25/02/2014 East Midlands Today

And that is all from the BBC News at six.

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

Tonight ` more evidence of the pressure on accident and emergency.

The spotlight 0 pressure on accident and emergency.

The spotlight falls 0 pressure on accident and emergency.

The spotlight falls on the long delays facing patients in Leicester.

It was chaos. There is queueing with people in wheelchairs.

Also tonight, the Government steps in to strip the trust of control

over newly created Academy. Plus, the World War I aero`engine

that helped change the cause of history.

Trent Bridge is no stranger to this sort of bat. Find out later while

the flight # why the flying variety is causing concern here. `` why the

flying variety is causing concern here.

Good evening and welcome. First tonight, the continuing crisis at

Leicester's accident and emergency unit. It's relied upon by more than

a million people, but has proved unreliable when it comes to waiting

times. Four hours is the target, and it is not being met.

Ever increasing numbers of patients, delays sending patients home and

people who don't really need to be there clogging up the waiting room

are all part of problem. 0 there clogging up the waiting room

are all part of problem. Now health campaigners are preparing for talks

with the hospital boss to air their concerns. Our health correspondent

Rob Sissons reports. Record numbers of patients are being

brought to Leicester's accident and emergency unit. But the 0

brought to Leicester's accident and emergency unit. But the centre has

been struggling to hit target times. The national waiting time targets

for a need apart is is to deal with 95% of patients within four hours.

In Leicester the latest week's figures has shown the hospital trust

has managed only 84%, and 74% with major cases. That means it is one in

only five trusts in the country where 80% of patients are dealt

within four hours. Our experience is that it is OK.

People are the priority. So they have to do something about it.

Hospital bosses at Leicester Royal infirmary say the unit was built for

100,000 patients every year, it is now seeing nearly twice that. The

aim is to keep waiting time stamp, but the reasons for delay is

conjugated. `` are contributed. We cannot cope with the level of

demand. We currently have between 60 and 80 patients in our beds on any

day who could be cared `` cared for elsewhere.

Health campaigners are now repairing to meet 0 0

Health campaigners are now repairing to meet the boss of Leicester's

hospitals later this week. Last Monday there were 17 ambulances

waiting outside, and patients were left in there for up to two hours.

Could block 0 left in there for up to two hours.

Could block in centres do more? A review of opening times is under

way across Leicester and Rutland. `` walk in centres. We want to provide

high`quality health care centres seven days a week.

There are fears some access to GPs could be lost at Oadby.

When are things going to improve? They have had some success on

weekends, long`term there is talk of a rebuilt needed in terms of

accident and emergency. `` rebuild. But this issue is not going to go

away, there is a lot of scrutiny of what is going on.

A Nottinghamshire school is one of ten being removed from the control

of a chain of state`funded academies in England. A new sponsor will now

have to be found for the Sherwood Academy in Gedling.

The decision comes after Ofsted inspectors raised serious concerns

about the performance of schools run by the E`ACT trust. Quentin Rayner

reports. 0 In 2010 Gedling School was fighting

for survival. The County Council considered closing it. Switching to

Academy status was an option to keep the school open. The E`ACT trust was

chosen to run it, and it's then director`general made his pledge. We

will build on the strengths the school has undoubtedly got, and

identify areas they could improve. But following a recent 0

identify areas they could improve. But following a recent Ofsted

inspection, Sherwood Academy is among 10/ from E`ACT's control.

Inspectors raised serious concerns. Parents were just taking in the

news. Pretty 0 Parents were just taking in the

news. Pretty concerned. Because it is having to go through it again. I

cannot see anything wrong with the school. I want my son to achieve, so

it is very disturbing and worrying. The new system was designed to

remove schools from local authorities controls. I think what

we are seeing is a demonstrator will failure of the policy in relation to

academies. `` demonstrate ball. `` demonstrable.

The trust now has to help find new sponsors for the affected academies.

The Government says it acts swiftly to address underperformance in all

schools. There will be a post of state discussion evening here next

month. `` post Ofsted. Coming up ` hold the front page,

could we be seeing TWO consecutive sunny 0

could we be seeing TWO consecutive sunny days? 0 0

sunny days? We have more sunshine on the way for

tomorrow, we could it be a hat`trick?

All the details later. An ambitious project to install new

lighting on Nottingham's historic Trent Bridge, has hit an unexpected

snag. The idea 0 Trent Bridge, has hit an unexpected

snag. The idea was 0 0 Trent Bridge, has hit an unexpected

snag. The idea was to make the bridge the backdrop for an

eye`catching changing light show. But the plans are now on hold

because of concerns that the lights could blind bats living under the

bridge's arches. Let's find out more from our political editor. Where are

you, John? This is Nottingham's newest bridge.

All lit up in green light, this bridge near the 0

All lit up in green light, this bridge near the Queen's Medical

Centre has been built to take the city's tram over the inner ring road

towards Beeston. But plans for an equally eye`catching lighting

display on one of the Nottingham's oldest bridges aren't going quite as

smoothly. It was in the summer that we

reported on plans to bring Trent Bridge out of the gloom. Costing

?150,000 and paid for by donations, the idea was to flood the bridge

with lighting. Today The City Council's Deputy Leader caught up

with those plans and there is a problem. We have got to consider

bats. It may well be there is a maternity column under the bridge,

but we have got to wait until May at least to find out. He may not look

particularly cuddly, but for this bat, Trent Bridge is home from home.

They are often called the water bat because they hunt and feed over

water. The light shining directly where there entrance is, that will

probably cause abandonment of the roost. It is the environmental

concern over the bats' habitat but will now delay the lighting scheme.

Trent Bridge is no stranger to this sort of bat, 0 0

Trent Bridge is no stranger to this sort of bat, and could the flying

variety actually stumped most ambitious project? `` but could.

Our bat expert tells us we could probably find alternative roosting

points for 0 probably find alternative roosting

points for them, so there are ways of overcoming it, but it will create

a further delay. If bats are roosting under Trent

Bridge, this could turn out to be one of the more unusual cases of

free housing by The City 0 one of the more unusual cases of

free housing by The City Council. Following the concerns launched by

the Nottinghamshire Bat Group, there will be that ordered the `` of the

bat population. If they can be rehoused, the

lighting scheme is now `` is on again. There is just the matter of

raising their remaining ?100,000. There will be a public subscription,

and then if they are on time, it might be in time for next August.

A 101`year`old woman has won the first round in a 0

A 101`year`old woman has won the first round in a legal battle to

save her care home. Amrutben Karia's family is trying to

reverse Leicester City Council's decision to close Herrick Lodge in

Belgrave. It's one of three care homes planned for closure later this

year. Last month Mrs Karia lodged a claim for a judicial review of the

decision. Now a hearing at the High Court will decide if a judicial

review should take place. It's been a big day for Nottingham's

Muslim community today, as a minaret was placed 0

Muslim community today, as a minaret was placed on a 0

Muslim community today, as a minaret was placed on a mosque in the city

for the first time. The minaret, made out of fibreglass, was placed

onto a new ?1.2 million mosque that's been built in Sneinton. It's

15 metres high. Mosque leaders are now to apply for planning permission

to make the call to prayer three times during the afternoon.

It's claimed new figures show the number of people sleeping rough in

the East Midlands went up by 50% in one year.

The charity Crisis says Government figures show the rise between 2012

and 2013. It says just over 200 people were reported sleeping rough

on any one night last year. That's compared 0

on any one night last year. That's compared to almost 0

on any one night last year. That's compared to almost 140 the year

before. The charity says our region has been hit particularly hard with

cuts to homeless services. Fairly or unfairly, people often

associate professional footballers with fast, 0

associate professional footballers with fast, expensive 0

associate professional footballers with fast, expensive cars. But

today, two East Midlands players were actually behind the wheel of

something a little less flash. And, something a bit more crumpled.

Very crumpled in fact. Carolyn Moses explains.

Normally Dean Leacock and Gary Lidl can manoeuvre across the whole

football ground, but today these players were in rather more cramped

conditions. The mocked up aftermath of a road accident. The message

these food bolus `` 0 of a road accident. The message

these food bolus `` the message, these footballers could be any young

drivers on the roads. One in five young drivers has an accident within

six months of passing the test. Young drivers are also involved in a

quarter of fatal or serious road accidents despite making up one in

eight drivers, and also young men are seven times more at risk of

having an accident in the early hours of the morning or late at

night `` and in the early morning or late at night that increases to 17

times. Pupils will be told clearly what it means to speed, what the

consequences are. But using a mobile phone whilst driving. What does that

do to the ability to control a vehicle? So 0 0

do to the ability to control a vehicle? So not only will they learn

to drive, they will learn to avoid the bad habits that are often picked

up. I would hate to be in a situation like this in real life, or

if it 0 situation like this in real life, or

if it was one of my kids or something like that. So the message

is, drive safe and where Lucy belts. Other advice from these food dollars

and others, it 0 Other advice from these food dollars

and others, it is better to arrive safely than never to arrive at all.

A disabled man from Derbyshire is in training to tackle one of the

toughest endurance tests in Britain in one of the toughest ways

possible. 0 Will Blanche is preparing for the

Three Peaks Challenge ` using a handbike. He's raising money for a

charity set up in memory of a friend who died from brain cancer. Paul

Bradshaw reports. Preparing to scale new heights, Will Blanche with his

specially 0 0 new heights, Will Blanche with his

specially adapted hand bike. He will be attempting the Queen's Medical

Centre in July to raise money for a charity founded to find research and

treatment for brain cancer in young people.

My wife 0 people.

My wife grew up with Jesse, she was a bridesmaid at my wedding. It is

about raising awareness of brain cancer in young people. It is

something that not really has enough support at the moment, 0

something that not really has enough support at the moment, and it is one

of the biggest killers in young people.

The Three Peaks Challenge is a gruelling challenge over three

consecutive days. It 0 gruelling challenge over three

consecutive days. It has never been attempted in this way but a

wheelchair user before. It will be an extraordinary challenge, and

something that, who knows, will maybe end up in the Guinness book of

records. We'll's new hand bike has been donated by it wheelchair firm

in Staffordshire. It is one incredible challenge. I don't think

it has ever been done `` it has ever been done before in this sort of

equipment. Jessica had a zest for life, and 0

equipment. Jessica had a zest for life, and a love for 0

equipment. Jessica had a zest for life, and a love for the great out

doors. But since losing her own battle with brain cancer a year ago,

Jessica's parents have been determined to see her memory lives

on. Now, they hope to take that wish to new heights.

Stay tuned for the next part of our special 0

Stay tuned for the next part of our special World War I series.

And the ski slope in Derbyshire where they have had the worst

February ever, thanks to the Winter Olympics.

`` there best February ever. `` the best February ever.

The Great War was an era of huge innovation in technology. For one of

our cities, that proved pivotal. Rolls`Royce in Derby is of course

known today as 0 Rolls`Royce in Derby is of course

known today as a major aero engine manufacturer for the civil and

defence industries. It employs thousands at sites across

the city ` but back in 1914, the company was very different. As I

discovered as part of the 0 company was very different. As I

discovered as part of the BBC's World War One At Home project. The

project, in partnership with the Imperial War Museums, has discovered

hundreds of stories about the effect the war had on Britain.

Before 1914, Rolls`Royce was best known as a manufacturer of luxury

cars for the aristocracy and the generally wealthy. But for the city

of Derby and Rolls`Royce, the Great War changed everything.

This is the Rolls`Royce bluebook. Rolls`Royce archivist Craig shows me

some of 0 0 Rolls`Royce archivist Craig shows me

some of the key correspondence it contains. These letters show the

design that was going through the design team, how they would make

their first aero`engine. The archive shows that with the war

just weeks old, the British Government had asked the company to

design and build an engine to power its warplanes. The answer initially

was no. When 0 its warplanes. The answer initially

was no. When World 0 its warplanes. The answer initially

was no. When World War I broke out, police `` people believed it would

be over by Christmas. The board were quite against setting up the company

to do a different programme `` project done they were used to. But

soon, 0 project done they were used to. But

soon, the project got under way. Once agreed, the new engine was

designed, tested and fully in production by 1915. At well over 230

horsepower, it was considerably larger than a car engine but still

relatively light. It needed to be. The bad claims Edward Power were

flimsy by modern standards. `` biplanes. `` the biplanes it would

power. They were quite simple aircraft. The engine soon won the

same 0 0 aircraft. The engine soon won the

same reputation for reliability as those fitted to Rolls`Royce cars.

The factory in Derby had to be extended, and a huge new workforce

employed and trained at short notice. You could take somebody with

semi`skills and take get `` get them to take a machine apart, and a

skilled machinist could finish it off. A lot of women were taken on

because men were going 0 off. A lot of women were taken on

because men were going off to fight at the front.

Around half of the engine use used by the Allies during World War I

were used by `` made by Rolls`Royce. So the company was transformed by

World War I. I think this engine represented a milestone for the

company. It was the thing that took Rolls`Royce from just being a motor

car manufacturer to being an aero manufacturer.

Other industries like roots in Nottingham `` boots, had a good war

economically, benefiting from huge War Ministry contracts, but

Rolls`Royce led the way. Front line soldiers 0 0

Rolls`Royce led the way. Front line soldiers lucky enough to return to

Derby after the Great War would have noticed that home as they knew it

had changed for ever. That was due in great part to Henry Royce's

water`cooled aero engine. Tomorrow, the East Midlands stately

home that became a high security prisoner of war camp ` but a camp

from which one German officer escaped, making it all the way back

to the Fatherland. And you can hear more surprising WW1

stories every morning this week on your BBC Local Radio station. Time

for the sport. Colin is not with us, he is in Derbyshire.

From the toboggan track to this really impressive dry ski slope,

this ski centre has had its best February in years. And they're

putting it down to the excitement, thrills, spills 0

putting it down to the excitement, thrills, spills and 0

putting it down to the excitement, thrills, spills and glories of the

Winter Olympics over the last couple of weeks.

It is a sport, and a team, that has captured the country's imagination.

A real show stopper of a routine. We cannot quite say `` lots of

people have been the beneficiary of the Winter Olympics. What happened

over the period? Right from day one, the interest went sky`high. The

website, it 0 0 the interest went sky`high. The

website, it had a 40% increase in hits.

February half term is going to be the best on record. Sheer volume of

people wanting to do ski slope lessons. We had to turn people away

because we had no more space on the slope. It is your job to turn these

people into competitors, but this is a dry slope, how will this help to

compete on snow? Most 0 a dry slope, how will this help to

compete on snow? Most of 0 a dry slope, how will this help to

compete on snow? Most of the slope style people in Sochi all came from

dry slope backgrounds, and they trained up until they competed

internationally on dry slopes. We are going to meet a potential

medallist before we leave. As you saw earlier, it's not just

the snow sports. Some of the most beautiful and most heartbreaking

moments were produced by the ice dancers 0 0

moments were produced by the ice dancers and 0

moments were produced by the ice dancers and speed skaters nurtured

and brought through at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. Mark

Shardlow's been to see the impact of the Sochi Games there. Those

professionals make it look so easy, but 0 0

professionals make it look so easy, but you are new 0

professionals make it look so easy, but you are new to the ice you soon

find out it is a challenge. I think it is pretty hard. How are you

doing? I am not that great. Last week was one of the busiest

ever at the busiest ice rink in Britain. The National Ice Centre in

Nottingham. Skating numbers up 58% on the equivalent week of last year.

This year with the last series of dancing on ice and Torvill and

Dean's historic 30 years, we have had the perfect storm.

Even before the Winter Olympics, 120 schools across the East Midlands ``

things were booming. 120 schools come for lessons. The main things I

have been watching 0 come for lessons. The main things I

have been watching is the snowboarding, the curling and the

ice`skating. I think it is good. I like watching it because they show

off their skills. Lots of beginners want to learn, 0 0

off their skills. Lots of beginners want to learn, and that has been a

big impact for not just families but also mums and dads.

One thing 0 0 also mums and dads.

One thing they cannot cope with is the clamour for curling. It is the

wrong kind of eyes. Curling ice needs to be really cold, it probably

takes three or four hours to prepare the ice.

But the National Ice Centre host just about every other ice sport. It

is now opening 20 hours a day to cope with the clubs 0

is now opening 20 hours a day to cope with the clubs and classes that

are blossoming after Sochi. Some other news ` Nottingham world

boxing champion Carl Froch says Nottingham Forest's City Ground is

now "the frontrunner" to host his hugely anticipated rematch with

George Groves. Groves described it as a "hoax".

There's one local football match tonight. It's in League Two,

Mansfield are going for three home wins in a row as they take on

struggling Bury. I want you to take a look at this.

This is just in, 0 I want you to take a look at this.

This is just in, he is potentially the next big thing in freestyle

skiing. `` Justin. How inspired by `` where you buy the Winter

Olympics? I was very inspired. Could you go for the next Winter Olympics?

Possibly. We will let you get back on with the practising. The

inspiration has been cleared to see by the numbers, let us hope it

translates into champions. We thought he was going to ski down.

Now, what would have caused our political editor, his cameraman and

the Deputy Leader 0 political editor, his cameraman and

the Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council to get in a bit of a flap

this afternoon? The answer ` a sudden, strong gust

of wind. In the middle of an interview it

blew John Hess's papers out of his hands and scattered them along the

Trent embankment in Nottingham. Here they are ` in true Benny Hill style

` trying to retrieve them. John is used 0 0

` trying to retrieve them. John is used to reporting on political

turbulence, but you could say the winds of change caught him somewhat

off guard today. It was a bit breezy!

It has been really blustery today, but we have had some sunshine and

out of 0 0 but we have had some sunshine and

out of the 0 0 but we have had some sunshine and

out of the wind 0 0 but we have had some sunshine and

out of the wind it 0 but we have had some sunshine and

out of the wind it is not too bad. The winds are easing down for us

through tomorrow, and we are going to have that sunshine back as well,

so a decent looking day once again. We have seen a few showers around

this evening, there are still a couple dotted around at the moment,

but they should be fading away over the next couple of hours or so,

taking us into a dry night. Clear skies for some of us, and it is

going to be a little bit chilly impaired to recent nights, down to

three or four Celsius. `` impaired to recent nights. They could be a

touch of frost. `` compared to recent nights. A beautiful bright

start to Wednesday morning, as we head into the afternoon I think we

will just 0 0 head into the afternoon I think we

will just see 0 0 head into the afternoon I think we

will just see a little bit more cloud pushing in, and there is just

a small chance of catching some rain. Temperatures again will peak

at nine or 10 Celsius. So get out in the wind, the sunshine not feeling

too bad. `` get out of the wind. This weather front will be pushing

in on Wednesday night, some heavy rain for a time during the early

hours of the morning, but it clears out of the way for Thursday. Lots of

sunshine around them, just watch out for a few blustery showers as we

head out into the afternoon. We'll leave you with John, his

cameraman Richard and Councillor Graham Chapman, still chasing those

papers. Goodnight.