16/10/2013 East Midlands Today

details throughout the evening. Thank you very much.

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

Tonight: A public apology from Derby's Al`Madinah free school.

Are special event for the young Leicester man stabbed to death in

the street. Why is the rise in house prices

bigger here than anywhere else apart from London?

Forging a future in the Far East. The engineering giant old in a new

factory in China. Welcome to Wednesday's programme. A

controversial free school has publicly apologised to its staff for

making female teachers cover their hair in the classroom. Parents have

also been told that wearing head scarves is a matter of choice for

pupils. The Government had threatened to withdraw funding for

the Al`Madinah school in Derby unless the policy was reversed. But

it still needs to comply with a number of other demands or risk

closure. Simon Hare reports. Yesterday was the deadline for the

macro one school to comply with the first series of demands issued by

the government last week. Including reversing its policy and all`female

staff having to wear a headscarf in the classroom. Letters appeared on

the school 's website clarifying the issue. In a letter to staff, the

chair of the trust said: The trust and the governing body realise how

this practice could be interpreted and proceed as treating female

members of staff less favourably. This was never the intention and we

would like to apologise for any situation where staff felt

discriminated against. In a separate letter to parents, we would like to

take this opportunity to remind you that children are not required by

the school to cover their hair and is that this is a matter of choice.

We are committed to eliminating discrimination and advancing the

equality of opportunity. Concerns about the policy and the quality of

education at the school had been raised by the National union of

teachers, whose president was at a function in Derby last night. There

are concerns about education standards in the school and we need

to bring qualified teachers back into the classroom. There is still a

list of 12 demands that the school must meet by the end of this month

or lose its government funding. A highly critical report is due to be

released any day now. Let's get some political reaction to

today's developments. Our Political Editor, John Hess, is at

Westminster. John, did the school's Education Trust, its governors, have

any option in the end? Politically, no. Free Schools are a flagship

policy of the Education Secretary, Michael Gove. Al Madinah is only one

of five so`called Free Schools in the East Midlands. These are schools

set`up by parents where there's thought to be a need locally and

directly funded by the Government. That's why Michael Gove's Schools

Minister, Lord Nash, a Conservative peer seen here speaking in the House

of Lords, threatened to pull the school's funding unless it met 17

specific concerns over unacceptable teaching standards. The deadline was

last night. But is that going to satisfy the Labour Party? Labour has

a new Shadow Education Secretary, Tristram Hunt. In the wake of the Al

Madinah controversy, he's already written to Michael Gove demanding

new assurances over the level of scrutiny and accountability of free

schools. In particular with faith schools, whether equality

legislation affecting women staff and pupils is being ignored, as the

Shadow Schools Minister, Kevin Brennan, told me.

I think in the case of macro one, the idea that in this day and age

women teachers should be asked the sort of questions about were asked

that interview, that female people should be treated differently, these

things are big concerns. We need to know that all taxpayer funded

schools in this country are adhering to the basic British values of

tolerance, fairness and respect, equality. In this case there are

serious questions. The East Midlands is noticeably behind other regions

in setting up free schools. Our region may not have the appetite for

free schools, but the events in Derby over the last week will ensure

that all future applications for free schools will face far more

rigour from the Government before any funding is approved.

Thank you very much. A football coach from Leicester who

was stabbed to death in the street is being remembered at a special

event in the city this evening. 20`year`old Antoin Akpom died last

month. Two 19`year`old men have been charged with his murder. Money

raised at the Y Theatre tonight will go towards funeral costs. Our

reporter Eleanor Garnier is there. Eleanor, what kind of event are they

putting on? Organisers say they are trying to promote peace and raise

money for the funeral of macro one. Tonight 's event is about the

celebration of his life. The event hasn't started yet. It kicks off in

about 30 minutes here at the macro three. His family are here and we

are expecting the Leicester Nirvana the bulk club to be sure, the team

he used to coach. This science like it was a group effort. Definitely.

We have children, school, to perform. We have dancers, rappers,

poet 's, keynote speakers. Even people that didn't know him have

come so they can join together as a community to help. Why did you

decide to help this evening? I knew him for a number of years, and this

is just my way of paying respect. Thank you both for joining us this

evening. It is exactly five weeks since macro one died. Two men have

been charged with his murder. Police have said they are working on the

presumption that his death could be linked to you suspect did arson

attack in which a mother and her three teenage children died. Tonight

organisers are hoping to raise as much money as possible to help pay

for his funeral, which is being held next week.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the

discovery of a body in a Nottinghamshire flat. Police are yet

to formally identify the victim, thought to be in his 20s, who was

found in the property on Villa Street in Beeston on Sunday. Two men

aged 23 and one aged 32 were arrested yesterday and remain in

police custody. Detectives have released a picture

of a man who was found dead after a fire in Derby last Tuesday.

26`year`old Jaroslaw Wieczorek was originally from Poland. He was found

inside a former warehouse on Great Northern Road in Derby. A

39`year`old man who was arrested in connection with the fire remains on

police bail. Officers are appealing for more information.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

have received another 150 calls after a fresh appeal for information

was aired on Dutch television. The team is trying to identify a number

of fair`haired men, possibly Dutch or German nationals, who were seen

lurking around the Portuguese apartment complex where the

three`year`old from Rothley was last seen in 2007.

Coming up: A ?40 million move to the Far East ` we visit an East Midlands

engineering firm that's planning to build a new factory in China.

An inquest has been hearing how a 22`year`old woman was crushed when

the horse she was riding slipped and fell on top of her. Aimee Woodward,

from Draycott in Derbyshire, was airlifted to hospital, but died in

intensive care just over a month later. Jo Healey has this report

from the inquest in Loughborough. On the 20th of September last year in

me was at a cross`country circuit. It was 0

me was at a cross`country circuit. It was a misty day. She was there

with her friend, in the middle, and is the woman who ran the stables,

seen here at the front. As the route down the slope, she said she heard a

thud and saw macro to lying on the ground, the shoulder of the horse on

her chest. The paramedic who treated her said the call for a doctor, but

no doctor was available. Macro to'sfather said it seemed like a

long time before she went to hospital. My daughter was in agony,

he said. Macro to was flown to hospital and was in intensive care

for a month. She died on the 1st of November last year from brain injury

from lack of oxygen and multiple trauma. One issue here is whether

macro to was employed by Laura Newman and should you have been

wearing a body or back detector which could have saved her life?

This afternoon Laura Newman told the inquest that back in 2,000 in a

jihad a bad accident when a horse fell on her head and she had

suffered serious injuries. She said you didn't run a business, she

simply enjoyed working with friends like macro to and helping people

with their horses. The inquest heard that at the time of the accident

macro to was wearing a hard hat but not back protector. Laura Newman

said jihad back protector with her and could have warned that, but it

wouldn't offer protection of a horse fell on you. The inquest continues.

Leicester City Council has confirmed all eight of its elderly people's

homes will be closed or sold off within three years. The Council says

Budget cuts and a fall in demand will see four homes close and four

sold`off by the end of 2016. But the city's Age UK charity says the near

two`year consultation will have caused added distress for the

residents who will be forced to move. Tom Brown reports. They are

home to more than 160 of Leicester's elderly residents. Today

there was confirmation that the council is getting rid of all of

that care homes. All will be sold to the, but at the other ones the doors

will be shut for good. Those people will have to find alternative

accommodation. The shape of care that we are providing in Leicester

has to change. We have to respond to emerging needs. We can carry on

doing what we have always done just because we have always done it. This

is not about implementing this decision overnight. We will make

sure people get the support they need. Leicester City Council is the

first authority in the East Midlands to give it a bit scared homes. It

will save it up to ?3.5 million a year and will reinvest some of that

into more home care. At the local macro one charity they said the

understand the decision by the council, but that it should have

been reached much quicker. The consultation went on for a long

time. It was done with the best of intentions, but it has created a lot

of concern. Residents that will happen to find new homes were told

yesterday. I am told many were disappointed and upset. Despite

getting rid of its remaining homes, the city council intends it will not

turn its back on the elderly of Leicester.

The jobless figures released today show a slight increase in the East

Midlands. There are now 177,000 out of work in the East Midlands,

according to the latest quarterly figures from the Office for National

Statistics. That's an increase of 1,000 over the previous quarter and

represents an unemployment rate of 7.7%. That is just above the

national average. Derby City Council says it can't put

any more money into saving the former Hippodrome theatre. The

council blames the decision on Government cuts. The authority has

already spent ?150,000 attempting to stop the city centre building

deteriorating further, but now it says it can no longer offer any

financial help. The last of seven energy efficient

concept homes has been completed at the University of Nottingham. The

steel frame houses use a range of power`generating technologies, but

they're also designed to save energy because they are highly insulated.

The eco`homes will be used in research and for teaching about

energy saving methods. Talking of property, there is more

evidence tonight that a strong recovery is taking place in the East

Midlands housing market. A fortnight ago we reported that construction of

new private homes in our region was running second only to London. Now,

the surge in the property sector is being confirmed in the region's

house prices. Again, the East Midlands is leading the way.

Angelina Socci reports. 3.8% is actually a very big number.

Outside London, the annual increase in house prices here is bigger than

any region in the UK. Outside London the averages just 2.2%. So, is this

a housing boom? The latest construction figures a couple of

weeks ago showed that in this region in the second quarter of this year

the main builders one ?432 million worth of orders for new private

homes. That is four times the level they took at the same time last

year. In 0 they took at the same time last

year. In the East Midlands there is more availability of product line. A

lot of builders are building. Help to buy, the incentive scheme, is

helping people to buy. Quite a big surge in the private operatives

sector in a region? Are we playing catch up? It is good news for the

industry, not so good if you are buying. What we need is an influx of

properties to market. People lots are in two minds I would urge them

to put their property on the market now. There will be a levelling out

of supply and demand which will keep things where we need them to be. The

average house price in the East Midlands is now ?178,000, happy at

thousand pounds in one year. It is also a record high for the region.

The housing slump has no mean a realist. Is there a hidden danger?

The average price for a first`time buyer is now ?130,000. I would say

it is a mini housing boom, rather than a revenue boom. I don't think

you would see dramatic increases in revenue is that people are talking

about. As long as we keep the supply going and offering houses to the

market, there should be a steady increase. A surge in house prices

three years ago in the region was wiped out by a slump in the market,

but this time around experts are more confident that the recovery is

here to stay. One of our biggest engineering names

is to build a new factory in China at a cost of ?40 million, but it is

assuring staff it won't lead to jobs being exported there. The Brush

Group, based in Loughborough, says a huge market is opening up for them.

Mike O'Sullivan has the third in his series of reports on our region's

growing links with China. Macro one factory employees about a thousand

people in life are per. They send their products around the world. The

chief executive told me about their plan to build their third overseas

factory in China. Reassuring staff you're about job security was

important. Inevitably there is a natural assumption that any

investment in China is about exporting jobs. Clearly, it is the

opposite in this case. We were very keen to point that I dreaded the

offset. The new factory will be built in the city near Shanghai. It

is a ?40 million investment by macro one. There will be about 200 jobs

there. It'll be located on the technology Park. The UK government

agency working to promote trade and investment says that this deal is

part of a bigger picture. The Chinese government is encouraging

more investments. Indeed we have seen a trend in terms of the

UK'sinvestment into China has doubled since 2009. It has gone up

to ?12 billion. Our brand is strong. The Chinese want our brand

to be over there. It was explained that to get into the Chinese market

we had to open a factory in China, which will bring work here,

surprisingly enough. The power generating companies and China are

typically state`owned, so you need to make sure there is a certain

portion of your output that is made in China. The company has claimed

that its new links in China will mean security for jobs here.

First, he's not any old Joe, but those who know cricket best say Root

is destined for greatness in Australia. At just 22, Joe Root was

the young cricketing star of the victorious Ashes team. Next week, he

and England head out to Oz for the winter series, but he couldn't go

without final key preparations in the East Midlands and a visit from

Kirsty Edwards. June route may be a Yorkshireman,

but he actually went to college in Worksop. When he is hitting sixes

against Australia this winter, he will be using this very bat, made

here in Nottingham. Jill was at the factory this week to pick up his new

bats to take the Australia and to see exactly how they were made. He

will meet up with his England team`mates on Friday for a gruelling

training camp less than two months after their Ashes win on home soil.

It is very exciting to go back and have a chance to beat them on their

soil so quickly, that is something we are looking forward to doing and

hopefully we can get the result we want. The company has been making

cricket bats in Nottingham for over 125 years. The Australian camp are

talking up their chances this time around. We try to look after our own

game and just concentrate on what we are doing. If we play to our

strength and we do well, we are a very hard site to beat. We will

concentrate on all that stuff. What would it mean to you to go out and

get another big tree against the Australians in their own backyard?

It would be pretty special. It would mean everything. We have worked so

hard this summer and to back it up again we know we will be working

really hard in the next month or so to get ready for the first match.

Watch out for June and his nocturne amid that this winter and perhaps

even one made by me! Do you fancy having this is your reserve that,

Jill? I might leave this one at home! I think I will 0

Jill? I might leave this one at home! I think I will stick to the

day job! On to rugby and five Leicester

Tigers have been included in Stuart Lancaster's England squad for the

forthcoming autumn internationals. In the forwards, Dan Cole, Geoff

Parling and Tom Youngs, along with the half`back pairing of Toby Flood

and Ben Youngs. In equestrian, the horse which won

this year's Burghley Horse Trials has failed a drugs test. Burghley

winner Jonathan Padget has been provisionally suspended for two

months after his New Zealand horse Clifton Promise tested positive for

the tranquiliser Reserpine. Finally from me, two special

football mentions. A number of our internationals have performed well

in this week, but a there was a standout performance by Derby

County's young star Mason Bennett. He is 17, a local lad and last night

scored the decisive goal in England's U19s' crucial Euro 2014

qualifying victory against Switzerland. His third goal in as

many games. And what about this from Ilkeston's

Laurie Wilson? A rare wonder`goal, scored from near

the half`way line. Now, David Beckham has scored a few of these,

but this one is a beauty. A spectacular volley. One of the

finest strikes you will see. Ilkeston actually lost the game 3`2

to Blyth Spartans, but, who cares?! It's so good we are showing it

twice! Look at that ` fantastic! It is not all the Premier League

stars that have all the skills in their locker!

Finally, he was part of one of the most extraordinary events of the

World War II. A Derbyshire veteran, one of the few remaining survivors

of the prisoner of war camp immortalised in the film The Great

Escape, has died. Frank Stone helped dig the three tunnels, codenamed

Tom, Dick and Harry, which allowed Allied airmen to take their chance

at freedom. Carolyn Moses has more. He returned to the place of his

incarceration and 65 years on. This was macro one in 2009 travelling

back, his identity disc in hand, to the site of stalag Luft three, where

he helped take the tunnel Harry in heart 104. It was all very tense.

The whole knew what was happening, even those not involved. The

permanent residents of heart 144 were moved out to other parts to

live the 200 to go in. 76 pushed through, but not all would finish

their escape. 50 were shot and only three managed to get away

completely. The guards discovered the tunnel before Frank could pass

through. His escape finally came at the end of the war. That would be

exactly what I was. When was the last time you stood here? January

the 1945. Like many of his former comrades, he may be gone but he

certainly won't be forgotten. Remembering macro one who has passed

away. `` remembering Frank Stone, he has passed away.

Two things will act in favour through tonight, a ridge of high

pressure moving image will settle things down. Things will be getting

a little bit milder, as well. You can see the error is coming in from

the south`west, and much milder direction. Tomorrow will be drier,

brighter and there will be more sunshine and it will feel warmer at

last. The rain pushed through fairly quick leak. Some decent sunshine

across southern areas this afternoon. Not a lot changing

through tonight. We will stay dry with clear spells, the winds will be

strong tonight, which will move the fog. Temperature wise we are

starting to see the warmer air moving in. It will not equal despite

the blue skies. Tomorrow morning a completely different started the.

Lots of sunshine from the off tomorrow with a small chance of

light showers. Most of us will be clinging onto the sunshine. The

winds will be easing, as well. It will feel much better tomorrow. Our

ice will be focused out towards the West again. This low`pressure is

still there and it is bringing in weather France on Friday. The rain

will sweep its way in towards the end of the day, so enjoy that

sunshine tomorrow! We always say make the most of

tomorrow! See you later. Goodbye! You ask us to get behind you

and why should we? You're punching above

your weight, aren't you? He wouldn't do that to me because

he wasn't that sort of a man.