06/03/2014 Midlands Today

Yard's handling of the case. That's all from the BBC News

Hello, and welcome to Midlands Today.

The headlines tonight: Exports reach record levels ` export growth here

is higher than anywhere elsd in the UK. The value of goods made here

reached nearly ?30 billion last year.

Our companies are feeling confident, and that is what is driving the

growth. Also, tonight: A court backs a

widow's fight for the chancd to have a baby using her dead husband's

sperm. The improvements causing ch`os `

Coventry commuters stuck for hours and the roadworks will last three

years. They have made an utter mess. They

need to be shot. Jonathan Trott will start the season

for Warwickshire, after leaving the Ashes tour early with a

stress`related illness. And the sun may have disappdared for

the time being, but the temperatures are rising and there's great news

for next week. Hear all abott it in the forecast later.

Good evening. The value of exports from the West

Midlands has reached record levels. Figures released today also show

that export growth here is the highest anywhere in the UK. The

value of West Midlands`made goods being sold abroad reached ?29.6

billion in 2013, a rise of 08 % on the previous year. Much of the rise

is down to the success of companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and JCB,

but all over the region firls are reporting strong order books and the

prospect of new jobs. Here's our business correspondent Peter

Plisner. Mixing sealants so the engines in

our cars don't leak. This Coventry firm has a big share of the market,

and following a decline in car`making, here, virtually

everything it makes now goes abroad. We started following them to Asia,

the UK, in Europe, as well, and in Korea which is a big market.

In addition to making sealants for engines, they also make the plant

machinery to apply them. It's another area of big export growth.

All the books are full for the next two years.

Many of the manufacturers fhnished in last week's Made in the Lidlands

special, highlighting exports as the reason they are growing. Colpanies

like JCB and Jaguar Land Rover are amongst the biggest exporters in the

region. But manufacturers aren't the only ones going abroad ` thhs

Worcester`based technology firm provides postcode and address

searches for websites all over the world.

Here, growth in exports is helping to grow the company.

As a technology business, wd are not restricted by the size of otr

factory. We can add more servers around the world to accommodate

growth, and to do it really quickly. Poring over the figures, thhs

morning, it's all good news for the man in charge of helping to boost

exports for the West Midlands. I think we've got great companies

here in the West Midlands ` manufacturing is at the heart of

what we do. Those companies, and the products they make, work re`lly well

in the overseas market. With strong order books boosted by

exports, it is perhaps not surprising that the latest survey of

West Midlands' manufacturers says that more than half of them are

expecting to create new jobs over the next six months.

And Peter joins me, now. So, why are exports here rising so much fast

than other regions in the country? One word ` automotives. That is

counting for almost three qtarters of exports in 2013. That sector rose

27% compares to previous ye`rs. That success is driving success hn other

companies, particularly those in the automotive supply chain.

Away from cars ` what are other sectors are doing well in this

region? Manufacturing are doing incredibly

well. A lot of what is being made is not directly being exported, but is

assembled and then sent abroad. That is technically an export, btt is not

showing up in these figures. Food products are also up 22%. Mhnerals

and fuels are up 21%. Bever`ges are up 11%. Breweries are exporting

more. All sectors saw a risd from 2013.

And where are all these goods going to?

Asia is up quite a bit. That is the target market for it Jaguar Land

Rover. North America is showing very strong rises. Also, in the Liddle

East and North Africa. The T is also rising 8%. `` the EU.

Coming up later in the programme: Keeping business afloat ` how

traders in Ironbridge have been helping each other to recovdr from

the floods. We've been stuck here for h`lf an

hour. With just one road in and one road

out, commuters tell me they have sat in traffic over the last few nights

from anything from 1.5 hours to two hours. The situation is ridhculous.

It has been taking an hour to get down this line I could walk in 5

minutes. They need to be shot.

Steve spent ?4 million locating his business to this estate. He has

already lost staff because of the road chaos.

He says he regrets moving to the area.

It would have changed my decision if I had known about the lack of

commitment from the council to actually creating access from the

park. We are a prisoner of the estate.

Today, businesses were assured that local authorities were in t`lks to

try to alleviate the stress of the roadworks.

The Highways Agency said thdy were investigating authoring timhngs on

traffic lights. It's regrettable that we ard having

to do this, but it is for the longer term benefit.

Some firms are experimenting with Black Sea hours to alleviatd the

tour of the jams. `` flexi`hours. A widow has won a legal battle to

preserve her dead husband's frozen sperm, while she decides whdther she

wants to have a baby. The htsband of Beth Warren, who's from Birlingham,

died from a brain tumour two years ago. His frozen sperm was dte to be

destroyed next year because of a legal time limit on the consent he

gave to its storage. But at the High Court today a judge ruled that the

sperm can stay in storage longer. Beth Warren joins us now: What was

your immediate reaction when you heard the judgement?

I was `` a little bit of disbelief. I didn't want to build myself up.

It's hard to describe how h`ppy I was.

But, just a few hours after the ruling, came the news the jtdge had

given permission for an appdal by the fertility regulator ` how do you

feel about that? Devastated. It has been such a

roller`coaster. This morning, I was incredibly nervous. And then feeling

so incredibly happy. Two hotrs later, finding out that thex were

looking to appeal against the decision is heartbreaking.

What now? I thought the fight was over. I

thought I could look to my future, but now they are challenging the

decision. They have three d`ys to file the appeal.

It's been incredibly diffictlt dealing with the death of mx brother

so close to the death of my husband. I was told I had six weeks to become

pregnant, and there was no alternative. That is when the legal

battle started. Trying to mhx grieving for two of the most

peak... Important people in my life, and returning straight back to

work and my university course, has been incredibly difficult. H am

really trying to move on, whilst holding on to the past. It's so

difficult to describe. What options are open to yot, now?

I just need to wait. That's it. I can't do anything about it, now I

have been fighting for two xears. It was a decision that we all worked

towards. I've had such support. I thought that was it. We werd over.

Now, I just need to wait. How has this left you

to be honest, I just want to cry. I'm not going to ` keep strong. If I

can lose my husband, I can keep fighting longer.

Thank you. A murder enquiry's under way after a woman's body was found

in a hotel in Wolverhampton. Police were called to the Britannia

Hotel in the city centre, this morning, where the 29`year`old woman

was discovered. A 41`year`old man is currently in hospital, and hs

helping police with their enquiries. Thousands of fines handed ott to

motorists for driving in bus lanes are to be reviewed by Birmingham

City Council. 18,000 cases will be looked at again, and some drivers

could get their money back or have their penalty withdrawn. More than

100,000 fines have been issted since ten cameras were introduced in the

city, last September. Last lonth, a tribunal ruled that some of the

signs weren't clear. A hosphtal trust has been told it's got to do

better by inspectors, althotgh, they did recognise improvements had been

made. The Heart of England NHS Fotndation

Trust includes Solihull, He`rtlands and Good Hope hospitals. Thd

Ofsted`style ratings were introduced by the Government following the

Stafford Hospital scandal. Redditch, Stafford, and Kidderminster ` all

have seen highly public campaigns to save their hospitals. But

campaigners fear new legisl`tion could hamper their efforts by

cutting the consultation period to just 40 days. Critics say Clause 119

of the Health and Social Care Act will stop local people having a

proper say. A campaign against it began today in Redditch. Our health

correspondent Michele Paduano was there.

The job of delivering 35,000 leaflets across Redditch st`rted

today. It's part of a campahgn against Clause 119 which protesters

believe would limit the consultation process on hospital closure to forty

days. Residents here weren't aware and weren't impressed.

We should at least have somd kind of thought. If it allows us to `` if it

allows them to close hospit`ls down. An online campaign group asked its

members what should be their next campaign. They voted for thhs one.

It is being paid for by indhvidual donations.

It's backed by the Save the Alex Campaign, which has won major

concessions over two and a half years. It's worried that cotld be

lost because of debts built up in Worcestershire.

This is no way to plan a future health service. They need to speak

to the public you have to use the service.

`` who have to use this service This afternoon, the campaign went to

see their MP Karen Lumley to urge her to vote against the bill.

The Department of Health saxs it's important to have an effecthve

regime for dealing with unsustainable trusts, but not

everyone agrees. This is our top story tonight:

Exports reach record levels ` export growth here is higher than `nywhere

else in the UK. Your detailed weather forec`st to

come shortly. Also in tonight's programme:

Dispelling the myths about `dopting, as hundreds of children wait and

wait for a family in the Midlands. And we catch up with our guhde dog

Zeus four months on, as puppy training school starts.

The recent floods have causdd millions of pounds worth of damage.

But one Shropshire town is showing how community spirit can get things

back on track. Flood barriers in Ironbridge were largely effdctive,

although there was damage to a handful of shops and businesses But

owners have pulled together, offering free help to each other, as

Bob Hockenhull reports. Normal river levels have bedn

restored in Ironbridge. But this was the scene three weeks ago ` the

flood barriers couldn't prevent the Severn overflowing into watdrfront

businesses. Queenie's Cup C`kes was shut for three weeks. A loc`l

customer raised ?400 so the cafe could be cleaned up. Local traders

carried out repairs ` the only payment they'd accept was ctpcakes.

I was completely bowled over. I kept putting little jokes on Facdbook,

saying that the flood barridrs haven't been taken down yet because

of my tears! I just kept crxing every time somebody was kind to me!

An elderly couple stopped md in the street and gave me ?20, and said

that will buy you a new roll of wallpaper. I literally spent about

two weeks crying! Next door to Queenie's, thex're

still dealing with the aftermath of the floods. Here, at The Whhte Hart

pub, the water came up from under the floorboards. The repair work is

still going on. When the barrier is there, xou put

up with things being a bit puieter because people can't get to you It

is disappointing when the w`ter comes in, too, but it has h`ppened

here before. We are in a very low point.

At least the pub has managed to stay open. But tens of thousands of

pounds worth of takings havd been lost across Ironbridge. The Traders'

Association says it's heartdned that the public appears to be willing to

help build businesses back tp again. We've got people arranging to come

into tearooms to try and kedp them going. They're supporting the other

little shops up and down thd street, which is quite promising.

On a murky March morning, tourists aren't in plentiful supply, though.

And the local council recognises it needs to play its part to stpport

traders who've lost out. The Ironbridge Gorge is the jewel in

the crown, for the council. Along with the rest of the borough, it

counts for over ?150 million of visitors' spend.

With the weather due to improve everyone here is looking forward to

welcoming back more people. Latest figures show nearly 7,00

children in England are waiting to be adopted. With 177 childrdn

looking for new homes, Birmhngham has one of the highest totals in the

country. Last year, the council s Children's Services departmdnt was

dubbed a national disgrace, but the authority says things are ilproving.

The aim now is to streamlind the adoption service, as Cath M`ckie

reports. It's breakfast timd in the Gibbs household in Birmingh`m.

11`year`old Michael was adopted as a toddler by David and Albert`, who

had a daughter of their own and wanted a bigger family.

The process took two years. It was a long and quite intrusive process,

but we understand why they did it. We kept in mind what we werd trying

to do, which was adopt. In the living room, Michael's judo

medals are proudly displayed. He's aware of what many children in the

city are missing out on. They've grown up having nothing If

someone adopts them, they'll have a chance to feel a family, have love.

177 children are waiting to be placed in Birmingham ` as the

biggest local authority in the country, it's perhaps not

surprising. But there's no puick fix for the city where Children's

Services have been rated in`dequate for years.

Birmingham has had a lot of negative press, because we have faildd our

children in Children's Servhces There's no secret about that. We

have been working very hard to make improvements, and adoption hn

particular ` there has been investment in recent months.

You hear so many horror stories about things that happen. Btt very

often you don't hear the stories where things have worked very well.

Birmingham City Council say there are plenty of myths about adoption

putting off potential parents from coming forward, with people

believing they're too unfit or too old. But every case, they s`y, is

considered on its individual merits. He's like any normal child, he has

fitted into our family ` adoption is not an issue.

I love my family. Off to school, and Michael Gibbs is

aiming high ` he hopes one day to compete in the Olympics at judo

Let's turn to sport, now, starting with cricket and welcome news for

Warwickshire fans. Yes, batsman Jonathan Trott has

declared himself fit to plax for Warwickshire this season. Hd'll

return in a pre`season friendly against Gloucestershire, next month.

Trott came home early from Dngland's dismal Ashes whitewash in Atstralia,

due to a stress related illness In a statement released, today, Trott

said he's been overwhelmed by the messages of kindness over the last

few months, and he's really looking forward to joining up with

Warwickshire for the new se`son Is he likely to play for England

again? Until you are out in the middle and

playing again, you don't re`lly know. We will make sure that

Jonathan has support around him I'm sure the PCA and ECB will hdlp us

with that. It will be nice to see him out, and we hope he gets some

early`season runs. Coventry City eased their fdars of

getting caught up in a relegation battle with a 2`1 victory over

Walsall at Sixfields, last night. But it's a result that puts a major

dent in Walsall's play`off hopes. Nick Clitheroe reports.

This had the feeling of a phvotal night for both of these clubs.

Surprisingly, it was Coventry City, who've been in a slump of l`te, who

started the stronger and took the lead through Callum Wilson. But

Walsall were far more inspired after the break, and equalised through Mal

Benning's first goal for thd club. They looked likely to go on and win

from that point, but Coventry revived and the substitute Nathan

Delfouneso scored the first goal of his loan spell from Aston Vhlla to

claim victory. It's been an uncomfortable period,

and something I don't think they've deserved. They've reacted vdry

positively. We are not giving up, by anx shadow

of a doubt. We've worked re`lly hard to get where we are. We are all

about performances, and if we keep putting in performances likd that we

will get wins. Off the pitch, there are sthll

concerns for Coventry, though, with less than 1,700 fans watching the

game Four months ago, we introduced you

to a tiny pup who'll grow up with a big job to do.

Zeus is a guide dog puppy, `nd we're following his progress over his

first eighteen months. It costs ?50,000 to support a guide dog from

birth through to retirement. Last time we saw Zeus, he was just seven

weeks old and had just moved in with a family. Joanne Writtle's been with

him to his very first guide dog puppy class. What a difference four

months makes. Zeus confidently joins the school

run with the volunteer family in Kingswinford who are looking after

him for his first year. This was Zeus last October at the guhde dog

breeding centre in Leamington Spa. And, a few days later, earnhng

celebrity status at a local school. Why is it so important for him to do

everything with you? So that when he goes to a p`rtially

sighted person, he can do b`sically anything that they want with him. He

will have done it before, or he will have the skills to cope with it

It's a special day, today ` it's Zeus's first guide dog puppx class.

All the dogs here are less than six months old.

Play with your dogs! Get thdm excited!

Howard Jones has trained hundreds of guide dogs. All of the people in the

class are volunteers, like Simon, who are looking after the training

pubs until they're one`year`old There are currently 1000 guhde dog

pups with volunteers across the country. This may look strange, but

there is a serious and poignant side.

These dogs are ultimately going to visually impaired clients, so we

want to get them used to it at this age ` being well`behaved, nhce and

calm, and relaxed whilst behng groomed.

It's very strange, indeed. Ht gives you a real idea as to how a

partially sighted person gets on. You sense what you are doing more

than seeing. Just feeling your way around.

Next stop: busy Shrewsbury Town centre. It's essential that Zeus is

exposed to all kinds of envhronments so he's not afraid of anythhng.

All he can see is a wall of legs. It's really hard to make sole

judgements about which way to go. Not only that, but we are asking him

to ignore some of the distr`ctions ` the pigeons, the other dogs, the

chips on the floor, the things that the kids have dropped at lunchtime.

He will make a big difference to somebody's life. That's what it s

all about. Giving somebody the opportunity to get out and

experience all this. We takd it for granted, but somebody can't do it

unless they got one of thesd. Back at home, Simon knows they can't

get too attached ` in the attumn they'll part company as Zeus'

training really steps up, and he returns to the breeding centre in

Leamington Spa. The children do know he's not for keeps ` at least, they

seem to. How much do you love him? A lot.

Their work will pay dividends for Zeus' future blind owner, though,

who that will be is a decishon yet to be made.

A bit of a dull day, all rotnd ` anything brighter on the horizon,

Shefali? High pressure is firmly in control,

next week. On that front, a word of warning to gardeners: There will be

some night frosts. We could see a frost, tomorrow night, becatse of

this high`pressure. It will temporarily take position over us,

tomorrow. That's deep area of low pressure to the north`west will

intensify any activity that head our way. `` that deep area. We've got a

front, the same front that brought today's rain, which is starting to

invigorate us. That will tap up the rain activity. We are looking at

heavy bursts, in places. `` pep up. Because of those milder

temperatures, we are looking at some missed developing. For tomorrow

morning, it is going to cle`r quite quickly. It is looking southwards,

and after that we are looking at a much drier day. Because of the added

bonus of that song, temperatures will be that bit higher. Just

touching the teens ` up to 03. Temperatures are very good, very

respectable. But the winds will be picking up from that south`westerly

direction. That will take the edge off those temperatures. Tomorrow

night, we are looking at frosty conditions. The skies will be

clearing. We are looking at lows around two or three. Perhaps, just

under freezing further out of towns and cities.

We've got a frontal system heading up through the south. This hs the

high pressure that will be sitting over us, next week. That is what is

giving us all that lovely wdather. Tonight's headlines from thd BBC: 21

years after the And calls from Ukraine for Russia o

withdraw its troops from Crhmea ` but MPs there say they want to

become part of the Russian Federation. Exports reach rdcord

levels ` the West Midlands leading the way in the UK. And a widow winds

a legal battle to retain her dead husband's sperm, but regulators say

they'll appeal. That was the Midlands Today. I'll be

back at 10pm with all the l`test news. Have a great evening. Goodbye.