17/12/2012 Inside Out West Midlands

Welcome to a Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas market, a symbol of the

city's celebration of different cultures. But it was not always

like this. Later in the programme, we will be finding out what it was

like to be amongst the first wave of Jamaican immigrants to arrive in

the city. Also... There are more than 300,000

on our roads, but just how safe are mobility scooters? We must be very

careful that we do not introduce laws that would prevent people from

using them, because then they end up housebound. Rather than

legislation, it is about education. But first, the decider of London

Midland trains, and nearly 1000 cancelled services since mid-

October. Fed up commuters were told that the launch of the new

timetable eight days ago would make a difference. So, is everything

If you were a train commuter, the chances are you have been having a

bad time recently if you have been using London Midland strings. --

trains. Beat Alex. He takes the train at university. True inns are

often delayed. Sometimes cancelled. This can often lead to a lot of

people being on the platforms. This builds up and then more trains are

delayed and cancelled. It means that a lot of very angry, cold

people have to squeeze on to three a four carriages on a train. Then

there is then. He also takes London Midland. There has been no way of

knowing one day to the next what will be happening. That makes me

feel powerless, like them worthless, and I don't matter to the country.

I am just a revenue line on a spreadsheet somewhere that no one

really pays attention to it. Judging by the opinions of these

other passengers, Alex and Ben are not the only ones to have an issue

with the train companies. We're like sardines. It was an accident

waiting to happen. It is only a 10 minute journey, but it takes ages

most of the time. I don't mind paying, but I am not getting value

for money. The problem is caused by a shortage of drivers, which meant

cancelled trains. In October, it cancelled or altered more than five

hundreds journeys. In an attempt to sort out the mess and get back on

track, London Midland trains have set itself a deadline of December

ninth to resolve the problem. We thought we would take them at their

word. We followed two London Midland commuters over one week to

see if the service had improved. Remember Ben? Is 45 minute commute

from Wellington to Birmingham. Riding the inner city service is

Alex. It can take him over 60 minutes between Selly Oak and Perry

Barr. But we're not just relying on that these two. We're turning to

the internet. Nowhere is commuter frustration were evident than in

comments on a social networking site. We have also asked them to

message just about out there London Midland commuters: over the week.

Let's start at the beginning. Day one of the improved service and I

am with them in Shropshire. The magic wand has been waved over the

London Midland service and everything is fixed. Unfortunately,

today, not so fixed. There is a train crew on availability,

unexpected, Cat Plan for that. It seems that London Midland cannot

cope with their staff being ill, so they have had to cancel my train

this morning. The next train I will catch will be even more crowded

than it usually is. With Ben's cancelled train and forced to get

on the next available on. High usual is this? This is fairly

regular. For this particular service, anyway. Passengers have to

cram on. There is no legal upper limit for the number of passengers

you can fit onto a train. Just keep cramming the men and sack him high

and take their money. Alex's heading into university. To his

relief, there were no cancellations but there were lots of delays on

his route. Good to see that delays are smaller, but they're still

delays. I'm don't think that should be happening with the frequency

that be seen to be happening at. Day 1 Soc Dem and Alex clock up

four journeys. But only one passed without incident. But on day two,

Alex's face with a whole lot of new commuter problems. There is massive

destruction on part of the network. The East will be interesting. So,

they have just announced that there was quite possible there be more or

delays and possibly cancellations the loo, which is an ideal. There

remain electoral supply problems, which is not entirely clear. It's

something developed as Lee, one of which are what relation to the to

layers. As went round find about someone and a moment. They also on

Wednesday using National Express buses does this and for some

services. Am hoping my services are not going to be one. The in the end,

Alex did not have to catch the bus until the London Midland cannot be

blamed for our problems, their services elsewhere were hit by a

crew issues. Have we through the week, as are commuters continue to

redress the newsroom service, we were hearing from other passengers.

During my makeshift HQ, we have been muttering the day's train

delays as well as commuters these centres via the internet. Does rise

of just road and have to say I'm very happy the journey today. Has

been quick and efficient. And of that up on a stake, but we have

arrived here any five minutes late. That was day one of the supposedly

improved so was, with the new timetable and new drivers. Two

trains, two out of two late. I have just finished a journey for the day

and it is over all improvements on the train, others not good enough

because of the demise in the freezing cold and that of Les

stations having a more lighting and heating. Hopefully, there will be

no Toulouse tomorrow. By Thursday, it was improving for been on Alex's

still finding his trains delayed. This is my third journey in hand of

one yet there was an any such a delay. Some of them seem minimal by

five minutes over all. But I still have not have a train which has not

a many end of delay, which is crazy, really. Friday, and the final day

of testing the surface. Then's Mead goes smoothly in a marked

improvement from day one. But Alex still having problems and his

trains delayed once more. Because the strain so late, they're not

stopping my stubborn in words and when have to get off and wait for a

latrine, which means am going to be even later. Over the week, we have

been on nine journeys, of which are my three have gone smoothly. We

have also heard by Twitter from over 25 people, who will feel

disappointed that the service. We want to speak to London Midland to

sell them what we have seen and heard, but they declined, writing

to us instead to tailless... recent timetable changes no blasted

into via a number of operational efficiencies. This process has

enabled us to address the temporary driver short ball and we apologise

to anyone has been impacted by recent problems. The resolution of

our driver Short for coincided with a challenging period network

infrastructure issues, which impacted on its services. Will be

working closely with the propria Park has to pursue improvements for

its customers. Only, we feared that some people happy with the news

there was and is clear disruptions and that the level there were few

months ago. But the last large really go to an expert commuters.

My reading this we, bearing in mind because timetable changes and

bedding a new timetable and, I would give it five out of 10. Could

do better. Wallace and done that run the past. I'm really

frustrating it has taken this long sets to begin to fix the system.

then remain sceptical. And Alex? Today, the worst train had been on

so far this week, were it was delayed for nearly 15 minutes and

so we'll have to get off the platform before long wanted to get

to, because then it's on a train that alone was not going to stop

the area more. That was a frustrating and as low but of a

panic. So it's a must try harder from our expert commuters. In the

meantime, the keeper close Simon the London Midland deliver and the

promise of a better service. You can talk to his right

Manchester using has time inside out. If you have cover story from

richer and the West Midlands that we think we should be covering, and

the drumming e-mail from stop by addresses below.

Still to come tonight, there is, get the low-down and what it was

like to be a Jamaican living I cannot remember any welcome at all,

to be quite honest. Of thing was so strange. Next up,

there are more than 300,000 ability scooters on Britain's roads,

providing a lifeline for the elderly and disabled. But after a

spiv of accidents, just a Sephardic and she chooses the forced to

undergo compulsory training? I are sitting in the back of a son

work and are just her but at a thud. By heard all the commotion, staff

say is been hit. I will automatically fall was a car. Of

repair and's worst nightmare. in October, Karen's son was not

found its that the shopper she was work. But a sharp retreat and a

surprise when she discovered it was not a car that it had a son. It was

a mobility scooter. It was off order saved it was quite relieved

of was mobility scooter. Thank Christ it wasn't a car. When I

looked at his injuries, thought there was not much different in the

coroner mobility scooter, really. Isaac as breeze and badly shaken.

Pieces she did not see the scooter coming. As a came across the road

and just came out of nowhere, Slough went in the side of the

window and then went over. It hurt? Yes. Amman and scooter apologise

that it was an accident. But they I was shocked by every person I

spoke to that knew somebody who had been injured by a mobility scooter

and how many have been hit by them and nothing is getting done about

it. Last year almost 20 incidents involving scooters were reported to

police in the west Midlands. Most were collisions with pedestrians or

road accidents. But they're the ones we know about. It is thought

many could go unreported. What is behind the problem? It could be

down to the number of scooters - 300,000. They're lifeline for many

and while most ride them responsibly, they're not always

used in the rate way. But the bottom line is more scooters mean

more chance of accidents and sometimes they can be nasty. I went

for a loaf and as I stepped out, I got hit. It was a mobility scooter.

St scoot were which hit Graham left him semi conscious and with several

brebgn bones. It -- broken bones. I broke me left hip and me left

shoulder. I have had an operation on both. Graham may haved that

injuries, but scooter driver was shaken by the accident. She sat in

shock. I felt sorry for her, she didn't leave the house to hurt

somebody, did she? And I didn't leave the house to get hurt either.

It was a lose/lose situation for both of us sm of course, with the

police being involved, I believe, she would have been traumatised to

a degree Rie as well. The police didn't take any action. But it is

not just incidents like Graham's, scooters are also involved in road

accidents. People have been seriously injured, like in this

case and killed. And in fact last year on average there are more than

four accidents a week on Britain's roads. But it wasn't always the

scooter riders who were to blame. It is a lifeline. I can't leave the

flat without it. Scott would be lost without his scooter. He has

had one for eight years and hasn't had an accident. But if he wants to

go above four miles an hour tsh highway code said he must take it

on the road and that pringes its own challenges. I use a bus lane or

cycle path. If you go more than eight mile an hour you got to go on

the road. You have the sieblg path and the bus lane and then the cars

and you them honking at you, "Get off the bloody road!" what do you

do? Fed pedians at riders -- pedestrians riders are at risk. The

law says you have to have a disability or injury which means

you can't walk to use a scooter. But the problem is there are no

restrictions on who can buy them. You don't need a licence or

training. And that means in theory anyone can pick one up, perhaps

from a site like this, and go straight on to the streets. So if

it is possible for no-one ride mobility scooter without any safety

checks, isn't it similar play case of changing the law? -- simply a

case of changing the law. We don't want to introduce laws that prevent

people from using scooters. We think it is more about education.

Who should be responsible? There isn't a responsibility for who pro

vieds training. Some local authorities may do so and occasion

lay police force. But generally it is the retailer. So there is a

variety and whether it is available and what sorts of training.

yellow one is a boot scooter. Kit be taken apart and put into the --

it can be taken apart and put into the car. Charlie runs a mobility

scooter shop in Birmingham and has been in business for year and sold

loads of machines. Nine times out of ten it is a little old lady or a

little old gentleman and they want the freedom. That is why I enJi my

job, it does give them freedom. As long as they're happy and safe I

don't mind selling them. That is the thing, when somebody said, want

one, what is the process you go through to make sure if they buy

one, they are safe? Before they get on it, I will start asking them

questions, what do they want to do to find the right machine. And with

perfect timing there is a chance to see how Charlie checks his

customers out. Patricia needs a skooteder for her partner. But

tkharl wants to meet him. If you want me to keep it, I need to make

sure he is safe on it if you want me to keep it for a few days, I

will. The deal is almost done. While Charlie will meet her partner,

he thinks there should be a driving test for all new riders. A little

course, a simple test. We are on about operating the machine safely.

A test could be the answer then. But the Department for Transport

said it is looking into this and that would plees Karen. Dfl.

Because my boy... She has started a petition calling for improved

scooter safety and to ensure irresponsible riders are take on

the task. I need 100,000 people to sign the petition there. Should be

a law put place and to identify the mobility scooters, because I have

got loads of e-mails where they have hit by a scooter, but they

can't identify that person. I think also we should be aware there is a

lot of these about and be more vigilant on the pavements and on

the streets. So we all need to be a little more vigilant. But with an

ageing population, it is likely there will be more scooters on our

roads and pavements. Campaigners just hope something is done to help

stop more accident like the one which happened to Karen's son.

You're watching Inside Out, we are enjoying the atmosphere of

Birmingham's Christmas market. But the welcome here has not always

been so warm. To mark the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's

independence we have been on a voyage of discovery. 1.99 that is

more than my price tag. Birmingham in 20 12 is a city with more an a

million people. A third are non- white. It is a city that celebrates

its culture. I have come to the Soho Road to start a journey that

will take me back to my family's home in jamai California I want to

find out what it -- in Jamaica and to find out what United it was like.

I -- what it was like. I can't remember any welcome. It was so

strange. I want if find them what drove them to leave for a new life.

A lot of the people who left were black of urban work class

background and they were the tar get, or the victims of anti- black

discrimination. June 1958 and the empire wind rush arrives in Essex.

On board, 493 passengers from Jamaica, armed with suitcases and

dreams. Over the next 20 years, families like mine made a similar

journey, lured to the Midlands by the promise of work and prosperity.

Yes, there were jobs,, but there was resentment. Many had to endure

prejudice and extreme racism. There was a lot of tension. Difficult to

get work. And I had some difficulty in get eight come daigs also. Which

-- Acomb daigs also. I have seen newspaper Klims cla said Jamaicans

-- clips that said Jamaican said Birmingham was the most

inhospitable city they had been in. I'm meeting Techno Elders here in

hands worth. Sonia. May advice. -- Mavis and murtle. They have used

their new-found web skills to record their memories for the

connecting histories web-site. Over some traditional Caribbean cuisine

it becomes clear that life here was certainly very difficult to now.

Neighbours didn't speak to you and we are used to neighbours speaking

us to. And children in school were isolating themselves from us. And

looking at us as if we were funny. Or strange. And because we speak

with a Carr bean accent as well, that didn't help. People would be

saying pardon to to you, even before you start speaking, because

they tell themselves they can't understand you. Coming over, I have

never worked before. The fact I was in uniform now and I was a nurse,

because they call you nurse, to me that was something exciting. So in

all the excitement, a lot of thing may have gone over me head. Didn't

notice that people were strange. is clear that for these ladies, pi.

- o' Birmingham is home. But like me, they have family members back

in Jay ma ka, who were not swayed by the lure of the UK. -- Jamaica.

So I I'm off to find some answers. I arrive day after Hurricane Sandy

brought devastation to my mum's homeland. My first port of call is

the place where my mum was born and raised. It has been a ten hour

flight and a long drive and this is the house where my mum grew up. It

is a long way from a James Bond beach, this is what I call the real

Jamaica and guess what? It's raining! There to meet me is her

cousin Val, who decided to stay and make a living from farming. This is

you when you war babe y. This is when my mum went to England. When

people were leaving, was there any jealousy? Well some people, some

husband may feel the wife is not going to come back. Wife feel their

husband is not coming back. There was a jealousy in between. Did it

split marriages up? Of course, because people go to the UK and

them find a better life and them, they know some don't remember their

immediate family and start a new relationship and carry on with

their life and some here have to move on. Are people still laefring?

Yes feel are -- leaving. People are still leaving. Some educated people

leave. And they never come back. was a tough niem? Yes it was. -

time. Until 1962 Jamaica was under British rule and bridge diswas not

just in the UK. What was going on that made people want the leave? --

prejudice. There was some social problem. A lot who left were black

of urban work class, upper work class background and they were the

target, or victims of anti-black discrimination and opportunitiess

were not available to them. And that coincided with the pull factor.

Jamaica was nearly 300 years under British rule. They had been

socialised to believe themselves to be subjects of British Empire and

belonging to it. They were like inundated with the idea of the

evenration of the British monarchy and nay read books about Big Ben

and back pal, all these things were very alive to them. O'O'Buckingham

Palace. It seemed to them they were going home to them. The dream was

to go to England, make a life and come back. Did many people aspire

to that? A significant number did. Towards the end of my trip I find a

former postman from the Midlands who moved back after 40 years. When

you came back, did the Jamaicans treat you differently? People rip

you off, coming from abroad, quicker than local people. It is

almost like a reverse prejudice? Yes it could be. You could look at

it as prejudice in reverse. moved to England to make better

prospects for yourself and you have come back. Would you say you have

lived the dream most people do? I went there I made a living. And I

came back here. And I'm living comfortably. I wonder if the lady

at home were ever tempted by a return. My sister went back and

settled in nicely. But I think you have to want to. If you're forced

to go, you won't do well. You have got to want to go. I don't want to

go back. I have my family and friends here. You go back and

you're a stranger. How do you class yourself? British. Yes British.

I have not forgotten my backgrounds. If you go wack -- back, how would

they class you? Foreigners. There you go, get stuck into that.

Listening to the ladies, you get a sense of Birmingham has come a long

way since that city headline back in 1948. That is it for tonight and

for this series. But you can find more information about any of the

films on the programme on our Facebook page. From Birmingham,