09/01/2014 East Midlands Today

George. Thank you. That's all so it's goodbye from me and on BBC

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Geeta Pendse.

Tonight, the anguish of a teenage mum of triplets. The 17`year`old's

premature babies were split is up at birth. They were taken to different

hospitals, away from her, all because of a shortage of specialist

cots. Also tonight, a murder investigation after a man's found

dead in the street. Plus, snack attack. The schools fighting off the

fast`food vans. Injured Olympian, Etienne Stott, back in training.

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

the young mum denied time with her new born triplets in the precious

first few days of their life. The 17`year`old was forced to spend two

nights in one Nottingham Hospital while her premature triplets were

kept in two others. It's because of a shortage of neo`natal cots. In

fact, the nearest facility for two of the babies was more than 50 miles

from their mother. Live now to our health correspondent, Rob Sissons.

Rob, you've been speaking to the mum, it must have been quite

traumatic for her? That's right. She was very distressed about it, so

much so she didn't want to go on TV, but was happy for me to recount her

story. Basically, very upset about not being able to touch the babies

for long, not being able to look at them for a long time and name them.

This separation of around 48`hours or more has really been a real other

deal for this young woman who basically had an unplanned

pregnancy, triplets born 10`weeks premature. She doesn't know much

about them. She thinks they are identical triplets, which is rare.

She went into labour at home and was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre

where the first baby was delivered naturally, two others born by C

section. The two other babies went to Kettering. 50 miles from here, 80

miles from her home. What have hospital boss had to say about this?

Well, they've said that it is very regrettable that this happened, but

it is down to capacity. Obviously, there is peaks and troughs in

demand. When units are full, they are full. They work in networks and

ring other sites to see if cots are available. With three babies to

accommodate, that is a tall order. In this case, it proved very

difficult, but the mum wasn't with the babies. She was kept here at the

Queen's Medical Centre to recover from her surgery, the Caesarean

section. She has been kept away from the babies and in precious time when

she wanted to be bonding with them. When they wanted to be helping to

feed them. I gather tonight the babies have finally been reunited

with their mother? Yes, some good news. A space was found at

Kettering, one of the triplets was moved there this evening, the mother

is now with the babies in Kettering, albeit 80 miles away from home and

very upset about what's happened. Of course. Rob, thank you very much for

joining us. Next tonight: A murder investigation is underway after a

man died outside a house on a quiet residential street. He was

discovered early this morning. He's thought to have suffered severe head

injuries. Detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of murder. The road

in Derby, where it happened, has been sealed off all day and from

there, Simon Hare reports. A quiet cul`de`sac which is now at the

centre of a murder inquiry. The victim, a 54`year`old man, was

declared dead at the scene early this morning. Police soon said it

was suspicious and cordoned off a whole section of Fieldsway Drive in

the Hilltop area of Derby. A Home Office pathologist visited the scene

to examine the body. Outside a semi detached house, a police tent marks

the spot where the man was discovered. Disturbing. You hear

that much of it, when it happens on your own doorstep it makes you

wonder, doesn't it really? It's a quiet area. When a wheelie bin goes

over people notice. Many residents stayed at home during the day a as

they couldn't leave because of the police cordon. We couldn't go to

work. My heart goes out to the family. Post`mortem w was due to be

carried thought afternoon to determine what caused the man's

death. Early reports suggest he suffered severe head injuries.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in this area

this morning. This afternoon, officers carried out house to house

inquiries and and also cardon off a car in a nearby car park as part of

their investigation. Then news came through that detectives had arrested

a 37`year`old man on suspicion of murder. He is due to be questioned

by officers. You're watching East Midlands Today: Still to come:

Should bobbies use buses? An MP raises concerns after it emerges one

Nottinghamshire officer was left stranded.

Before then, junk food sellers could be banned from trading outside

schools to stop pupils stocking up on sweets and fizzy drinks. One head

teacher in Nottingham has already stopped her students leaving the

premises at lunchtime when chip vans are parked outside. Sarah Teale

reports. This is what they want to see at this school in Nottingham.

Pupils pouring into the canteen and tucking into one of the healthy

meals on offer. It's all fresh. It's locally sourced. There is always

vegetables. What they don't want is the junk food Sellers who camp

outside before and after school. Selling lots of sweets, fizzy pop,

crisps, at very, very cheep prices just outside the school gates.

Obviously, that is quite attractive to young people and, from our point

of view, we want to promote a healthy life styles. City Council

wants to introduce new controls around this school and two others.

It means anyone trying to sell anything would be banned from

trading without specific consent from the council. I think it should

be banned. More and more people are waiting outside getting all this

unhealthy junk food instead of going and getting ready to learn. Would

encourage people to eat o most healthy food. Children leave the

school and buying crisps and kebabs being sold outside. They are not

allowed to go outside the school premises and many more are eating at

the canteen. Because of the position of the van and the number of

students that are crowding around it, it presents a real health and

safety issue on a very busy main road. The council will decide

whether to enforce the new controls on Monday. Sarah joins us in the

studio now. Sarah, this is a big talking point, isn't it? It is. Lots

of people have responded to this story via Twitter and Facebook. They

agreed these junk food Sellers should be banned. Here are some of

those views: Sean, from Enderby in

Leicestershire, said kids should be focussed on fitness and low body

fat. Meals in Fields, a Leicestershire group passionate

about local food, agreed that the vans are not only bad for diet, but

there's also potential for road accidents. We heard from the Head

there. And, Brian Hat said rising obesity levels in kids needs to be

nipped in the bud. On the other side: Chris Harley`Millward told us,

children should be allowed a mind of their own and that they have a

choice not to buy from these vans. Anne Rutt argued it's not so much

the food, but children having a lack of exercise. Finally, Peter Willetts

told us the council should keep their nose out of it. He says

banning these vans is against the human rights of kids and stops the

vendors earning a living. Some strong opinions there. Thank you,

Sarah. In other news, police have confirmed they've arrested a man on

suspicion of murder after a woman's body was discovered in Leicester.

Officers were called to a property on Down Street in Belgrave at around

6.30pm yesterday morning. They're continuing to investigate. The man

who's been arrested is still being treated in hospital. An inquest into

the death of a Red Arrows pilot has heard he was ejected from his

cockpit while his plane was on the ground. Flight Lieutenant Sean

Cunningham died at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire just over two years

ago. A colleague said he heard an enormous bang and saw Sean

Cunningham "windmilling", his arms in the air. He hit the ground while

still strapped to his ejector seat. He fell from more than 200 feet and

died from multiple injuries. The inquest is expected to last three

weeks. A debt charity in Leicester says

it's now no longer a surprise when clients say they owe more than

?50,000. The charity says debt levels are rising. Last year it

dealt with debts totalling ?24 million. Helen Astle reports. Rodney

and his wife Victoria both work at their sandwich shop in Leicester. At

times Rodney works here seven days a week, while his wife is a part`time

healthcare assistant for a private hospital. In November, after falling

behind with their mortgage payments, the family almost lost their home.

When you work hard and every day just... You just feel you should be

achieving more to fall behind, like I say, it was only three months,

that was it, we were in trouble. Were able to keep the house, but

financially things are still very tight. You sit and you look at your

bills and you think ` how are you going to get through the month and

pay everything? You don't always sleep properly. You sometimes, you

know, you don't eat properly. The Elgar's aren't alone. One debt

charity in Leicester is helping hundreds of families. In 2 #0 it

dealt with a total amount of debt of just over ?21 million. Last year it

went up to ?24 million. The average debt per client was ?7,500. If a

client approaches us for advice for ?25,000 to ?50,000 it doesn't

surprise us any more. Back with the Elgar's and the children are now

home for school. They are all too aware of the family finances. Well,

mummy and daddy have got a little bit angry, it's really hard for

them. Not much customers came into the coffee shop. Hopefully, there

are brighter times ahead. For many other families it may be a new year,

but it's the same story, debt and rising money worries.

Next tonight, a police Commissioner's defended the practice

of sending beat bobbies to patrol rural areas by bus. It comes after a

Nottinghamshire MP raised concerns in Parliament. Our social affairs

correspondent, Jeremy Ball, can tell us more. Yes. A lot of people love

seeing bobbies on the beat, but if you live in a village did you know

that they can travel from their office by bus? Well, the MP John

Mann's not happy about it. He says one bobby was stranded for more than

an hour 0 one bobby was stranded for more than

an hour this week when a bus didn't turn up and he's blaming government

cuts. The police are having to patrol villages using public

transport, which begs the question I'd like to ask the Prime Minister.

If the police are waiting at a bus stop, having arrested someone,

should they go upstairs, should they go down stairs, or should they not

arrest at all? Ridiculed in parliament, but Nottinghamshire

Police told us that, "if therre are arrests to be made, then officers

always use police vehicles." Their statement added that, "this is not a

reaction to financial cuts." People want to feel safe on the bus. I want

police officers to be visible, we are providing more police officers,

I want them to be out and about and part of the community. Riding on a

bus is part of that. And, it isn't a new idea. 0 0

bus is part of that. And, it isn't a new idea. We filmed this bobby in

Derbyshire, almost a decade ago. But some officers do worry that it's

becoming more common because local police stations are being closed and

police cars are being sold. If you're travelling by public

transport, particularly out rural, a lot of the criminals travel there by

vehicles. You are enable to police the roads, both proactively to put

off crime, actually when you see vehicles that might be suspicious,

you are unable to stop them. And, what of John Mann's Parliamentary

question about bobbies on the beat using buses? The Prime Minister's

reponse: Recorded crime's been falling in his Nottinghamshire

constituency. Coming up, the weather with Anna, and she's got some

illuminating news about the Northern Lights. A ministerial visit for the

first East Midlands village voting to control its future.

It's a condition which affects millions of people across the

country, but academics in Nottingham may have found a way to relieve some

of the symptoms. They're leading a clinical trial that'll involve

hundreds of children. It's to test whether wearing silk clothing could

help with eczema. Navtej Johal reports. For this boy and his mum,

treating his severe eczema is often a losing game. You can't always go

moaning, you have to act like you are a normal person. In school it's

annoying, you are writing sometimes you could get scratchy, drop

everything, scrap a bit, you might start bleeding, and have to get

cream. It's quite annoying. These clothes are made of specialist silk

and will be worn by 300 children as part of a trial led by Dr Kim Thomas

to see if they can help manage the condition. Silk clothing is soft and

smooth on the skin. There has been some evidence to suggest it might

help children with eczema. Certainly to manage their symptoms on a

day`to`day basis, help them sleep better and control the itching,

which are the main symptoms of eczema. If the clothing was to make

him feel more comfortable at night, that would make such a difference.

Eczema affects one in five children in the UK. In adults the figure is

one in 12. Symptoms include dry, itchy skin that can be triggered by

rough fabrics and stress. It would be amazing. I would usually just

have nice soft skin, soon I won't seen have eczema any more. The trial

will start in November, but a solution couldn't come soon enough

for Tamid. What a remarkable boy he is. Earlier I spoke to Margaret Cox

of the National Eczema Society. I asked her how valuable this research

into silk is. Living with eczema is truly challenging. We really welcome

anything that can improve the quality of life for kids with the

condition. Be it something as simple as silk or a complex treatment, the

more we know how to manage this condition, the better it is. What

else seems to cause severe eczema, particularly in children? We don't

wholly know what causes eczema, but we do 0

wholly know what causes eczema, but we do know that it has a genetic

component, but the main culprit for all of us will be soap, changes in

temperature and, typically, airborne pollutants, fragrances, pollen. You

would say more research is needed? More research genuinely is needed.

One in five school children in the UK now have eczema. That is a

significant population bearing quite a heavy burden. Most of our

treatments are really quite under researched. Yes, we really welcome

this new trial looking into the (inaudible) of silk garments. Thank

you. People living in one Leicestershire village will be the

first in the 0 Leicestershire village will be the

first in the East Midlands to hold a referendum on the future of their

area. Residents in Broughton Astley are voting on where they want 500

homes plus shops and local services to be built. Eleanor Garnier has

been to find out more. This is the allocated site for 310 new homes.

Over here we will see a new supermarket 0 0

Over here we will see a new supermarket and petrol 0

Over here we will see a new supermarket and petrol station.

Across the road, will be the land allocated for the new leisure centre

and expanded medical facility for the village. Meet the growing

population these new homes need to be built in Broughton by 2028, local

people are making sure they have a say in where the developments will

go. Broughton Astley will become the first village in the East Midlands

and one of the very first few in the country to have a referendum on its

neighbourhood plan, which is meant to help communities choose where

they want services, shops and homes to be built. Will voting at a parish

level really make a difference? At this moment we don't know. This is

very early days for these sorts of referendums, 0 0

very early days for these sorts of referendums, there have 0

very early days for these sorts of referendums, there have been a

handful across the country so far. What we have to see is what happens

when there is a challenge to some of these plans. We are worried we will

become town status, we don't want to be. It's good to have a chance to

have a vote 0 be. It's good to have a chance to

have a vote on the new houses and the impact it will have on the

village. It's a good chance to vote. We will be voting. Government

minister has visited encouraging people to vote. We want to put power

in the hands of real local people. If this particular plan in Broughton

Astley goes ahead next week, it will be the seventh in the country. So

people here really are at the forefront of shaping what we think

is going to be a revolution in local plan making. One week today voters

in this Leicestershire village will go to the polls, confident they are

playing a part in local democracy, but perhaps unsure exactly how much

their vote will be worth. The power of the parish, we shall see. Now a

look at the sport. I believe there is a gold medallist with us tonight?

Yes. We have an Olympic Champion in the studio on the very day he came

back from injury and got back in the water. We were there for his big

recovery and come back. Lots going on. Derby County head coach Steve

McLaren and Nottingham Forest marring manager Billy Davies have

been nominated for the Manager of the Month award. The rivalry in the

East Midlands has been fantastic. It's great to see that we are

joining in the three clubs are in the top six. I hope in the beginning

of May we are there in some position or another. Es say good transfer

market is key. We want to add to the squad in the January window. People

realise that is true. That should have been done. This time I say

again, it's healthy to add to the squad at this time. It's healthy to

get more depth into your team at this time. That can be the key to

the running between now and the season. In not count Callum Ball has

signed a deal to the end of the season. Marlon hairwood is a target.

Leicester's mark Selby is defending his title 0 0 0

Leicester's mark Selby is defending his title at 0

Leicester's mark Selby is defending his title at the British Mast they

ares weekend. I lost in the final it would be nice to win it a few more

times and get up there with Hendry. The world championships would be one

I'd like to get on my CV which I haven't at the moment. Nottingham

rugby has been saved from liquidation after securing ?750,000

of new investment over the next three years. Now on to our guest,

this is Etienne Stott. He is back on track for the Olympics at Rio, set

for a big 2013 when a shoulder injury struck. Today, a big day for

you, back on the water, how did it feel? It was wonderful. I love my

sport. Nice to be in my boat with the water underneath me and feeling

the grip of the water on my paddle. Perfect. How much of your life is

being in the boat? It is my life. It's what I do. It is what I've done

for so, so long, missing it for six months, you kind of switch it off.

Today it 0 months, you kind of switch it off.

Today it switched 0 months, you kind of switch it off.

Today it switched back on again. It was fantastic to feel that again. It

all coped, I hope. We ought to look at the injury. We can see a

reconstruction of a previous injury, the same injury, to the other

stronghold that happened to you. The repairs you went through, how hard

is it when you go through these dislocations? It's challenging for a

canoeist, shoulder dislocation is one of the most severe

career`threatening injuries you can get. I have suffered one on each

side now. I'm getting to be an unwanted expert at dealing with

them, but they are challenging, but also they are interesting in its own

way. I suppose I'm unlucky, but lucky to go through them. Is your

shoulder being stitched up there, is it 0 0

shoulder being stitched up there, is it weird seeing that? It's nasty

seeing it floating around. A bit horrible. Shall we talk about the

rehab. It's a long, dull process, isn't it? How do you cope as someone

who is usually dying to get out in the water? Having a structure and

working with the medical team to get the days organised in a structure to

what you are doing. You have targets and you are working each day, you

are trying to get something to happen by the end of the week.

Trying to move it on. It's about the structure. 0

Trying to move it on. It's about the structure. We saw your fizz Yeo

Gemma Telford there, how important is she? How important are the team

around you getting you back on track? The medical team, without

them you couldn't do nothing. My shoulder dislocation was traumatic.

Very, very messy. If I hadn't had the people around me it would be the

same way. There is no way it can fix itself. Gemma and the other medical

team, without them literally, I would be nowhere near water here.

Rio? 2016 0 would be nowhere near water here.

Rio? 2016 is not round the corner, this year, then next year is the

pre`Olympic year, 2016 is the Olympic year, when you say it like

that, it's not long. This year is getting back on the water, fit, back

into racing, set the scene for the pre`Olympic year. That is what I

hope to do. Done in getting back on the water and getting through it.

Thank you for joining us this evening. Etienne Stott back on the

road. Remarkable pictures. Thank you very 0

road. Remarkable pictures. Thank you very much indeed both of you. You

may be wondering why there are beautiful colours behind us on the

screen? Someone can tell us much more about it is Anna out in the

cold. Thank you for that. You are right, we do a have a rare

opportunity tonight to see the Northern Lights. It is because of a

combination of things, firstly there was a mass explosion of particles

from the sun a couple of days ago, that, combined with the correct

direction of the solar wind and the intensity of that solar window. You

might see a green hue in the sky, something spectacular if you are

lucky. You do need to be away from any light pollution, the 0

lucky. You do need to be away from any light pollution, the higher the

ground, the better and looking north. Optimum time to see them

tonight will be very late this evening into the early hours of

Friday morning. Now, of course if the skies were cloudy it wouldn't be

any good, would it? The weather is behaving. We can expect there to be

clear spells through the night tonight. But with the clear spells

temperatures are dropping really quite quickly. It's very cold out

here at the moment. As the temperatures drop to freezing, if

not below, there is a risk of ice on untreated road and surfaces. With

this in mind the Met office have issued weather warning for ice

tonight and into tomorrow morning. At the moment we have clear skies,

it's a generally dry evening and night, 0

it's a generally dry evening and night, one or two rogue showers may

push into the Peak District. Under the clear skies, temperatures will

drop down to lows of two degrees in the towns and cities here in the

East Midlands. Into rural sheltered spots low enough for a touch of

frost and the risk of 0 spots low enough for a touch of

frost and the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. Tomorrow, a

bright, cold start, it will become cloudy throughout the day with light

patchy rain as we go into the afternoon, highs of seven degrees.

That clears away tomorrow night. High pressure will be in charge on

Saturday. A perfect winter's day with sunshine around. A cold day on

Saturday. We do have the clear skies, good luck if you are hoping

to see the Northern Le tonight. You will look out for them? She

certainly is. Watch out for the icy patches. That is it from us.

Goodbye. TOM: # And if there's

anybody left in here # That doesn't want

to be out there... #