17/08/2011 East Midlands Today

Quentin Rayner and Anne Davies. Tonight, the cost of saving money.

The bills are foreclosing the regional development agency comes

to �15 million. And the Shape of Things to come -

as some of the world's best business ideas and jobs will be

coming to Leicestershire. Plus one of life's mysteries, why

do most of us die in hospital when we prefer to be at home?

And chat with drawers in the crowds but tourism dipped in the East

Good evening and welcome to tonight's programme. First tonight,

a new plan to revive the region's economy and create 2,000 highly

skilled engineering jobs. The Government's latest wave of

enterprise zones include a major technical centre to stimulate the

country's motor and transport industries. And it'll be based in

the East Midlands. Let's get more details from our political editor,

John Hess. This is where some of the country's

top engineering brains work on the latest ideas to improve the

vehicles we drive and the trains and buses we use. Now this site is

to be transformed to create the engineering-based business and jobs

A full speed at the motor industry test centre near Hinckley in

Leicestershire. Also in top gear, work on the site to create the East

Midlands's latest enterprise zone. Firms specialising in advanced

engineering will be based here with tax cuts to encourage new business

start-ups. The enterprise zone will allow us to give a perfect location

for businesses to set up. This is the shape of things to come with 10

years, thousands of jobs will be created here. With our close work

with universities at Loughborough and Leicester and De Montfort, we

can create high-value jobs which will we have been missing in the

area. Similar initiatives have been before especially in the region's

former coalfield. What is different about this one? Overwhelmingly,

jobs in things like precision engineering, research and

development, manufacturing, aerospace, it was a very different

kettle of fish before. It was only a few months before Nick Clegg and

David Cameron out the first sight in Nottingham. Leicestershire's

will be more than shiny new buildings but creating the advanced

engineering jobs and skills of the future.

As the minister said, this enterprise zone will be a very

different kettle of fish but with the economy still very much in

choppy waters, can this latest government idea deliver on those

high-end engineering skills that the region needs?

With me now is Andrew Bacon, the chairman of the new Leicester and

Leicestershire local enterprise partnership. The partnership

replaces Labour's regional development agency and now has the

job of creating the precision engineering jobs of the future. How

will this enterprise zone address the skills gap? This and the

technology park will present us with a challenge. Over time, it

will fulfil 2000 jobs. Not all of those are high end, high-skill jobs.

They will spread. Isn't there a danger that this sort of investment,

much looser planning regulations will suck in jobs from elsewhere?

We have the tests of the enterprise zones would show that this would

not happen. The way this actual proposition has been put together,

it is to target the real spread of new jobs and foreign direct

investment. Back in the 1980s, we had four enterprise zones in the

East Midlands. Some people know show would park near Sutton in

Ashfield, and you go to it now, it seems to be a forest of warehousing.

How can you avoid this this time? Had come from the development and

management of the park. The way this is intended to be developed

will make sure that does not happen. In terms of unemployment figures,

we had 188 and 1,000 out of work, up by 10,000 over the last quarter

-- 187,000 out of work. Will it address that? Yes, it well. The

attractiveness is that it will go and in the early stages we recruit

very quickly. Thank you. Have we seen it all before? The

East Midlands Development Agency was meant to revitalise the region

when it was set up ten years ago. But now it's being wound down. Not

value for money, the Government says. My colleague Mike O'Sullivan

has discovered the cost to the taxpayer of closing it down could

Locked up and derelict, this former supermarket site in the heart of

Derby city centre had been empty for years. Owned by the East

Midlands Development Agency which itself is now being shot down by

the Government. EMDA paid �2.5 million for the site and now it is

being sold to Derby City Council for a knock-down �325,000. Next

door, this duty business moved in thinking the old supermarket site

would be transformed. This is promising, the billboards show the

proposals and we were quite excited about the thought there will be a

fantastic development here. Unfortunately as you can see, it is

still as it was three years ago. EMDA shares down in 2012 in April

and that means big costs here at the headquarters in Nottingham.

�6 million for redundancies for around 200 staff. Four million

pounds for the least of the office that cannot be broken into a 2019.

Around �830,000 to restore the building to its original state.

EMDA is selling off seven site in the region. Most look like they

will end up in the public sector. Based on EMDA's figures though, it

could result in losses of around �5 million. There are significant

costs being incurred and that is money that could have been better

spent supporting the economy, training and jobs. It these

industrial units in Nottinghamshire costing �1.6 million to build were

also put up for sale. Valued at �760,000 by EMDA. One of the six

units is rented by a racing car company. I do think it is sad.

concept behind what EMDA was doing was helping a lot of people and it

came to an abrupt stop. EMDA's management's sake the priority has

been regeneration and they never set out to make a profit. It is

also handing over around 30 site including former collieries to the

Government's homes and communities It is in no doubt that EMDA was

very much Labour's approach to regenerating the economy. Now the

coalition has opted for these zones. The early test will be whether

these zones can deliver and also new interest of the Local

Enterprise Partnerships. Plenty of excitement on its way

here. All last night's football action including a last gasp

penalty winner for Notts County Schools may be forced to opt out

from offering work placements to all their pupils. A Government

subsidy is being scrapped which means the cost to schools of

organising placements will more than double. Now one of the

companies that sets up placements is warning that the very pupils who

would benefit most from work experience could now lose out.

17-year-old death had two days a week that this building store after

wickets period -- Bethany. Schools will have to pay more per pupil and

long summer placements could cost parents �150. I did a young

apprenticeship that school where I had to do 50 days of work

experience, it cost me my holidays but I probably would not have done

it if I had to pay. Schools are worried they will not have the cash

to fund all pupils. The effect that less young people will go on work

experience and we fear that those young people that really need a

work-experience placement, that get the most from it, will be the ones

that lose out. M Leicester, Barbara thinks that middle-class children

will be the losers. Youngsters in the county, more of them will lose

out and perhaps the City because most of the city schools have made

a commitment to retain work- experience for their 14-16-year-old

students. MP Mark Spencer runs a farm shop in Sherwood. He has taken

on work placement people in the past and think they would still,

even if the current system was scrapped. We can still deliver the

programme, we just don't have to pay a consultant �150 to set it up.

Schools and local businesses can work together but what is really

important is the Government uses the cash that it frees up to set up

apprenticeships so that we can get people into work places on a secure

apprenticeship. Bethany now thinks she was lucky to get her placement.

It is not the child's fault or the parent's fault that they cannot

afford it. It is going in the wrong direction, this experiment.

Last week's disorder in Nottingham is estimated to have cost police

around �1.2 million. Homes, shops and vehicles were targeted in the

city last Monday and Tuesday evening. The Nottinghamshire Police

figure includes the costs of extra staffing and bringing in officers

from neighbouring forces. It also includes the estimated cost of

repairs to the police stations 14 people have been sentenced for

their part in a major drugs ring that operated in Nottingham and

Derby. The investigation into the group lasted 15 months. Drugs with

a street value of �400,000 were recovered, 2,000 items of evidence

were seized and 450 fingerprints of the defendants were found.

Altogether, they've been sentenced A department store in Derby is to

close this weekend after the administrators were brought in. The

discount chain, TJ Hughes, moved into the old Woolworth's premises

in the city two years ago. Now it's to shut this Sunday and the staff

will be made redundant. 42 stores have now been closed across the

Next tonight, research suggests most of us say we'd like to die at

home so why isn't it happening? Improving end of life care is a key

priority for the NHS. Across the East Midlands a big campaign has

started to get us talking about what is often a taboo subject -

death. And as our health correspondent, Rob Sissons, now

reports today one of our hospices teamed up with a university to open

a new research centre for The end of life, most of us cannot

be sure of the time or the place. In the end, death is certain and

there is some interesting research from the National Council for

palliative care. It reveals that while seven out of 10 of us would

prefer to die at home, at the moment over five out of 10 people

die in hospital. Elaine Moss dreaded dying in hospital with

terminal cancer, she turns to a Leicester hospice. After 43 years

of marriage, her death left a massive hole in her husband's life

but he takes some comfort from the fact her final wishes were met.

decided she wanted to die in the hospice. She knew it took the

pressure off me as well unfortunately that is how it

happened. It has now teamed up with De Montfort University. The aim is

to create a new international centre of expertise and train more

people in social care. Areas for research include different

community's attitudes to death. is different cultural needs,

talking about communication, recognising when patients actually

do need some port. Keith is now a support at the hospice. It stands

for Leicestershire and Rutland organisation for the relief of

suffering. There is a feeling that too many people across the country

are dying in hospital when they do not want to. It all coincides with

the campaign by NHS East Midlands, time to talk. It is all about us

talking more about the inevitable. This is to think about people and

to make them think about feelings before something disastrous happens.

Care still varies depending on where you live, so it seems.

The University of Leicester and Loughborough University have come

third and fourth in the country for student satisfaction. The latest

National Student Survey shows only Oxford and Cambridge do better. The

survey measures how happy students are with the teaching and support

they receive, as well as the university's resources.

Don't forget, it's time to check your TV. The old analogue signal

has been switched off on BBC Two today. This means that if you

haven't switched, you'll lose BBC Two. If you have Freeview, BT

Vision or Top-Up TV, you'll need to retune your equipment. If you're

unsure, you can call Digital UK on 08456 505050 or log on at digital

I have to ring them up this morning with a few problems, but now it is

sorted out. It comes as no surprise to us here

in the East Midlands, but one of our finest stately homes has been

named the fastest growing attraction in England. According to

new tourism figures, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire saw a big

increase in visitors last year. However, overall, the region saw a

drop in the number of visitors to its most popular destinations.

Geeta Pendse has more. Chatsworth House in Derbyshire

attracted 700,000 visitors last year. Making it the fastest-growing

paid attraction in England. The latest figures from Visit England

show the house is also the 4th most visited historical property.

Despite its success, the figures show that in 2010, overall, the

region had 1% fewer visitors at its attractions compared to the

previous year. Who has gone up and down? Among the top five paid

attractions, Chatsworth was the most popular with a 9.7% rise.

Nottingham Castle went down by almost 10%, Belsen house in

Grantham had 6% more visitors what Calke Abbey in Derbyshire dropped

by 1.7%. And Wollaton Hall had 7.8% -- 38.1% less visitors. Actually 1%

does not represent a huge drop. The underlying trend is that people are

holidaying at home. And will Apart from shops and the square and

the castle, there is an awful lot more to look for in Nottingham.

Because of the new developments, the mark of shops in there. There

is a lovely village outside, plenty of tourist places. Was 2010 saw a

mixture of visitor figures across the region, undoubtedly Chatsworth

House has led the way. They will be hoping this year's figures will

What is 1% between friends? Talking of what else is coming up,

meet the group of homeless people who've gone to South Africa to

And now the sport. First, Nottingham Forest manager

Steve McClaren says his squad is still not ready for the challenge

of Championship football but finally things seem to be going in

the right direction for him after his first league win for Forest

Good job he did not get us give up because two strikers showed promise

and his two full backs combined to give him his third -- first league

win for Forest. As much a result as a relief. Brendan Moloney provided

a quality cross which found Chris Gunter who steered the ball into

the back of the net. OK, the Doncaster keeper could have done

better but Chris was the deserving hero of the night. He had to play

at a position in left-back instead of right back and his father was

taken to hospital before the game. I went to him and he said that is

the best medicine he can have. he OK? I hope so. We will see him

tomorrow and hopefully he is all white. Doncaster have their chances

and the goalkeeper had to be at his best but now all thoughts turn to

Saturday. The game with Leicester I don't know why but I think they

will win! It is good to get this first win, 3 points and move on to

Saturday quickly. So he's looking forward to the big

match at the weekend which is Forest against Leicester. City play

tonight at home to Bristol City. Meanwhile Derby play at Blackpool

tonight. Full commentary on Derby and Leicester's game this evening

on your BBC local radio station. In League One last night there was

a thriller at Meadow Lane. Martin Allen's Notts County beat Tranmere

in an exciting match with five goals, two red cards and an injury

time winner. Jeremy Nicholas Nottingham's performance as pretty

plants. This was a lot better. It was Tranmere he went ahead with a

cracker from a corner. They played some rough stuff in the first half,

Ricky raven Hill had to be stretchered off. In the second half,

football was the winner, Julian Kenny her getting the next. Adam

McGurk hit the post and then did not going. Then Krystian Pearce hit

the bar. It was settled for an exciting 10 minutes because the

visitors went down to nine men. First David Raven was sent off for

a second bookable offence. He was followed down the tunnel by David

Buchanan who handled on the line. That meant in the 7th minute of

injury-time, Jeff Hughes could win Now if you believe in lucky numbers,

then this could be a good season for Alfreton Town. A crowd of 777

were out last night to watch Alfreton's first ever game in

football's Conference. It's the story of a small town team with big

of history. To see their club and town post Conference football. 92-

year-old Tom Ackroyd has seen the journey. One that has held on to

football's routes was chasing a dream. We have come right up from

the bottom. And we have had some rare times but Alfreton Town are

rarely on the map. These players represent a former mining town of

20,000 people. Away from the bright light of nearby Derby and

Nottingham, they have given the locals a club to be proud of.

I first came here, capacity was about 300 and now we are averaging

about 800. Football has had a positive impact always on the town.

Alfreton Town had star support last night and they needed it. They have

to raise nearly �500,000 per year just to keep going. They have done

well in the past few years. They have had promotions and now it is

in the Vauxhall Conference, it is a better standard of football and

they're just trying to make a bigger name for themselves.

this is only part of the story. It is a club that will not sit still,

that wants to be in the Football League. The bottom line of

everything we are talking about his we are looking to go further,

forward but all in good time. So delighted with how it is shaping up,

delighted to see we are shipping for a future. For now, fans new and

old have plenty to dream about and to keep it going, their priority is

to avoid relegation. A goalless draw last night, that is one point

Onto cricket, rain has meant little play at Taunton on the opening day

of Nottinghamshire's match with Somerset. Derbyshire have bowled

out Northants for 267 at Chesterfield. And after a good

start for Leicestershire's bowlers, Glamorgan are building a

That is all the sport on the night we met Alfreton Town, a club

rebuilding and on the up. We like her hair, it is lovely. We

have got builders behind us because...

A group of young homeless people have built a new house, for a

complete stranger. Nine volunteers from hostels in Nottinghamshire and

Grantham joined the charity trip to South Africa. And it's been a life-

changing experience as our social affairs correspondent, Jeremy Ball,

Relieving a week they will never forget. The week they build a new

house. These two know what it is like to be desperate for somewhere

to live, and spent a week on the streets of Grantham and they both

lived at the supporting living centre. That is why taking part in

this building project was a labour of love in South Africa. The two

were part of a group of volunteers from three groups run by a

Nottingham housing association. have never done any manual labour

work like that to help out so to get stuck in, that was phenomenal.

It was mud huts. I went into two houses, and he went in, and mud was

coming out of the walls, they were falling apart. When we handed over

she cried her eyes out. She was so happy. It was nice to give

something back. I have been in a situation where housing is an issue.

It is indescribable but amazing. Back in Grantham, Josh is

concentrating on getting his own home with staff here at the project.

His experience in South Africa has made a huge difference. I will

never complain about things over here again. We have seen that and

they have a reason to complain, we do not. It has changed the way I

felt. Now I have been there, it will make my problems feel mean

you're. You hear the phrase charity begins at home, but this lot are

showing it does not end there. But if you look further afield, you

will always find people whose lives Very uplifting story there. Now to

Don't say that! Am afraid there is a bit of bad news though. For now,

we have got some good, sunny spells across the East Midlands and these

lovely skies, these captured yesterday by Norman over

Leicestershire. What a gorgeous sunset. Do keep them coming in. And

for now, we will keep an eye on the system here, bringing in some cloud

and it will bring in some rain during the course of tomorrow. This

fund will bring in generally cloud today but a bit of a soaking for

most gardens across the East Midlands, welcome for some but not

everybody. This is the satellite picture, the breaks in the cloud

continued. Many places will see some sunny breaks before the day is

out and then good, clear skies across many areas through the night.

Temperatures will drop down, quite chilly. Sliding into single figures

tonight. Although it is a chilly start, it is a nice bright and

sunny start to your first day. Cloud built in and then there comes

in working its way through. You can see that parts of the Peak District

and Derbyshire could well stay dry during the course of tomorrow. With

the exception of the odd shower but under the rain and wet conditions,

temperatures struggling around 17 Celsius is the best we can hope for.

That rain starts to shift its way across to the East as we go through

the rest of the afternoon. And then into Friday, we get high pressure

building in, a lovely, dry and sunny look to the end of the

working week and the high pressure sticks around in time for the

weekend. Although Saturday start cloudy, we will see those sunny

breaks starting to develop and barring the odd shower on Thursday,

Thursday is looking wet. Don't forget to tune in to us later on.

Ever fancied presenting the news or forecast in the weather? Then