10/07/2014 Midlands Today

weather. Not a wash-out but stay tuned for the details.

We have seen a massive reduction in the service we are offering to the

community. We'll have your reaction to

the industrial action and speak to A mental health worker is stabbed to

death at an inpatient unit at a Gloucester hospital `

a man has been arrested. Thousands

of epilepsy patients could miss out on a life changing operation,

because the NHS won't pay for it. I am very eager to have the surgery

and then be free of medication. The myriad of midlands links with

the mythical musical world of Oz ` And another glorious day ` you're

probably wondering where the rain is. Well, you could be asking the

same question tomorrow ` will it Good evening, thousands

of public sector workers across the Around 50,000 people

including teachers, firefighters, carers and council workers took

industrial action over changes to Around 300 schools were either shut

or partially closed because And nearly 3000 workers took to

the streets of Coventry, Stoke, Hereford, Wolverhampton and

Birmingham in organised rallies. Sarah Falkland was

at the largest demo in Birmingham. The turn out wasn't

as spectacular as the sunshine. Birmingham might be home to Europe's

largest local authority, but fewer than 2,000 people took to

the streets. Dave Pitt is a firefighter from

West Bromwich. On paper,

things don't look too bad for him. Four years ago, as a probationary

firefighter, he was earning ?20,000 and now he's earning ?28,000 ` but

that doesn't tell the whole story ` as he's struggling to pay pension

contributions of over 14 per cent. For us it's one thing or the other,

having the heating on or paying our pensions.

She earned ?40,000 in 2010 but couldn't keep up with what she

says were ever increasing demands and now earns ?5,000 less.

The workload is never`ending. I have a young daughter. I bring her home

and all I want to do is get on with my work because it is never

finishing. Teachers ` even primary school

ones ` were well represented... And for them it's not just

about pay, pensions and conditions. The geography and history curriculum

are very poor and I don't know who has written them. I am struggling to

make an exciting. The government has condemned today's

strike as illegitimate because It stands by recent pay freezes,

arguing that the county's still clawing its way

out of the great recession, but There is a ?10 billion in local

authority funding. The top 1% in our society ` their wealth has risen by

80% in the last year. They should give a little bit back.

For many, there's just a one per cent pay rise

Librarian Geoff Millington earned ?17,000 in 2010

You hope that when you retire you will be able to put some money in

the bank for your retirement. We cannot.

There could be more strikes in the autumn, unions warn.

Well, that was the picture in Birmingham,

but across the Midlands there were picket lines and protests too.

Let's have a look now at how the strike affected the region,

we'll start with BBC Radio Stoke's Political reporter, Phil McCann.

This town Hall was just one location in Stoke`on`Trent where there was a

picket line today. There was another at the tax office opposite and at

the city council headquarters. Around 200 people gathered to hear

speeches and is to attend a rally. 41 schools have been shot across

Staffordshire today. Many others are partially closed. Beans are not

being collected and council buildings closed. Let's look at the

situation in Coventry. There are picket lines across the region, the

biggest impact here in Coventry has been on schools. 30 are closed in

Coventry and 25 across Warwickshire. Lady Godiva, a woman who was not

afraid to demonstrate, today overlooked a rally of the council's

12,500 workers in the city centre. My colleague has been finding out

what has been going on in Hereford and was to share. Unison tell me

that there are over three hot fuzz and `` three 3,000 public sector

workers here. There are nine schools closed in was Jewish, with more

partially closed. `` in Worcestershire. The library and art

gallery have been closed as well. Let's find out what it's like in

Shropshire. Workers from the Defence Caught Group have walked out of a

depot here to stage a rally. They are joined by union members from

across the public sector. In Shropshire, eight schools have

closed. The local authorities say that services have not really been

affected. This is the busiest picket line in the county today.

What's different has destroyed me to people here who were not able to

stand their children to school or use council services?

Ben Godfrey has been assessing the impact in Wolverhampton.

at the school gate and an infant school in Wolverhampton

Just a few classes were affected by striking NUT members ` but it

In the city centre, we found Nicholas Baggott ` out of work for

I have two children at home who I have to arrange childcare for. It's

a nightmare because my other child doesn't want to go to school because

his brother doesn't have to. In the city centre, we found

Nicholas Baggott ` out of work for over six months and turned away from

perusing the latest job vacancies. I'm a bit gobsmacked. I have been

told to come back tomorrow. Jobcentre Plus told us all

of its buildings were open today. Here, though, it appeared to be for

those with pre`arranged interviews. There was something

of a carnival atmosphere in St. Peter's Square, as 150 attended

a rally over pay and pensions. It's lovely. This is a difficult

sell to members of the public he has seen their council tax go up this

year and also ?120 million of cuts from the city council. Would you

like a sticker? Shaun Taylor `

who's been unemployed for two years But when I told

the 35 year old there were teachers My mum is a teacher. So I know the

struggle that she goes through. The pressures, the union pressures,

pressure from the government. At least 50 city schools

were affected by the strike. The local authority says

there's been minimal disruption We've had lots of comments

about the strike on Twitter Julie Baldwin says,

"I'd like to know whether any of the parents plan to 'fine' the schools

involved for causing their children But Keith Morgan says, "Most

of the people working in the private sector would give their eye teeth to

have the terms and conditions that And Helen Pinches says,

"I'd be unhappy if my conditions of I'm joined now by James Morris,

Conservative MP for Halesowen Let's address that point

from firefighter Dave Pitt in Sarah Falklands report ` he has to choose

between the heating and paying his I don't know about his personal

circumstances but we are reforming public sector pensions. If you look

at the firefighters pension scheme, it would take someone in the private

sector having to make a third of their salary in contributions to get

a sent `` similar level of pension. I'm a long`term economic plan is on

unsustainable footing. We have cut the deficit by a third. We have had

to cut public spending in order to keep the nation's finances in decent

shape. Any good news for public sector workers?

We have the deficit down by a third, but still have a lot of work to do.

Public sector pay is capped at 1%. Even Labour are agreeing that it

must be capped at 1%. We are hoping that wages will be able to grow as

the economy recovers, but we need to keep fiscal discipline. We still

have a long way to recover from the difficulties that we inherited four

years ago. There has been heated debate on

social media today. One man said, it's not just teachers striking. If

you have an issue, how about talking to MPs who have just had an 11%

increase. MPs have had their pay frozen for

two years. They are subject to the public sector pay freeze. No

decisions have been made. You spent time with emergency

services, police and mental health workers recently. You see how

difficult a job is. Doesn't that deserve to be rewarded?

I think it is rewarded properly. Not according to the people have ``

to have taken industrial action today.

I think this was an unnecessary disruption. The reality is that we

have capped public sector pay at 1% because we need to continue the

effort to get the deficit down as part of a long`term economic plan to

get Britain's finances back on a stable footing.

Thank you. You're watching Midlands Today,

good to have you with us. A boost for Uttoxeter,

supermarket chain Waitrose is to move onto the old JCB site,

creating nearly 200 jobs. And working hard to help others

unwind, the Shropshire couple who have moved from sheep

farming to lavender growing. Police in Gloucester are continuing

to question a 60`year`old man on suspicion of murder after

a female worker at a mental health It happened at the

Wotton Lawn Hospital in Gloucester Staff at this secure hospital

gathered for a meeting this morning, 24 hours after a worker was stabbed

to death. Police arrived yesterday morning but the female carriers

systems could not be saved. The man arrested is in his 60s and believed

to be a patient here. He is still in cost to this evening, being

questioned by police. This hospital is equipped with ?88. It only takes

patients with acute mental health problems. Today staff from the

hospital next door it said news of the stabbing has left everyone

shaking. Where I worked a lot of people have been shocked by what has

happened. All the nursing staff within the hospital don't expect to

come to work and have this sort of thing happen. It's not something

that you would expect to happen. For those representing mental health

workers, yesterday's attack has been disturbing news. Some of our members

have phoned us in distress today saying they cannot believe this has

happened. They feel worried about everyone involved, themselves, the

families. They have never `` they never thought it would happen at

this hospital and now they're faced with the reality that this has

happened. The trust which runs this unit says its thoughts are with the

family of the woman who died, what they could not comment further while

the investigation was under way. The parents of Christina Edkins,

the schoolgirl who was stabbed to death on a bus in Birmingham last

year, have spoken out calling on young people to support

the knife surrender campaign. It's hoped people will dispose

of weapons in the roadside bins. Today's was painted purple in memory

of Christina, her favourite colour. Her family say violent crime has a

terrible impact on everyone?s lives. It destroys the family, plus the

family and friends. To do this today is really nerve wracking. Wrap them

up and put them in the bin and that could save another life. It's not

big and it's not clever. Thousands of epileptic patients

across the Midlands could miss out on a life changing procedure

because of a row over funding. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in

Birmingham ` which is the regional centre for brain surgery has

suspended the treatment, because it Our Health correspondent,

Michele Paduano has more. Renovating his bathroom, David

Knowles is getting on with life. An operation offers an 80% chance

of a cure, but 45 minutes after confirmation

that he was to go to hospital that He was called back

and told it was cancelled. All of a sudden I have been

confronted with the fact that it has been cancelled due to funding. I

find it pretty diabolical. His company had made preparations to

cover for the software engineer Staff cannot believe that a wrangle

over price has left him in limbo The doctor has expressed sympathy.

The patient is right at the heart of their considerations. In this case,

it is clearly not the case and is very disappointing.

I am very eager to have the surgery and then be free of medication and

able to work to my full potential. I have no idea what that potential is.

The surgery involves cutting out a damaged part of the brain.

But special electrodes are implanted in the brain to check

for electrical activity and payment for these is at issue.

University Hospitals Birmingham has apologised that it hasn't met

its normal high standards, but says that it is currently not

In a statement, NHS England said, "we do routinely fund epilepsy

The hospital said it was inappropriate for us to interview

the surgeon. He said it was a football match between the hospital

and NHS England. So hopefully David will eventually

get the operation, Nearly 200 jobs are to be created by

the supermarket Waitrose, which is The company's moving to a site which

was owned by the digger maker JCB. It's being seen

as a major boost to the market town, which suffered during the recession

when some high street names left. Here's our Staffordshire reporter,

Liz Copper. In the heart of Uttoxeter,

this is where generations But the huge town centre site was

flattened and has lain forlorn Now though plans to build new homes

and a supermarket are This is an historical site which has

been derelict for some time. Waitrose helps kick`start the

redevelopment. From as early as 1871, the Bamford

family were manufacturing The digger maker JCB had

a long presence here. But as the last machine rolled out,

to a new purpose built factory six years ago,

there was a commitment from the I'm sure we could make more money

doing other things than what we are doing. It really is, I don't know if

this word is appropriate, but it's a legacy.

The recession had a significant impact on Uttoxeter's

high street, with the departure of some big names.

Margaret Button successfully ran her floristry business through

How does she feel about the prospect of a new supermarket in town?

I am really happy about that. It is going to make such a difference to

the town. The whole area is going to look fabulous. We already have a new

area in town where all the shops have been taken. We just need people

to go back into the high Street. There are also plans to transform

part of the 22 acre site Building of the homes here is

expected to get under way by later this year with a supermarket opening

at Christmas. It may be set

in the mythical world of Oz, but the musical Wicked has more than

a few connections to the Midlands. The costumes made for the show start

life in Warwickshire, and one of Our Arts Reporter Satnam Rana

has ventured down the yellow Stratford Upon Avon ` home of

the Royal Shakespeare Company ` but it's also home to this ` materials

which make up costumes for the UK This piece of fabric is part of this

here so you will not release the eighth.

It's all assembled here and then shipped out to tailors

I love it because when I put a new actor in a costume I love to see

them perform, through their shoulders back and laugh. That is a

real treat. The costumes are designed

by award winning Susan Hilferty. There are over 7,000 fabrics used,

from sequins to feathers to There are over 3,000 items of

costume here, each fitted individually to cast members. There

is even a bit of royalty. The embroidery crafted on this piece is

`` was made by the same woman who works for the Queen.

Wicked has become a global phenomenon, performed in 100 cities.

And the UK tour stops off at the Birmingham Hippodrome

For lead actor Liam from Coventry it's a sort of a home coming show.

The UK tour may be bringing a global musical to the region, but our

This is the first show that my friends from school will be able to

watch. You get to see me do what I do now. They are all asking me when

I'm going to stop acting. They have realised that it's my full time job

now. it's a sort of a home coming show.

The UK tour may be bringing a global musical to the region, but our

region is taking its talent on and Coping with the changing weather is

an occupational hazard for most farmers, and Shefali you've

been to Shropshire to visit Earlier this week, I went along to

meet Joanna and Robin Spencer who've turned their small holding into a

rather successful cottage industry. The couple were forced to stop

farming sheep after the foot But

as I found out they've really had to work hard to make sure their crop

thrives in the Midlands climate. When you think of Shropshire, you

don't normally associated with lavender. That is unless you're

familiar with the area. This family have been working the fields of

purple for the best part of 20 years. They gave up a small farm

after an outbreak of foot and mouth. In 2002, they decided to grow

lavender instead, setting up this business here. After foot and

mouth, the regulations were so restricted for a small holding that

we have to think of something to do with the land. I have always loved

lavender. I am very keen gardener. Trying to establish, without

irrigation, is difficult. Trying to establish, without

irrigation, is We are very reliant on the weather. We try very hard to

count about, especially by growing British grown plants rather than the

imported ones from abroad. They cannot withstand the weather. Their

efforts have paid off, from what was initially just a trial planned with

200 lavender plants, they now have hundreds of acres of fields. There

are plans for even more. In the next five years, they hope to produce

30,000 bunches. Joanna and Robin have built a cottage industry. I

diversifying into areas other than just growing lavender, such as

small`scale production and sale, they have squeezed every drop of

potential as of this plants. When we started, we used to get our lavender

distilled from commercial stills. That produces very nice lavender but

we found that demonstrators were using a copper still, which produced

a much rounder, more mellow, richer note. This is a demonstration I have

just done, from a whole bucket of flowers. That little ribbon at the

top is like liquid gold. It produces a ten millimetre bottle of oil that

retails at about ?8. That is equivalent to about ?800 per litre.

Liquid gold it certainly is. From essential oils, jams, they sell it

all here. This `` the soothing properties of lavender make this a

relaxing form of retail therapy. There were supposed to be some

thunderstorms and rain today but you may have noticed that there weren't

any. It has been a different story in the east of the country but we

will get a taste of what is going on there over the weekend. The rain may

hold of till Saturday. This combination of rain and showers,

with some sunny spells in between and it should be quite humid until

the end of the weekend. Things will turn a fresher than. If you have the

opportunity, you should get out there and enjoy the weather. At rain

over the weekend is going to come from this Western system. That will

swing in from the west through the course of the weekend. Right now

it's sunny out there with plenty of sunshine to enjoy. Quite warm as

well. Today started with high temperatures of 24 degrees, so it

will take some time for those to drop. A pleasant end to the day and

then clear spells and a combination of clear spells and clouds later. It

will be warm and smugly overnight. You can see that there is just the

first indication of a bit of light rain there in the north`east. That

will extend further west through the course of tomorrow afternoon. For

most of the day it will be dry, again with plenty of sunshine in

certain places. Particularly in the western half of the region. We will

still manage highs of 21 Celsius in the South with light northerly

winds. A dry night tomorrow. Saturday could be dry until that

rain arrives from the West later at Saturday.

Back now to our top story about strikes across the region,

and to our reporter Sarah Falkland who's outside

Sarah, what's been achieved today do you think?

That's not going to go down at all well with the unions. This square

was full of public sector workers earlier today and the mood was one

of defiance. People want to be listened to. We heard earlier from

Dave Prentice from Unison. He doesn't just want a quick fix. That

would just be a sticking plaster for all the pay freeze is they have had

to endure. He once a five`year plan with stability for public sector

workers. Those kind of PlayStation 's which the MP quoted is not going

to wash at all. `` play catering. Thank you. Some breaking news: A

second man has been charged with the murder of a man in Sparkbrook. The

Birmingham father of four was stabbed last week. I will be back at

10pm. Good evening. with some new adventures to share

with YOUR little ones. Please, double please.

We're going to Dad's office today. These look really yummy.

I'm so excited about going to school.