to accommodate extra students.

During the transition period help will be offered by their union, the

NUS. I think we have to support students wherever they go. Back in

Stafford, Rich Bishop is a graduate who started a software development

company more than a decade ago. He's now considering moving, too. I am

absolutely gutted. The majority of staff who work here come from the

University but with the university not there any more there is no point

of us being here. The university says it will aim to minimise

disruption to students at a time when competition in the university

sector has never been higher. I'm joined now by Professor Michael

Gunn, Vice Chancellor at Staffordshire University. Good

evening. The town's MP, Jeremy Lefroy, says you've dealt a blow to

Stafford. Can you understand his point of view? We are concentrating

on the student experience and we believe this is important for

students who wish to study with us and for the future of the

University. A successful university and Stoke will benefit the whole of

the county. There's a firm in our report that says it could pull out

of Stafford now ` is it any concern that you could now spark a brain

drain or business drain? We recognise there are downsides and we

do think it is a positive picture but we do recognise the is the

downside for Stafford. We would love to have health sciences pro version

in the town centre. But the University of Staffordshire is now

basically the University of Stoke`on`Trent Is this purely a

financial decision? No, some of our provision will still be in Stafford.

We like to offer provision across the county and we have a campus in

Lichfield and partners in further education colleges that do some of

our degrees across Staffordshire. What do you think this will this do

for the city? It will bring activity for the city and our students will

get a lot out of a vibrant city. They will contribute to the life of

the city. Thanks for joining us this evening. You're watching Midlands

Today from the BBC. I do not see the point in measuring life in terms of

time but in what I achieved. A carer who was caught on CCTV stealing

money from the purse of an elderly woman has been given a suspended

prison sentence. Nadia Summers admitted theft after the suspicious

family of Lynette Nardone installed secret cameras in her Wolverhampton

home. Ben Godfrey reports. Nadia Summers is supposed to be a

carer but how many carers do this? The 24`year`old wastes no time in

rifling through her employer's purse before stuffing three ?20 notes into

her bra. She was supposed to be caring for Lynette Nardone at her

home in South Staffordshire. The 64`year`old suffers from a

neuro`degenerative condition. She took on Summers privately to assist

with everyday tasks, like washing and getting dressed. Lynnette finds

the betrayal too upsetting to talk about. I felt sick and was really

angry that someone any of care and trust in somebody that she was

genuinely fond of did that to her. This afternoon, Nadia Summers, from

Codsall, seen here with the brown bag, ` was given a suspended 12`week

jail term, ordered to do community service and pay Lynnette Nardone

?1000 in compensation. She had nothing to say. I do not know why

she did it is and I do not want this story to tarnish good carers but it

is really tough for everybody involved. The family had suspicions

about Summers stealing from a purse last November and secretly installed

this CCTV system which cost them ?1000. And it's not the first time a

carer has been caught red`handed. These images from 2011 show a carer

trying to steal from a safe. Another family, in Birmingham, targeted for

their money by someone they thought they could trust. Trevor Thomas has

cerebral palsy ` his mother is an advisor on safeguarding adults. She

wants local councils to offer security cameras for families

funding their own care. How can somebody who has communication

problems tell people what is happening to them? Posters have gone

all round the city but we need to understand the our hidden deceitful

people in every profession. Tonight, the question many families are

asking is this. Why should it take CCTV evidence to expose the minority

who really couldn't care less? Could thousands of motorists have

fines they've received for driving in bus lanes in Birmingham

scrapped? More than 80,000 tickets have been issued since new lanes

with cameras were introduced. But, after some drivers appealed, a

traffic inspector's now to decide whether the lanes are fair and

legal. Bob Hockenhull is in the city centre tonight. Bob, explain the

background to this? What are the chances, do you think, that the

council will have to pay back the fines? Many of the drivers have been

caught here, driving southbound on Priory Queensway. Motorists have

complained they couldn't see the signs early enough to avoid the bus

lane.The council's made ?1.7 million pounds in fines in just three

months. The individual fine is ?60, cut in half if paid promptly.Some of

those caught by the cameras have appealed to the Independent Traffic

Penalty Tribunal questioning the legality of the lanes. Now there's

to be a series of hearings at a hotel in Birmingham next month to

determine whether their fines were fair.The adjudicator will hear about

20 cases, some of those appealing have had multiple fines.One of the

main campaigners is Ben Cheney, and I spoke to him a little earlier What

chances are there that the council will have to pay back the fines?

Well while he's here, the adjudicator will make a site visit.

If he agrees the signs don't give ample warning, that will open the

floodgates for many more appeals. When you see these people driving up

from the children's Lane doing a turn that they are not aware is

illegal and that they are being fined repeatedly, that is my

concern, not my ?60 and ?90. What chances are that the council will

have to pay back the findings? The adjudicator is coming to make the

visit and if he decides the signs of not adequate enough that will open

the floodgates. There are a lot of people angry about this and that has

been a case in Colchester where Essex County Council has paid back

in million pounds in fines because the signs were not adequate.

Birmingham City Council is not doing that will stop I've spoken to the

council and it says in its view "the bus lane signs are compliant and

drivers were given plenty of notice that it would be enforcing this,

including a period of grace." This is our top story tonight: Staff

injured and protestors arrested in violent clashes at the University of

Birmingham. Rebecca's standing by to tell us about yet more rain and also

in tonight's programme Forget Robocop, this is Robocrop. A new

cutting`edge tool to help our farmers survey the land And spot`on!

A teenager with terminal cancer who set out to make ?10,000 for the

Teenage Cancer Trust has instead raised more than half a million

pounds for the charity. Stephen Sutton, from Burntwood in

Staffordshire, is combining his incredible fundraising with a list

of ambitions to fulfil ` a bucket list which includes sky diving,

playing the drums in front of 90,000 people, hugging an elephant and

having a tattoo. I am delighted to see that Stephen joins me now in the

studio. ?500,000. How on earth have you managed it? I made a Facebook

page called Stephen's story and the whole community where I live has

rallied around me. The amount of people that have got involved has

been incredible. I have been working very hard organising events and

talks. This is what the Teenage Cancer Trust say about you. How does

that make you feel when people say something like that? I find the best

way to help myself is to help others and I am proud of the feeling I get

by doing this and raising money. The Teenage Cancer Trust supported me

when I needed it. What is your favourite moment? Drumming at

Wembley in front of 90,000 people and crowd surfing on a rubber

dinghy. And the elephant yesterday? I stood next to him and his trunk

came round me. I fed him some bread and we had a good date. Do you ever

say why me? The best thing is not to say why me but try me. It is good to

meet you. Thank you very much. And you'll find more information about

Stephen's remarkable story on the Midlands Today Facebook page. Now,

off to the great outdoors. Could robots and drones replace farmers?

Or at least become an important part of modern agriculture ` monitoring

the harvest from the air as the robots work in the fields? Our Rural

Affairs Correspondent David Gregory`Kumar has been given a

special tour of the cutting edge of farming.

This is the opening of Harper Adams University's ?3 million Agricultural

Engineering Innovation Centre in Newport, Shropshire. And can you

spot what's missing from these tractors and quad bikes? No steering

wheel. What we are looking at is one of our greatest tractors and turning

it into a robotic tractor. We are ticking off the steering wheel and

controls and putting it under computer control. Although a person

is in charge of it, there is no steering wheel. The college at

Newport in Shropshire is building the agricultural robots of the

future. We are getting big tractors coming in which is about economies

of scale. I cannot see tractors being doubled the size in ten years

time. Where can we make savings and efficiencies? This robot is designed

to trundle around a vineyard and check the health of vines. Something

like this could check on weeds and apply weedkiller the individual

leaves. Robots may well be the future but in agriculture the drones

are already here. If you fly over a crop with this technology and give

the data to a scientist, he can look at the imagery and work out what

needs to be done with the soil conditions. The machines are coming

to a field or orchard near you. Dan's here with the sport. What a

cracking night it was at Villa Park! The Villa manager says he is very

proud of his players after last night's match.

By the end of the night, the Villa fans were jubilant. It had all

looked so different 90 minutes earlier. Albion's new Head Coach

Pepe Mel had barely taken his seat before his team were ahead through

Chris Brunt's stunning strike. And when Fabian Delph scored an own goal

to put Albion two up before we'd even played ten minutes Villa Park

was stunned. But just like the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns a

two`goal lead would not be enough for the Baggies. Andi Weimann got

the first one back and we had still only played thirteen minutes. Then

came a huge stroke of luck as Leandro Bacuna's sliced shot flew

off his own face and into the net. If that goal was fortunate Villa's

third was sublime as Delph made amends for his own goal with a

brilliant strike Ben Foster barely saw as it flew past him. But just as

Villa seemed to have control a sweet passing move saw Yussuf Mulumbu draw

Albion level .Six goals and we still hadn't reached half`time. Inevitably

the second half was tenser and tighter but Villa won it when Diego

Lugano fouled Christian Benteke and the Belgian kept his cool under

pressure to clinch a critical victory. It was a great derby game

to play in and we have come out with three points. The score of 30 away

`` 3`0 away is great. It was my first time of going to a football

match in England and I am very excited because I support the love.

`` Villa. It leaves Villa in the top half while Albion are just two

points above the relegation zone. This though was a night that will

live long in the memories of those who watched it, especially if you're

a Villa fan. But Stoke City, like Albion, are

looking over their shoulders after they lost 1`0 at Sunderland last

night. Adam Johnson scored the goal after goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had

only managed to parry a shot. Stoke also has Steven Nzonzi sent off but

were unlucky not to get a draw. This header from Ryan Shawcross was among

a number of good chances they created. So where exactly does all

that leave our three clubs in terms of Premier League survival? Well,

let's take a look at the bottom of the table. This is the bottom seven.

Villa are well above there and are now eight points above the

relegation zone. But Albion and Stoke have just a three point

cushion. And they play Liverpool and Manchester United next. And of

course, the January transfer window closes tomorrow ` but Wolves have

made a signing today. And he's one of their former players. They signed

striker Leon Clarke from Coventry City.

The fee's around ?750,000. He's played for 14 different clubs now.

He scored this hat`trick for Chesterfield. And tomorrow we'll be

watching out for all the transfers in and out of our clubs. We'll have

very latest in our bulletins throughout the day including the

late bulletin at 10.25. Thanks, Dan. And the way the

weather's been lately it's a wonder we've had any sport at all! At least

we had a change from the rain today in central Birmingham ` snow! Quite

heavy for a while and an absolute joy if you were shopping in it, as I

was(!) Time for the forecast and I'm beginning to think you're going

off me, Nick, it has certainly felt a lot colder today ` the first

wintry weather we've had for some time. We even got some snow flurries

as you said. This January was the wettest since records began in 1910.

We have seen twice the average rainfall in the Midlands. But the

temperatures have been above average selectors felt a little milder.

Tonight we have some cold weather to content worth. There could be some

clear spells and some pockets of fog and frost forming. Temperatures have

not climbed very much the said they do not have far to fall but you

could get into minus figures. As we look at the West, the next band of

rain begins to make its way across the country. We have 17 flood

warnings in place already, and 21 flood alerts across the Midlands. If

you're worried you can call Floodline. So tomorrow starts off

cold and dry, but cloud will start to build ahead of the rain moving

in. Winds are also strengthening Tonight's headlines from the BBC.

That rain will be every `` heavy. Temperatures will be better than

today but those winds will pick up so it will feel quite chilly and

that rain will stick with us through tomorrow and finally cleared away.

Showers could start to fall as wintry weather so it will be a

chilly start to Saturday. There will be high spring tides which will

compound the flooding problems or speech and to your forecast during

the weekend. Tonight's headlines from the BBC.

The military arrives to help with flood relief in Somerset, where some

communities have been cut off for weeks: And staff were injured and

protestors arrested in violent clashes at the University of

Birmingham. Police describe it as serious public disorder. That was

the Midlands Today. I'll be back at ten o'clock. Have a great evening.

Goodbye.