17/10/2013 East Midlands Today

dual fuel customers will go up by more than 9%. That is all from

Welcome to East Midlands Today, with Maurice Flynn, and me, Sarah Teale.

The headlines: The Prime Minister says the

Al`Madinah free school should close if it doesn't take immediate

corrective action. 0 corrective action.

Ofsted labels the Derby school dysfunctional but buses say they are

determined it will stay open. I'd think the school will still be here

in six months, 12 months time. We will do everything possible to try

to ensure it does better. How scientists hope to save lives

and red hospitals of superbugs using bacteria`eating viruses.

Also why the sky rise flats are coming down to deal with today's

housing crisis. `` high`rise flats. And this Leicestershire rehab centre

sending addicts to sail this ship. Hello, welcome to Thursday's

programme. First tonight, a controversial free school at the

centre of a storm over teaching practices and standards has been

branded as dysfunctional and in chaos by government inspectors. Now

the Prime Minister has even got involved, saying the Al`Madinah

school in Derby should close unless it immediately improves. It's

sparked a wider row about schools outside local authority control. But

despite it all, some parents appear to remain supportive. The man in

charge of Al`Madinah has said he believes it will stay open. Eleanor

Garnier is in Derby now. Eleanor, another day another damning report

for this school? Yes, that is right. We should remember that the

school has only been open since last September. That is when it

officially opened. Now labelled as dysfunctional and in chaos by

Ofsted, who have given it an inadequate rating in every category.

That is the lowest possible inspectors can give. So, what

started as a problem at one local school has now sparked a national

debate, as my colleague reports. Pupils arrive at the secondary

school campus at the Al`Madinah free school in Derby this morning. Even

staff learned from the media the school had been described as

government inspectors as dysfunctional. Significant and

serious problems in the school but we are already beginning to address

them... The man in charge for the time being says the issues can be

resolved. The children need to be educated somewhere and this is a

good place for them to be educated. I think the school will still be

here in six months time, 12 months time. I will do everything to try to

win sure that. Ofsted found the school inadequate in all areas and

said it needed to be placed in special measures. The school's

opening body is condemned as ineffective and that they have

failed to make sure children stay safe. They also say the school's

finances are not properly managed to make sure the money is properly

spent. A school Governor gave this reaction to the report. We are aware

of the areas we need to improve and we are making every effort to make

sure we continue to develop in line with the findings of Ofsted

recommendations and external supporting agencies. Many staff and

parents remain supportive of the school. There aren't many schools

around here and for me it suits my lifestyle because it is a Muslim

school. The Ofsted report says you have to give every school a chance

and it is open now, so what is the point in closing it down? We're

taking the right actions and are not allowed to lead Bob prepared to

allow a school to fail its parents and pupils.

Eleanor, a huge reaction from all quarters today and even the Prime

Minister's got involved now? That is right. David Cameron was speaking on

BBC radio Derby earlier today and he stood by and defended this

Government's flagship free school policy, but he did send out a clear

warning to the school. If they don't take immediate action to improve

these things then action will be taken. But let's not use this as a

stick with which to beat the whole free school movement because

actually there are now hundreds of schools around the country set up as

free schools, and on average, they more have outstanding and good

ratings than established schools, so they are good things. But when it

goes wrong, you have to get in there and sort it out or close it down,

just as with a state school. I am joined with `` by the MP for Derby

North. How are you going to sort this out? First of all, I am

astonished the Prime Minister is continuing to defend an ideological

experiment which has failed. It is putting political dogma ahead of the

learning of the children. You are blaming the Government and David

Cameron and the Education Secretary, but what about the governors of this

school? Don't they have a significant amount of

responsibility? Should not they be held to account? The only one who

should be held to account is the Secretary of State for education,

and that is Michael Gove. He has made these free schools possible and

stood by... So you stand by all of these? No, but he must take

responsibility for creating a system which has clearly failed the

children in Derby. And my fear is this will be repeated up and down

the country. Do you think it is right to have girls sitting on one

side of the classroom and boys on another? Of course not. I have

written to the Secretary of State asking him to, at the very minimum,

ensure that all schools in every part of the country are subject to

scrutiny by the local education authority. Thank you. That is Chris

William, the Labour MP for Derby North. This school could now be in

special measures for up to two years and will have regular inspections,

and some of those could be without warning. The interim head teacher

says he believes the school does have a future and that it has

already begun tackling some of those major areas of concern. Thank you.

Scientists in Leicester have discovered bacteria`eating viruses

that can be used to fight superbugs. Phage therapy, as it's called, could

be the breakthrough that helps prevent patients dying and hospitals

being closed due to infectious outbreaks. In a moment we'll find

out more about the scale of hospital infections in the East Midlands, but

first, Simon Ward has been speaking to the team behind the project.

Hospitals work hard to prevent the spread of highly infectious

superbugs that are becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Bugs like

this. They can be killers. Now scientists believe they may have the

answer. Phage there appears being developed here at the University of

Leicester. We have been isolating viruses that kill bacteria and the

idea is to use them as an alternative to antibiotics to treat

this organism in patients. The University has signed a deal with

American backing and it could be a major victory against infections in

hospitals. Many thousands of deaths could be prevented around the world

in future if it works and the enormous cost of closing wards and

hospitals could be avoided. The team is already working out how people

could take the virus which could save them. We are thinking it could

be a capsule that passes through the stomach and then moves into the

colon when the virus is replicating the bacteria there. Possibly it

could be a drink as well. More studies will now be conducted in

collaboration with the University of Glasgow to develop a commercially

available treatment available within five to ten years time.

Our health correspondent, Rob Sissons, is here. Interesting

developments in Leicester, so where does research go from here? Simon

mentioned there was still a way to go. Clinical trials will be next.

There is huge interest in this. And when it comes to the superbug

clostridium difficile, how big a problem is it these days in our

hospitals? Not as bad as it once was. Let's take a look at the

figures for the East Midlands. These are from Public Health England. They

show what a difference three years makes.

It has now nearly halved and I suppose the big question is why? I

have been to Kingsmill hospital. They have got an advantage.

Purpose`built, brand`new hospital with lots of single rooms, which

makes it easier to isolate patients and stop the spread of infection,

and I spoke to one of their micro boiler just. `` microbiologists.

This hospital has had a huge impact on the infection rate. And the

biggest impact is hand hygiene and isolation of patients and also

antibiotic prescribing. But one of the problems is, there are so many

initiatives to bring down the figures that it is hard to know

precisely what has worked and what hasn't, but collectively, they

appear to have worked. Still to come, we join the

recovering addicts on a special voyage of self`discovery of open sea

and blue skies. It has been lovely to see the sunshine again today, and

if you have enjoyed the warmer temperatures, they will be staying

for the weekend, but it won't all be plain sailing.

A woman is in hospital after being attacked in Loughborough. It

happened at around 9:30am this morning on a path that runs

alongside a brook between Braddon Road and the A6. Officers were

called to the scene following reports of an assault, where they

found a 46`year`old woman with stomach and face injuries. Her

condition tonight isn't yet known. Police have named a man found dead

in a Nottinghamshire flat at the weekend. The body of Simon Hay, who

was 47, was discovered in the property on Villa Street in Beeston

on Sunday. Officers say he was beaten to death. Two men aged 23 and

32 are still being questioned on suspicion of murder.

Police say studies of human remains found in the garden of a Mansfield

home suggest they are those of a missing elderly couple. Detectives,

who've begun a murder enquiry, say tests show the bones are from an

older man and a slightly younger woman. Previous owners of the house

William Wycherly would now be 100 and his wife Patricia, 79. Tests

show that some of the remains point to them being Mrs Wycherly. Officers

want to hear from anyone who knew her by her maiden name, Moore.

The era of high`rise living for some tenants in one of our cities is

coming to an end. Within months, eight of Nottingham's eye`catching

blocks of flats will be demolished to make way for the first new

council houses since the 1960s. The council's Labour leadership is

pressing the Government to allow it to build more homes for rent. Here's

our political editor, John Hess. 40 years ago, high`rise living was

thought to be a solution to a city's housing crisis, but not any

more. From the 13th floor, a birds eye view. Demolition work started

here in Nottingham. Soon, all five blocks will be gone and Eileen and

Allen, tenants here for 37 years, will miss them. It is going to be a

bit of a wrench, isn't it? Yes, it will be an upheaval. I'll have to

get rid of a lot of stuff. Vary warm. Apparently they are all

crumbling, though, so it is just one of those things. Most of the rubble

will end up under pinning another project, dualling the A453 to

another local road. But was this project necessary? The views of

tenants meant it was a much more sensible option to redevelop

completely. This is one of 13 sites in Nottingham being cleared to

develop new homes. It is the biggest council housing project in many,

many years. The latest figures for England reveal that one in five

families are now renting from a private landlord. That is 1.2

million households. That has doubled since 2001. The city wants to build

more council houses to meet that demand. It is pressing for extra

government cash help, but is the coalition receptive? We will

certainly see more housing coming up and the Government is keen to

incentivise more house`building and keep the cash in council is that it

generates. High`rise block is demolished and, with it, a

20th`century dream that these would solve the housing crisis.

An inquest has recorded a verdict of accidental death on a woman who died

after being crushed by her horse. 22`year`old Aimee Edwards, from

Draycott in Derbyshire, was an experienced rider. She was on a

cross`country course in Leicestershire with friends at the

time of the accident in September last year. The inquest heard her

horse slipped and fell on her chest. She died a month later in hospital.

More people in the East Midlands say they've been targeted by thieves. In

the latest figures, for last year, the region's police forces recorded

a 10% increase in personal thefts. Many victims had smartphones stolen.

The police also recorded a 9% rise in sexual offences. But the region's

overall crime figure continued to fall, down by 10% last year.

Governors of Leicester junior school have won the first step in their

battle against City Council. The school was stripped of its powers

and the headteacher was suspended after strikes over plans to

restructure. Now the High Court has approved a judicial review in a move

saying this was unlawful. Next tonight, helping addicts tackle

their demons and stay off drink and drugs can be a challenge but is one

which a Leicestershire rehab centre thinks it may have cracked. They've

adopted an unusual approach. It involves sending a group out to sea

to crew a sailing ship. And for some, it's been a life`changing

experience. Our social affairs correspondent, Jeremy Ball, joined

them on board for this special report.

The beginning of a voyage of self`discovery on the Morning Star

of Revelation. This isn't just about sailing a ship, it is about tackling

the debt is of addiction. Eye was on cocaine every day, probably getting

two or three hours of sleep before work. `` I was. I'd then lost my job

and got put in prison. Drugs will readily available in prison and from

that I'd just lost everything. They had nothing. Did you ever expect to

pick up again? No. Which it is learning to crew this ship as part

of a team from Loughborough, where all the sailors are on a tough detox

programme at a Christian rehab centre called the Carpenters Arms.

Ryan is desperate to turn away from a life which began when he joined a

children's home. He went on a downward spiral after taking drugs

which ended up behind bars. It is just pure darkness when you are

sailing. I was in a mess. But how does a week learning to sail

steer lives back on course? It is all about proving themselves.

Building confidence and working as a team. Below deck, it is Daniel's

turned to do the cooking. He is a reformed heroin addict from Hinckley

and he has done so well that the organisation has employed him

permanently as a chef on board. We have two chefs alternating. Four

hours on, four hours off. So you are up on deck, the rain hitting you,

the wind hitting you, three and a half hours sleep. People recovering

from addiction, getting that mentality, it is so important. 12

hours later, they are back for breakfast and ready for a pep talk

from the captain. Mike Ling is a volunteer and he is from Nuneaton in

Derbyshire. I believe it can make all the difference in the world and

they are on a programme where they are working off their addictions and

back into normal life. And it gives them confidence in themselves,

confidence in being able to relate to other people. They almost a month

course won't be easy, but by the end of this week, they will have the

skills to set their lives on an even keel, and Richard wants to succeed.

`` after almost a month's course. Really excited about the future now

and really enjoying this boat trip, so it is cracking. Out on the ocean,

it is brilliant. It looks amazing. Really positive comments from the

people involved. You're watching East Midlands Today

with Sarah and Maurice tonight. The sport is coming up shortly.

And any excuse to shop. I'll be nosing around the historic arcade

which has re`opened after years of standing empty. As promised, Colin

is here and ready to go! Some football news to start, and

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson says he's expected speculation about

moves in and out of the club but nothing's arranged yet. Recently,

Sean St Ledger's been suggested as lining up a loan out, while

Manchester City youngster Kieran Kennedy is being watched by

Leicester. Already on loan is Martyn Waghorn and current club Millwall

are keen to keep him. But Pearson says he's not even spoken to Waghorn

about it. It will be one of the things that will be resolved over

the next two or three months but there's no hurry for us to do

anything yet. The plan was with him to go away and get some games and

then we will assess it as we go along, so enough said on that one, I

think! Derby striker Chris Martin has

praised new manager Steve McClaren for how little he's done. Martin

says there's been plenty of work on the training ground and a new shape

for the team but that McClaren has been careful not to undo good work

done by former boss Nigel Clough. I think he was a bit wary of the fact

that he had quite a successful club and quite a good squad he inherited

and he didn't want to change too much. I'd think the fact that he has

thought about that and taken us into consideration is also a positive

thing for the players. Leicester Tigers chief executive

Simon Cohen has given his support for the idea of a new arena next to

the club's Welford Road ground. The old Granby Halls site is one of

several possible homes for the Leicester Riders basketball team.

Cohen says the spot would have significant merit for the Tigers.

Onto ice hockey, and 0 significant merit for the Tigers.

Onto ice hockey, and a big, big weekend for Nottingham Panthers

fans. The Panthers host a round of Europe's top competition, the

Continental Cup, right here in Nottingham. So can the Panthers add

a European Crown to last year's record breaking season? Jessica

Creighton reports. Last year, the Nottingham Panthers

just couldn't stop winning. The league... The Challenge Cup and the

play`offs. This season, they want to raise the bar again and at the

Continental cup to their trophy cabinet. I don't see why we can't

continue to progress to the later stages so we will be looking to do

that this weekend and move onto the next phase. It will be the biggest

ice hockey event Britain has ever hosted and a chance for the sport to

increase its fan base. This is a huge tournament for us and a

prestigious event. It is good for the club and the arena to be hosting

it and fabulous for the city, but it is important for the sport in the UK

as well. Even after such a prolific season last year, the Nottingham

Panthers are still fine tuning. They know the teams involved will have a

different playing style to what they are used to, though. It is going to

be down to skills but we have a lot of skilled guys out there. You can

see them in the background. If you have skilled guys, they can adapt to

the European style. Even in our league, our sport, you can get away

with a bit more and be a bit more physical. The boys will have to be a

bit less physical than usual and take it out on the pub rather than

the opposition! They move on to the Latvians after the Dutch. It might

be their first outing in Europe since 2006 to win here would put

them through to the next round and show they can compete with the

continent 's best. Semifinals has been the limit for

British ice hockey, so any further would be cracking. Let's hope they

can achieve more this year! After years of standing empty and

neglected, a historic shopping arcade in Leicester has re`opened.

It's being hailed as an important part of the regeneration of the city

centre. And it was a real ordeal but I've been out talking to the

shopkeepers and sampling some of their wares.

Once a landmark feature in Leicester, this historic Victorian

building has stood empty for over a decade. But today, after a ?3

million refurbishment, the Silver arcade has reopened. How important

is it for this area of the city that this arcade is up and running again

as a shopping centre? We very much see it as being the Gateway to the

lanes, which is a unique part of Leicester which most cities don't

have. If people actually got off their backsides and walked around

the city, they would see so much more with regards to the variety of

the eclectic shops Leicester has to offer. Up to 75 of the units have

been let out to a range of different businesses. Including a

hairdressers... A ladies boutique... A lingerie shop, and my personal

favourite, a yummy chocolate shop. And the entire third`floor will be

taken up by an Italian restaurant. The local community, assess

shopkeepers and the local area, it is great to have stores providing

something different on the high street. There are a lot of original

features here. You have really merged the old with the new, haven't

you? That was very much the intention. The building is very old

but the type of retailers we have attracted to date and those we are

still speaking to going forwards, I think it will bring a modern twist

to a historic building. That is great but Mike the cameraman has had

several attempts trying to either chocolate. How many did you have?

Not that many but the chocolate was nice! Perfect for shopping this

weekend, isn't it? Yes, because it will be blustery and

showery this weekend. But warned today. The downside tonight with the

clear skies and the moisture means we will start to see things turning

very misty, with fairly dense fog patches into the early part of

tomorrow morning. We still have clearer slots at the moment. Any

showers have died away so we will start to see the mist and fog

developing. More so across the eastern side of the region with more

cloud around across Derbyshire, but into the early hours, we could still

see the odd dense fog patch developing and a night`time

temperatures of nine degrees, so a mainly mild night due to the wind

direction coming from the South. Tomorrow morning, a very foggy

start, but the wind will pick up, which will make the fog lift. At the

moment, the heavy rain is pushing further West, so what we are seeing

is showery outbreaks of rain into the afternoon, so a damp day with

slightly drier conditions across Leicestershire and Rutland and

across Lincolnshire as well, with temperatures very similar to today.

There is rain around over the weekend. This is what is happening

on Saturday. These are lines of showers emerging for a time. Quite a

blustery day but temperatures not too disappointing and any brighter

moments could bring 16 degrees. The showers could move quite quickly due

to the winds. The low pressure is certainly controlling the weather

this weekend but the wind becomes lighter on Sunday but the downside

to that is that showers are slow`moving.

Still quite warm for the time of year. We will be back later.

Goodbye.