22/11/2011 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies. And me, Dominic Heale.

Our top story tonight - could there be a hard winter ahead for the

homeless? A homeless charity reports a sharp increase in the

number of people sleeping rough. Divided opinions - should this

Crematorium be able to recycle the heat it generates? Why waste it if

you don't have to? It is a bit creepy!

Also, fighting for education in the great outdoors, but are the centres

becoming too costly to keep? And a Nottingham teenager who wants

to become the World Scrabble Good evening and welcome to

First tonight, a further sign of the impact of the economic slow-

down. But this is one indicator that won't be found in the latest

monthly unemployment figures or in the rate of inflation.

Instead, it'll be more evident late at night on street corners and in

shop entrances. That's because a charity for the homeless in the

East Midlands says there's been a sharp increase in the number of

people sleeping rough. Today the charity took that message

to MPs. From Westminster, here's our Politcal Editor John Hess.

Nobody here will be sleeping rough tonight, but they gathered for a

parliamentary reception to warn that more people in the East

Midlands are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

repercussions are that the number of people sleeping rough has gone

up to stop this time last year it was three or four people and night,

now it is 19. That is a trend we are seeing right across the country.

The Nottingham-based homework charity Framework held a sleep out

earlier this month to highlight the growing crisis. I think there is an

awful lot of hidden homelessness, people who are staying with friends,

sleeping on their couch or their floor for a week or two, and then

they moved on December the else. Some of those people may end up on

the streets because they run out of goodwill from France. According to

the government, they are 121 people sleeping rough in the East Midlands

last year. But Framework it said it handle 57 in Nottingham, and over

this year, they helped 103 people sleeping rough, an increase of 81%.

The government maintained it has introduced initiatives to help the

housing market, especially those that are vulnerable. It says it is

up to local councils to decide on local priorities and how that money

should be allocated. Local authorities have seen enormous cuts

to their budget, and they are having to make the two differed --

difficult decisions. If they don't get the economy going, we will not

have the money for the public services. It did -- it is getting

worse, it is always be vulnerable who are affected worse. Framework

based his big budget cut. Today it warned politicians of the

consequences. John Hess joins us from Westminster

now. Is the government aware of these growing concerns? I quite the

how to administer Grant Shapps, he says it is shocking that rough

sleepers continued to pour through the net of the systems on offer,

and far from being apologetic amazes the coalition government is

providing the best support for the homeless anywhere in the world.

�400 million over the next four years, at this year's rate of

spending. An additional �42 million, two Voluntary organisations, like

Framework of Nottingham, to help deal with the problem. He says it

is obscene that in the 21st century, governments are unable to deal with

the problem of rough sleepers. So this is an indication that this

particular housing minister certainly doesn't want to see a

return to the cardboard city style of life that blighted many of our

towns and cities in the 1980s. Thank you.

Still to come on the programme: A top scrabble star spells it out.

Plus, frosts are back in our weather forecast.

Also, find out why you can rent of this huge building for just �1 a

A crematorium wants to be allowed to turn the heat from its

cremations into central heating. Bramcote Crematorium says its

trying to be more environmentally- friendly in the way it uses what's

left from the burning process. It's now asking families for their

views. Carolyn Moses reports. It is a soothing environmental

setting, using 18 acres of woodland, but now, the crematorium is using

at more recycling, instead of sending its heat into the

atmosphere, it wants to re-use the furnace heat to heat the building.

The idea is slightly sensitive. During cremation, Mercury can be

released from dental fillings. It is not allowed out into the

atmosphere, so has to be treated on site. It is during this that the

Crematorium says he'd could be converted to run pipes into central

heating. -- heat. But what do people think here? I think it is a

bit morbid. I don't like that idea at all. Everything is being used

again, we are been reduced. Can't be that more of a thing, can it?

wouldn't bother me, no, when you're dead, you are gone. Might as well

use the heat! The crematorium is run by two local councils. In a

Over the next three weeks, local people, religious groups and

funeral directors will all be asked their views. But the idea is not

totally new. Some Crematorium are already using it. To try and reduce

global warming while increasing their own.

The inquest into the death of a Red Arrows pilot has heard his ejector

seat fired him into the air but his parachute didn't open. Flight

Lieutenant Sean Cunningham was killed two weeks ago after his

ejector seat went off on the ground at RAF Scampton near Lincoln. The

35-year-old died from multiple injuries after hitting the ground

still strapped into his seat. The inquest has been adjourned until a

later date. Two burglars his friend has been

stabbed to death have been jailed for seven years. They forced their

way into a flat to attack the man who lived there. Nottingham Crown

Court heard that he picked up a knife in self-defence. All three

attackers were stabbed in the struggle, and their friend bled to

death. The former leader of Derby's

Conservatives has rejoined the council's Tory group, after an

assault case against him was dismissed. Councillor Harvey

Jennings was in court last week accused of assaulting his ex-wife,

which he denied. The prosecution offered no evidence and both were

bound over to keep the peace. The councillor was suspended during the

court proceedings, but had the whip restored at a meeting last night.

Next tonight, they've been credited with transforming the lives of tens

of thousands of children for decades - but now they could be

closed down. The future of three outdoor

education centres in Leicestershire is hanging in the balance because

of cuts. And now anyone with an opinion on their future is being

asked what they think should be It is 1940 - we are in an air raid

shelter, and I am with fellow evacuees here. They are actually

from Dunton Bassett primer, bringing history alive at this

historic hall. It has been really good so far, really good experience

for us to put it is actually like you are in the war, using your

ration cards. We have learnt a lot so far. It makes you think about

how the World War Two children felt. It is not just history days. For

half a century, tens of thousands of children have enjoyed outdoor

Children of Leicestershire, adults, have benefited the 50 years from

the life-changing experiences they have had to these halls. It would

be such a shame to see them go, because if you lost the knack made

you would never be able to replace them. How many children are using

these facilities? 6000 of them come along here. But the centre's cost

the county council �400,000 last year, and it needs to find savings

of �79 million. Clearly, the way things are set up at the moment, we

are not going to be able to continue, because the loss they are

recovering. But we are interested to hear the wider range of fuse, so

we can bring about a solution. Bunce it may be rationed, but they

want people's opinions via the County Council website. The

consultation ends are just before Christmas, a decision it is

expected early next year. And it's not just services for the

young that are facing cuts. At a meeting in Derby this evening,

councillors are expected to confirm the closure of a day centre for the

elderly. Simon Hare is there. Good evening. Derby city council

cabinet is meeting here at the moment. On the agenda, day-care

centres for the elderly. Within the last few minutes, it has confirmed

the closure of the Whitaker rode day-care centre, and all the people

who currently use it will have to transfer to the more distant street

centre in Derby. The council says despite our ageing population, both

at the centres have a lot of spare places. But the decision to close

them have been controversial. The Labour group has opposed it. More

than 400 people have signed petitions, with opponents arguing

that the decrease in popularity of the centres has only been brought

about by a massive increase in charges. But this will save the

council about �290,000, and any money raised by the sale of

Whitaker rode will be ploughed back into day-care for the elderly.

A 19-year-old prisoner from Derbyshire has been found hanged in

his cell. Christopher Neale from Somercotes was not thought to be on

suicide watch. He was serving a two-year sentence at Glen Parva

Young Offenders Institute in Leicestershire, for sexual activity

with a girl under 13 years old. An investigation by The Independent

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is underway.

One in four young people in the East Midlands has got in a car with

someone who'd been drinking or taking drugs. Many also feared for

their safety as a passenger. That's according to the road safety

charity Brake. It's calling for tougher restrictions on new drivers

to cut the number of accidents. A major expansion to West Notts

College in Mansfield has been given the go-ahead. The �11 million

building on the Derby Road campus will eventually be open to the

public as a restaurant and beauty salon. It'll also help to train

students with hands-on work experience. The development is part

of improvements to the college Next on East Midlands today,

imagine being healthy one day and barely able to move in agony the

next. That is exactly what happened to Annie Glover from Leicestershire

when she suffered complications after a prolapsed disc.

She still does not know what caused it but is certain she wants to help

others. Now diagnosed with a rare condition, she is running a

nationwide support group and campaigning for research. Our

health correspondent reports. Annie is 38 but says she feels like

90. It takes crutches and painkillers to get around the house.

A prolapsed disc led to numbness in her legs and pain. It is a

condition that --... Loading the washing machine, washing up, making

a meal, it is hard for me. I have to rely on my husband to help me.

At her home in Loughborough, she has set up a national charity. She

hopes to raise awareness of, not just among sufferers. We want to

get the message through the medical profession because not everyone in

the have medical profession knows about the condition. Your spinal

cord finishes just above your waist. Below that is a group of nerves

which supply muscles controlling the bladder, bowel and legs. The

syndrome occurs when these nerves become compressed. A slipped disc,

the most common cause. Other causes include tumours, infection or

trauma. There is now one NHS specialist clinic in Sheffield

which offers support for people in East Midlands with the conditions.

The a find being in a wheelchair is not an issue. It is the problems

with bladder and bowels that of the problem. They are much more

significant to them. Annie has been contacted by some of the 100 people

diagnosed each year in the UK. She suspects there are many other cases

not recognised. Until a cure is found, she relies on more than 20

painkillers a day. For the second part in our Heritage

SOS series, tonight the community taking restoration into its own

hands. The Grand Pavilion in Matlock Bath

has been empty for three years. Since it was built in 1910, it has

hosted top musicians, beauty contests and even a night club.

When it came up for rent, people living nearby wanted to save it

from developers and return it to its former glory. That is no longer

just an aspiration. They are about to sign the lease.

You cannot miss in -- it in Matlock Bath. It still looks rather pretty

on the outside. Inside, it is a different story. This is from the

old days. It almost smells like a nightclub. It is huge. It is

enormous. We can fit 400 seats in here. It needs some work. The it is

quite daunting. When we started with this, we didn't even have

access to the building. If you look up, you can see the original

ceiling. The pavilion was built in six months. Can you believe it? The

whole building in 1910 was built in six months. We are right at the

top? From the top to bottom, it needs complete renovation. The

community as applying for more than �2.5 million in grants. The good

news is, the rent is cheap. We have only got to pay �1 for the building.

Getting the rest of the money will be a much bigger job. The council

is leasing it so was it the easy option to let the community raise

the money? I do not really think it is an easy option for the council.

What we are trying to do is make sure that its frontline services

are maintained. We are also -- the council also feels it has a duty to

the community to try and make some of the other things that are not

statutory services happen. If these Walls Could Talk, in the last 100

years, bird -- they would tell tales of elaborate beauty pageants

and even the sound of a Elton John playing here. That history is wide

800 local people have signed up to save it. The nearest arts venue for

us is 20 miles away. This would make a great venue on my doorstep.

Not Rob Stewart played here in his early days. We have also had a lot

of comedians, Ken Dodd played here. They it is the first time in my

memory that all of the people are pulling together and reading the

same hymn sheet. It is marvellous to see it. The deal is signed early

next year. Then it will be up to the community to make the pavilion

same once again. -- singer once again.

Still to come, the teenage came of the triple letter score. -- the

teenage King. We will be meeting Tim Butcher who

is about to head off to the World Scrabble Championships in Malaysia.

A after a run of mild nights, I can finally say tonight that we will

see a widespread frost. Temperatures in rural areas go

below freezing. More weather at the end of the programme.

Time for sport. Why have seen some shocking sights this afternoon.

of the unedited footage. Those pictures will not be making it into

the peace. We will start with Derby County

whose coaching staff are on make and by a lone striker. Along with

manager Nigel Clough, they are at games tonight looking for firepower

after losing three games in a road. One of their injured players found

something to be grateful for at the training ground today.

When they arrived at the training ground today, one request was high

on the wish-list. A new striker before Thursday. Derby have an

injury crisis. Another four got injured on Saturday. It was their

third defeat in a row. Under this Santa mask, he has played just 25

minutes since the signing in the summer. They have been helping at a

children's hospice today which they say put things in perspective.

I compare my worries to anyone else's who has a seriously ill

child, my heart goes out to all of them. The Santa suits are to

promote fun runs across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and... For a small

registration fee, or we will give you your Santa suit and then you

complete the 2.2 mile run or before 0.4 mile run. He first one is this

weekend by which time Derby hope to have found someone to bring them a

sack full of gold. There is one game happening tonight.

A first-round replay in the FA Cup. Hinckley's part-time squad go to

Tamworth. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw. The winners will be away

at Gateshead and there is live commentary on BBC Radio Leicester.

Now something not happening. Steeplechasing has had to be

cancelled at Leicester Racecourse because of a lack of rain. The

course is too hard and staff say they are not licensed to irrigate

during the winter months. They are blaming the exceptionally dry year.

The hurdle racing will still go on. Now we will take you to the heart

of an ice hockey practice session. Nottingham Panthers won the team of

the year award at the BBC East Midlands Sports Awards last week.

That was due to their astonishing turn a grant -- turnaround. They

were so bad that they were docked wages but they turned it around.

In the bowels of Nottingham arena, 10:30am on Tuesday, off the back of

a defeat. The coach is going through the drills. Is it hard to

get the guys up for it? Not this year. They are good workers. As you

can see, they like to have a little joke. Most of us have already been

to the gym. It can be difficult for them. They are used to 80 plus

games a season in North America. There is nothing like playing a

game. It is a lot easier, the more games you are playing. In fact,

sometimes it is impossible to keep them away from the eyes, even in

their own best interest. It is a pretty tough mentality, the sport.

I have a harder time keeping them That was definitely harder than my

work out this morning. My legs are burning a little bit. What is going

on there is a little game. If you lose, you have to wear deep pink

And particular thanks to the player he was wearing the camera on his

chest. From triple letter scores to

elaborate words, the game of Scrabble can challenge the most

bookish of us. A teenager from Nottingham is taking it to a

completely new level. He is called the Tim Butcher and he

is flying to Malaysia this weekend to compete in the World Scrabble

Championships. We went along to meet him and hopefully pick up some

tips. Player against the school librarian

who taught him scrabble when he was 10, Tim Butcher learnt the game at

Carlton Academy. Now 17, he has competed in major tournaments and

is heading out to Malaysia this weekend for the World Scrabble

Championships. When I won the first time, I wanted to beat my best

score. I just want to do better and better. I found out about a local

club and joined. It just became addictive. Tim is part of several

clubs including the school's weekly Scrabble game. Most of the students

and staff are too scared to play him. We regarded as a master class.

It is humiliating Thos us. The last time I beat him, it was in year 10.

That was only because four of us were playing him as a team. He is

so much better than we are. What are Tim's top tips? Find common

endings and keep them under wraps so that you can have a word that

will come easily to. My second trip would be not to be afraid when you

are playing. Play a complicated web -- if they play a complicated web,

challenge it. Do not give up when you are playing. You could be 100

points behind and a few turns later, you could be winning. You never

know what will happen. When I asked Tim what was one of his favourite

words to play, he came up with this one. Somehow, I don't think he will

have a problem at the tournament. Things have been so mild but things

are starting to change. It will probably fluctuate a bit between

the milder daytime temperatures. A nice frosted picture for we have,

which was sent in earlier this year. Thank you for that. We are starting

to see these guys that gradually clearing now. The weather front has

been with us all day giving us a grey day. It is clearing to the

south-east. Coming in behind it, the temperatures will soon to --

soon drop under the clear skies. Minimum temperature in the towns

and cities, two degrees. In rural areas, it will go below freezing.

Some mist and fog of forming. If you are setting off early, watch

out for that. A cold and frosty start. A bright day. We will seek a

little bit of cloud in the afternoon from the north-west.

Daytime temperatures with a gentle south-westerly breeze reaching --

reaching a maximum of ten degrees. An area of high pressure just about

reaching the south-east corner of the country. An area of low

pressure against the North West of Scotland. At the moment, we will

probably see the breeze picking up over a next couple of days. The

winds continue to come from the south-west. We will hold on to be

drier weather. A bit of wintery precipitation across parts of

Scotland. Across these murders, we will hold on to the dry and clear