27/01/2012 East Midlands Today

Dominic Heale, and me, Anne Davies. Our top story tonight, a workplace

parking blow for Boots workers. Staff are told they'll have to pay

the lion's share of the new levy. Free because jail breached his

human's rights, but his father says he should If you can't do the time,

don't do the crime. It is as simple as that.

Should a council pension fund be investing in tobacco?

And how boy Max what his Russian orphanage for a top private school

in Derbyshire. -- Maksim. I am really enjoying the school.

Everything is great and I want to Good evening and welcome to

Friday's programme. One of the biggest employers in Nottingham has

said it'll be passing on most of the cost of the workplace parking

tax to its staff. A majority of the workforce at Boots will be paying

�180 to park at work for a year from April. The council says it's a

relatively small amount to help the city grow and prosper. Mike

O'Sullivan is at Boots and can tell us more.

Big firm Boots, big decision on the Workplace Parking Levy. Passing on

most of the cost on to its employees. The sort of decision

many firms and organisations are having to wrestle within Nottingham

as the Workplace Parking Levy looms large.

Commuting by car. Boots in Nottingham faced a big bill. 3,000

spaces liable for the Workplace Parking Levy. Now the company has

decided that most of that cost will be passed on to the workforce.

is unfair for the company to pass that on to employees. I can

understand the company's objection to paying it, given the location of

where they are, but far better to pay that than the individuals

themselves. The tax is �288 plus VAT. It is for businesses and

organisations with 11 or more liable places from April. Paying at

Boots will be linked to salary and most of well-paid �180 the year

including VAT. -- most staff will pay. But some will pay �80. The

company is topping it up with a �200,000 subsidy. In a statement,

Many commuters will be finding out sooner whether or not they have got

to pay this new tax. I asked people in Nottingham who should pay. The

employer or the employee. I don't think it should be passed on to the

staff because wages are a bit like that at the moment anyway. It is a

lot of money. I think the employers should pay. But I agree with it

because I think we need the trams. The employers should pay. But I

don't think anybody should pay. council or the Government should be

paying. The levy will be used by the council to help pay for two new

tramlines and other public transport improvements, including a

revamp of the city's railway station. The kind of renounce Boots

employees are being asked to pay our small amounts which help us

grow as a city and prosper long into the future. The city council

says it has been advising Boots, which still opposes the levy.

Boots has been one of the biggest critics of the Workplace Parking

Levy, joining the business campaign that fail to stop it. But the

council would say, get over it and let's concentrate on it. It is a

law. The arrangement is here for the first year and they are

continuing to look at the long term approach to paying the tax,

including parking pay and display metres. Thank you.

The father of a burglar from Nottingham who was convicted of

assault says he should be sent to prison. Last May, 34-year-old Wayne

Bishop, from Clifton, was released early from an eight-month jail

sentence so he could look after his children. He said jail had breached

his human rights as a parent. But yesterday he and his brother were

found guilty of assaulting a man in Broxtowe. Angelina Socci has been

speaking to their father, Phillip Wheelhouse. She started off by

asking for his reaction to yesterday's verdict.

Well, it is wrong, what they have done. More Wayne because he got off

because he used the young rights for his children. And my belief is

that if Wayne had been inside, it wouldn't have happened. The chap I

wouldn't have got hurt. So to me, he deserves to go back from where

Bobby came from. And you mentioned he was released from prison early.

He had been released after a month. He need to care for his children.

What was or -- your reaction when that happened? Well, if Poppy were

that concerned about his children, you wouldn't have got into trouble.

-- if he were concerned. The children have got a mother that can

care for them as well. But at the end of the day, he is your son.

Should you have taken more responsibility for the way he has

turned out? I could be saying the same about my parents. It was their

responsibility when I got into trouble. He had a good upbringing

when he was a child. How do you feel when you see both your sons in

the news for what they have done? If it is bad. What they have done.

They have got to accept the punishment. Both Wayne and his

brother are due to be sentenced at a later date.

Still to come on the programme, in the weather, is winter on the way?

You could say that. We have quite a lot of wintry showers around

falling as snow of a higher ground, and when they die away, we have a

weather warning out for ice. Not to talk about and I will be back later

on. -- locks to talk about. Next, is it right to invest in the

tobacco industry? A leading doctor is calling on Nottinghamshire

County Council to withdraw millions of pounds that its pension fund

puts into cigarette firms. Dr Greg Place says it's a conflict of

interest for the authority to support the cigarette industry

while promoting public health. Rob Sissons, our health correspondent,

has this report. Smoking kills. But cigarettes make

money and why pension funds invest. But is it right that local

government schemes put money into Debacker? This GP in

Nottinghamshire sees the impact of smoking on patients. It is in a

day's work. He says the investments sent out mixed messages. The County

Council will be involved in managing public health and 2013 and

they cannot do that and says smoking is bad for you and, at the

same time, invest in tobacco. pension trustees would not tell --

dream of telling you how to do your job. What gives you the right to

tell them how to invest? It is incompatible with their role as

politicians. Over 100 employers are -- have investments into punching -

- pension funds on their behalf. Other schemes invest in tobacco.

Nottinghamshire has �36 million of shares. In Derby, the figure is

even higher at �48 million. In Nottingham, I asked people what

they thought. I don't see a problem. In light of what they say about

smoking, it seems a bit crazy. seems wrong that they are investing.

It is a bit unethical. The County Council said it did not want to put

anybody up for interview but said investments are separate from

pension activities. They say it only represents 1% of the pension

fund. What does the tobacco industry have

to say? Nottingham his cigarette city. We make millions of

cigarettes and it used to be a massive employer in Nottingham.

Players still employs 750 people but they said they were not dream

of telling anybody else -- they would not dream of telling anybody

else how to invest. Will these arguments go away? No and they

could gather momentum, as we have heard from Dr Greg Place, as we

have heard the County Council is taking on the responsibility of

public health and telling people to quit smoking from 2013. These

arguments will run and run. Thank you.

A motorist from Leicester has been banned for a year after being

caught driving with four children lying in the boot of his car!

Police found a total of 11 people travelling with 38-year-old Soltan

Lakatos from Belgrave in his Audi A4 saloon. Three adults and another

two children were sitting on the back seat.

A cyclist has been taken to hospital after being hit by a van

which was being followed by Nottinghamshire Police. It happened

just after midnight on Nottingham Road in Long Eaton. The cycle rider

was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The van

driver has been arrested for dangerous driving, failing a

roadside breath test and failing to stop. The force has referred the

incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Police say they have a new lead in their investigation into a violent

armed robbery. It follows a reconstruction of the attack on the

Crimewatch programme last night. A couple who ran a business at

Shireoaks in Nottinghamshire were tied up and held at gunpoint during

the robbery last November. Police say they now have a new name to

investigate. A Nottinghamshire farmer has been

jailed for a year after admitting cruelty charges and breaching

regulations for the disposal of dead livestock. Keith Littlewood

left scores of animal carcasses on his land near Bestwood village.

Trading Standards Officers told Nottingham Crown Court it was the

most horrific case they had dealt with. Pigs, cattle, poultry and a

donkey lay decomposing. Emaciated animals were left to roam around

dilapidated sheds and pens. Inspectors filmed scenes which were

too distressing to be shown. Many of the animals found alive had to

be destroyed. Dr Steven McOrist is a spokesman for the British

Veterinary Association. I asked him how common such cases of shocking

neglect were. Certainly these cases are very rare, fortunately. I have

been a vet for 30 years and I have seen five or six cases that was

similar. What sort of checks are there for farmers like this?

national quality assurance programme for pigs in the UK, the

farms and a better revisit a scheduled every quarter, so are

four times a year. -- a better and revisit. 8% are expected to have a

local scheme in place. Other animals are involved as well?

Certainly, but each scheme tends to be organised under each animal

species. So cattle required a cattle passport to track their

movements following the foot and mouth outbreak. That seems quite a

lot. How has this fallen through the net? Her the Net is that there

is no strategy -- statutory legal obligation on the farmer to have

this. It is between the farm and a retailer who purchases the

livestock to sort this out. Do you think there should be more testing?

Certainly. That is one a possibility and we have considered

that and would certainly help move towards guidelines along those

lines. Thank you very much for For a charity which helps

disadvantaged Russian children is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The it has given more than 50 youngsters a chance to spend a year

at a top private school in Derbyshire.

We have been to visit the latest boy to benefit.

Early morning. The it is a preparatory school for the famous

Repton School nearby. Queuing up for breakfast is his latest pupil,

for all the way from St Petersburg in Russia. He has swapped his

orphanage for the South Derbyshire countryside.

He only speaks a little English, but he already understand a lot.

I am really enjoying this school, everything is great and I really

want to stay in England forever. But in a year, he will go back to

Russia, with love and a promise of future help.

A it opens up all kinds of possibilities for him, the

education system that he will then go into should give him chances

that he would not otherwise have had.

His place is paid for by a charity set up by a former headmaster

Richard a Theobald. The it is amazing how quickly he has got --

taking to live here. He has a constant smiler and he is

so keen to improve his English and to really get hold of all the

opportunities he has presented to. When I grow older, I want to be a

pilot in British Airways. You want to be a pilot? Yes.

Later we will return to see how he is getting on for stopper --.

A man who admitted robbing two banks in Nottingham has been jailed

for more than five years. Victor Franklin, who was caught on CCTV,

pleaded guilty at -- to robbing Lloyds-TSB at Low Pavement and

Lower Parliament Street last year. He also admitted possession of an

imitation firearm. He was arrested after Handy himself into a police

station after seeing an appeal for information on Crimewatch.

Local schoolchildren and survivors have marked the anniversary of the

Holocaust at a memorial centre. The Holocaust centre at Laxton near

Newark has been at running sessions to raise awareness of racism and

hate crime. Survivors lit candles to honour those who lost their

lives. Actress Maureen Lipman was there to run help.

It was exactly what a Holocaust Day, or any genocide day was therefore.

To make us remember that this must never happen again.

On the Sunday Politics for the East Midlands, Marie Ashby will be

leading a debate on an issue which divides our politicians.

We will be asking whether elected police commissioners really are the

good idea David Cameron says they are. His party leader in Darby says

it could end up politicising our forces. Will it make it more

difficult for me police to do their job?

That is Sunday Politics from 12pm with Marie Ashby and Andrew Neil.

We'll be having a look ahead to the sport and the full weather forecast.

And I am at the factory that is making schools got that could save

children's lives by glowing in the dark.

They look rather good! Time for the sport now.

A a bit of news to start with. Nottingham Forest have confirmed

they are considering a third bid from Leicester City board defender

Wes Morgan. Nigel Pearson is keeping pretty tight-lipped.

I cannot control how the club's deal with bits that have been put

in and how they use the information. We have made a number of inquiries

for players in this window. Unfortunately, on certain fronts,

it has not yet been successful. Leicester do have an intriguing FA

Cup tie, they are up against Swindon, which will bring back a

lot of memories. Two teams, Leicester and Swindon.

Cast your mind back to a dramatic afternoon in 1993. It was the play-

off final at Wembley, the Foxes were trailing by three goals when

suddenly in 11 breathtaking minutes they brought it back to a draw. But

heartache was to follow, and Swindon were awarded a penalty and

grabs the winner. So, almost 19 years on, can we expect a seven-

goal thriller when the two sides meet this weekend?

I would take a narrow victory if you gave it to me now! That would

be good enough for me! Life is good at Leicester at the

moment following on from two impressive wins. And they go into

this game as big favourites. But this is the FA Cup, and anything

could happen. A lot of things can happen in the

FA Cup, and I have been on the end of them before, and I have also

experienced winning against teams from higher divisions. So we all

going like we do every game, and we will not get complacent. We will

look at Swindon as if they are a Premier League team. If we play our

game, we will hopefully get through. Leicester have not won a three

games and a row all season. They will be hoping that that changes

tomorrow. Paolo Di Canio on the way, what a

prospect! Premier League stoke are the visitors to Derby County. They

bring a former Derby star who now lives in Duffield, surrounded by

Derby fans. He is as famous for his throwing as his football. I have

been to see Rory Delap. Once one of Derby's young

Premiership players, now a promotion winner and Cup finalist

in -- for Stoke. My wife said wouldn't it be funny

if Derby came at? So it is greater, because I still have a lot of

friends who work in Derby. It was inevitable, stepping out

again for the club he never wanted to leave.

Financially it was a good move for me, but I never wanted to go. I was

in tears. There was a chance for something special to happen, but it

was broken up before we got a chance. We all lived around the

same villages and we would see each other all the time. It was a great

time. Stoke come to Pride Park with a

reputation for, to be kind, direct ness. How many of the stereotypes

are true? All of them! Everything?

To be honest, it has played in our favour at times. Both teams have

turned up and you can see in their eyes that they just do not want to

be there. You probably get sick of being

asked about your throw-ins. It is good to be famous for

something! When I first got the exposure, people were asking me to

do all sorts, to throw a Christmas pudding Overy double-decker bus.

Did you do that? No, I turn that one down!

So how will he feel about going back to the club that he supports?

If I play, once the game starts, you have got to put that behind it.

I will only enjoy it if we get the right result.

I will be there at Pride Park tomorrow. At Robbie Savage has been

back as well, bringing the noise back to the training ground.

Is our manager going to put Peter Crouch up on Saturday? This is our

secret manager -- secret weapon! You could never do that!

We are hanging on in there. We have got some young lads in

midfield now. You can see more of it here on BBC

One upon Football Focus. There is another new arrival at

Notts County, striker Jonathan Forte, who has had two spells with

them before. He arrives from Southampton, and comes in as they

prepare to go into the cup tomorrow. We are the underdogs and are right

up against it. This is the toughest game, without a shadow of a doubt.

Sutton and Doncaster were tough, and now we have another draw away

from home. This is the toughest team of the lot. We will have to be

absolutely spot-on and ready for this one.

Leicester Tigers are playing in the LV Cup next weekend, while

Nottingham play London Scottish in the Championship.

Good luck to Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad as they try to

capitalise against Pakistan today. England looking good. Also to the

Leicester ladies who form the GB hockey squad, they are playing in

the Champions Trophy in London. Finally, good luck to our ice

dancers Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes, they are in 4th place in

the year -- in the European Figure Skating Championships.

Fingers crossed! How many times have you been a bit

concerned when the kids go off to school and it is pitch black?

Earth it is something every parent has to do, but now I Leicestershire

company has come up with a rather bright idea to solve the problem.

They make starts with a difference, as Tom Brown explains.

At this family business, they make ropes and school scarves. And this

is more than just the latest fashion accessory. When the

children before school and it is dark outside, this scarf reflects

in the headlights. And it is already been warned and

appreciated by school children across the county.

It is excellent because cars can see you're.

I think they are really comfortable, because they light up, and the cars

will be able to see you if you are going across the road.

I think they are fantastic. Children will wear them, because

they do not like wearing yellow jacket. It is in school colours,

and they are not aware that they light up in the dark, which is

brilliant. The machines can produce up to 2005

Roberts got every week, as they are distributed across the county. --

scarfs. You are the chief executive. Why did you come up with this idea?

I was walking down the canal and tripped over a broker for a boat. -

- a rope. We thought if we could eliminate it, we could stop

accidents. And then I thought there was a market for children's scarfs.

We developed one. As far as I know, we're the only ones who do it.

The matter what your school's colours, there is a scarf that is

sure to match. This is a company with a bright future.

A very illuminating report! You will need as Garth for the

early part of next week. -- Aysgarth.

Thank you for sending this picture in. The shower was just starting to

reach the A46. We have still got a warning in force for snow. It has

been extended by the Met Office. It starts to expire just after 7pm.

They are starting to cut across parts of the East Midlands and

falling as no at lower levels. Temperatures will start to drop in

the evening, and in the north of the region, we could start to see

it turning quite icy as well. We do have a weather warning in force.

Tonight's minimum temperature is about one Celsius. It will go below

freezing in Ruairi us. CAC 40 across the south of the region. --

cloud across the south of the reason. Just a small amount of fair

weather CAC 40 around. Daytime temperatures reaching a maximum of

six Celsius. -- cloud. We will start to see quite extensive fog

developing. It could take a large amount of time to live a -- lift.