25/11/2011 Midlands Today

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today, with Suzanne Virdee and Michael

Collie. The headlines tonight: 10,000 people sign a petition

demanding hospital bosses keep Stafford Hospital A&E open 24

hours-a-day. The people of Stafford want to keep their A&E department.

Police literally sniff out big cannabis factory right in the heart

of a busy city centre. I was at the back of this premises where we're

stood and I smelt a very strong smell of cannabis.

Market traders' anger as they're dragged into the strike that will

see thousands of workers walk out next Wednesday.

And it was named the most beautiful car of all time. Now the E-type Jag

Good evening, welcome to Friday's Midlands Today, from the BBC. More

than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for Accident &

Emergency services to be protected at Stafford Hospital. It comes as a

campaign group holds its first meeting this evening, following

news earlier this month that services are being closed down at

night. The plan involves shutting the A&E unit at Stafford from 10pm

until 8am overnight. The new system will come into place next Thursday

and is due to last three months. Hospital managers say it's a safety

precaution and they are hoping to have the unit fully open again as

soon as possible, but campaigners worry it could be the beginning of

a series of cuts. Our Staffordshire reporter, Liz Copper, joins us now

from that public meeting in Stafford. Liz, have many people

turned up to get their views across? Yes. This meeting has been

underway for about half-an-hour. It is very well attended, and I think

that reflects the feeling not just in Stafford, but in surrounding

areas. The campaign group says they have organised the meeting because

they are so concerned about the future of A&E.

22-month-old Leo was born in Stafford Hospital and his brother

and sister have also received treatment there. His mother began a

campaign to support services, particularly A&E. To bring those

good consultants to A&E, we have to show them Stafford is a good place

to be and that is not being shown at the moment. That is our aim, to

start showing the positives from a hospital. Neighbours have joined

forces to plan the campaign and tonight's public meeting. I have

needed that service strongly and I would not like it in any way to be

harmed for the future of this community. I would like it

reinstated for 24 hours because that is what is needed for this

community. The temporary closure was agreed at a board meeting

earlier this month. The hospital reject claims that the moves are

motivated by financial considerations. What we felt as a

Trust was that because of our staffing numbers, we could not

continue to sustain a safe A&E service. Although people are

worried about having to travel, what we feel is that we need a safe

service here, and that is a judgment call around our risk and

the risk of patients are having to travel. The temporary closure is

due to begin from this Thursday and the board insists it is temporary

and will last for just three a month. But the MP of Stafford has

been hearing from many constituents who are concerned it will be

permanent. This is a temporary closure. The hospital is making

every effort to recruit the right of a number of consultants and

doctors to fill the posts so the hospital can reopen 24 hours a day

and offer what is a very good and safe service. Thousands of families

have already expressed their views on the A&E services. They will not

review current plans but they are hoping to influence future

decisions. This campaign is clearly gathering

momentum. What's been said at the meeting so far? Lots of questions

from the public here this evening, and very strongly-help support for

the hospital being expressed. We have had some quite passionate

speeches so far from members of the panel on this stage and we are

expecting to hear from members of the public who will ask questions

later on. The number of people who are so passionate about the

hospital, we are thinking tonight we will be engaging their opinion

and the wider opinion in Stafford, and some of those who arrive here

this evening, we managed to speak to some of them about their

concerns. My concerns are mainly the travelling for anybody in the

district who use staff a hospital. We are a commuter town and we are

growing, and I am concerned there will be no A&E to take our children

do. We need positive moves and the people tonight are doing the right

things. What are the campaign group hoping to achieve ultimately?

is a newly formed group and they are keen to stress they are not

political. They were only formed and the last few days after the

announcement was made. They want to look towards the long-term future

of the hospital but they know they cannot do anything about these

partial closures that will take effect from next week. By Hospital

welcomes meeting like this because it shows just how passionately

people feel about the health service. Thank you very much.

Later in tonight's programme, the schoolgirls from Wolverhampton

who've been putting the London Olympics boxing venue through its

paces. A big cannabis factory has been

discovered in an old shop in one of the busiest parts of Birmingham

city centre. It was found by a police officer in the area on

another investigation, who literally sniffed it out. Once

cultivated, the plants could have produced drugs worth �300,000. And

as Giles Latcham reports, it's an industry which appears to be

flourishing. Up the stairs into the warmth and

moisture of a cannabis farm. Row upon row of plants, lamps,

ventilation shafts and a sophisticated hydroponics system. A

highly professional set-up uncovered by chance by a detective

making inquiries nearby. I was at the back of this property where we

stood and nice not a very strong smell of cannabis, so we forced

entry to the premises using police powers. This is the largest in a

commercial premises I have seen. There are six tents like this one,

each with 30 to 50 plants in them. The aroma is overpowering. It is a

big operation and the location is interesting, too. An old shop, slap

bang in Birmingham city centre, over the road from New Street

railway station. A risky enterprise, then, and brass-necked, too, but by

no means a one-off. In the past four years, more than 1,400

cannabis farms have been discovered in the West Midlands. That's an

increase of 275%. The value of the plants seized and destroyed is an

estimated �150m. Amid economic gloom, quite literally a growth

industry. People who may not be involved in organised crime per

assayed have seen profits that are possible and have taken steps to

see if they can get on to that bandwagon. Whether this particular

incident is about organised crime or not is difficult to say until we

see those behind it. But it is certainly being replicated by many

people. Earlier this month, a group of men, some from Staffordshire,

were convicted of running a giant cannabis farm in Lincolnshire. But

with production costs relatively low, for profits so substantial

there are plenty willing to take the risk.

The Aston Villa footballer Barry Bannan has been banned from driving

for 18 months after admitting drink-driving and three other

offences, following a motorway crash last month. 21-year-old

midfielder, from Sutton Coldfield, was also fined �4,500 at Nottingham

Magistrates' Court. The court heard he was almost twice the legal

drink-drive limit when he crashed his Range Rover Sport on the M1 in

Nottinghamshire. Three Warwickshire fire officers

have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of four of their

colleagues in a blaze at a vegetable-packing warehouse.

Station manager Timothy Woodward, and watch managers Paul Simmons and

Adrian Ashley, who attended court in uniform, were charged with

manslaughter by gross negligence, following the fire in Atherstone-

on-Stour. Warwickshire County Council also faces a charge under

health and safety legislation. None of the defendants was required to

enter a plea. Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates Bradley, John Averis

and Ian Reid died four years ago. Police have confirmed this

afternoon that human remains recovered in Gloucestershire

yesterday are those of Kate Prout, who was murdered by her husband

four years ago. They were discovered close to where Adrian

Prout told police he had buried her body after he unexpectedly

confessed to her murder. Today, Mrs Prout's family spoke of their

relief and said they hope they can now finally lay her to rest. Steve

Knibbs reports. Kate's Prout's family describe the

last week as surreal, traumatic. It, of course, started with the news

that Adrian Prout had finally confessed. We were very shocked at

first. And we weren't quite certain whether it was the truth. We were

devastated and just full of emotion again. The whole thing boils up

again. We have never forgotten Kate but we never thought we would get

to the end and that she would be found. So when the news came, we

were totally devastated. As the search started to recover Kate's

remains, difficult memories came flooding back. Knowing that perhaps

she would be found, in a way, it has been just as bad as going

through the trial, though we have not had to go to court every day.

The emotion and feeling as you go through and the anxiety of waiting,

it just tyres you out and it has been just as traumatic, hasn't it?

Yes. Their driving force now is the future and Kate's funeral, but it's

tangible just how harrowing the past four years have been. We have

been like prisoners. It has been like a prison sentence for us,

hanging over our heads all the time. We will never forget Kate and this

has been such a traumatic event in our lives, that we are hoping that

now we can get her back and say goodbye properly, it will close the

book. Here there is a sense of relief that the cases coming to its

conclusion. The murder of Kate Prout has been a dark cloud hanging

over the village for four years. A cloud that is, at last, starting to

lift. As the police operation came to a close in Redmarley today,

there was only one thought on everyone's minds. The woman who

disappeared but has now been found. Public sector unions say they're

expecting next Wednesday's strikes to be the biggest display of

industrial action since the 1970s. In this region alone, hundreds of

thousands of workers are expected to walk out. But there's growing

anger about the possible disruption and inconvenience. Market traders

in Willenhall, in the Black Country, have been told they risk

prosecution if they trade during the strike, for safety reasons, as

council workers will be absent. Cath Mackie reports.

Amanda Mason has run a pet stall at Willenhall Market in the Black

Country for 20 years. But next Wednesday, she could be forced to

take a rare day off. The strike is closing the market on Wednesday.

All the traders have had a letter from Walsall Council saying that

because of the public sector strike, the market will be closed.

thought it was disgusting, to be fair. It is nothing to do with us.

They can do that and it is they Union, but I do not see why we

should have the day off. It is our livelihood. We have 60 traders sell

it will have a big impact on Wednesday. For the traders it's a

catch-22 situation. If they turn up next Wednesday, they could lose

their licence to trade. If they don't, they could lose a day's pay.

And all for a strike they say is nothing to do with them. I am sure

it is important for them, but what we are saying is, don't drag us

into your dispute. The council says it stands to lose �3,000 income

from its markets but it has no choice. This is a council service

like any other, so the council staff that run it cannot be here to

make sure the market is run safely and properly next Wednesday. This

might be just a local argument, but across the West Midlands,

widespread disruption next Wednesday is guaranteed. In the

West Midlands alone, we are looking at hundreds of thousands of workers,

teachers, binmen, been women, taking action to defend their

pensions. As for Willenhall Market, Walsall Council says it's unlikely

they will revoke licences, but if traders do turn up on strike day,

they will be trading illegally. And protest rallies are planned

right across the region on Wednesday. The biggest will be in

Birmingham and there'll be others in Stoke-on-Trent, Telford,

Wolverhampton, Coventry and Worcester. Our political editor,

Patrick Burns, is with me now. Everyone seems to think these

strikes will definitely go ahead, don't they? Yes. Realistically,

that is the case now. We have seen school sending out notification to

parents about closures and local authorities dusting off contingency

plans. The Government accused the unions of jumping the gun while

negotiation was in process. But the unions say it is nothing of the

sort. They say they are left with no option but to go ahead with the

strike. Nobody wants to take industrial action. It is not

something they do lightly. They stop providing the services they

are committed to. So we want to bring the Government back to the

negotiating temple with a better offer to bring our members. -- the

negotiating table. How much of an impact will it have? It will be a

wide impact but what people do not know is that it will also include

Community Support Officers and the backroom staff. Health workers as

well. Emergencies will be dealt with as usual, but a elective

appointments, people should not be surprised if they find they are

postponed. And then we have the developing story at the airports

with immigration officers, the Borders Agency, which is an

evolving story and we have a major UK border at Birmingham Airport and

the airlines are warning passengers they may have to adjust their

timetable. We'd like to know what effect the

strikes will have on you next Wednesday. Are you having to change

your plans or lose work, maybe? You can get in touch via the Midlands

Today Facebook page or email us. Still to come in tonight's

programme, Sarah Cruickshank is here with all the details about the

weekend's weather. We might be avoiding the worst of the weather

but it is looking like a very windy weekend ahead. Some places are at

risk of seeing gusts up to 65mph. Tower Bridge, the Channel Tunnel,

the Vulcan Bomber and the Bletchley Park code-breaking machine. All

previous winners of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Heritage

Award. But the prestigious award, which recognises British

engineering excellence, has never been given to a car. Until now.

Today it was awarded to the E-type Jaguar. Designed and built in

Coventry, it caused a sensation when it was launched in 1961 and

remains an icon of motoring to this day. Sarah Falkland reports.

It was special all right. So special it became a motoring icon.

Sleek curves and a top speed of 150 miles per hour, all for under

�2,000. Enzo Ferrari famously said it was the most beautiful car ever

made. This is a well-known quote from him. He said, there's one

thing wrong with it. I said, what is that? He said it does not have

the Ferrari back. Norman Dewis, from Shropshire, was the chief

development test engineer for the E-type. Now 91, he was at Jaguar's

Heritage Centre in Coventry today to see it honoured by the

Institution of Mechanical Engineers. It combined beautiful lines with

exceptional performance, but underneath it there was some

extremely interesting engineering advances, particularly in the way

the chassis was built, with framed to look after the engine.

Recognition for engineering in this country is always a great thing and

the E-type is such a special, iconic car for this country. We

should have it for many years. Another reason for Jaguar Land

Rover and its current work, now under Tata ownership, to celebrate.

Such is the popularity of the E- type, Jaguar enthusiasts have been

clamouring for a new two-seater in its image. The C-X16, unveiled at

this year's Frank Motor Show, is a clue to what could be coming soon.

The E-type is a typical car of the 60s. A very sporty car for sports

stars and rock stars and celebrities. Hopefully the new one

will have the same sense of style and adventure. E-types can fetch

anything from 50,000 to 500,000 today. Norman Dewis says now he

wishes he had put two or three aside for his later years. They are

dreamy! I want one! �500,000. You never know. You can clean the

spokes on the wheels. That must be a nightmare! Beautiful!

Earlier this year, Wolverhampton was chosen as the location for the

Olympic training camp for boxers from one of the world's smallest

nations. Four boxers from the Caribbean island of Dominica will

train in the city next year. I didn't say that right! Sorry! And

to prepare, two Wolverhampton schoolgirls have been given an

exclusive opportunity to watch a special Olympic test event in

London. Ben Godfrey joined them. Chloe and Lauren have never claimed

to be boxing fans, but they've been won over. How long have you been

boxing? As part of the BBC News School report, the 13 year-olds

from Deansfield Community School got press passes for Excel in

London, for a rehearsal of the Olympics boxing event. Before I did

all this, I was not interested in it at all. I just thought it was a

sport for the Olympics and not very good. But now I have learned more

about it, I like it. They're here because they've been inspired by

Wolverhampton's big boxing moment. Next summer, at the city's amateur

boxing club, these children will get the chance to watch four boxers

from Dominica, who'll swap their small Caribbean island, with a

population of 75,000, for three months of bruising bouts in the

Black Country, before heading to London. Chloe and Lauren got to

interview the club secretary. club has just signed a 25-year

lease, so we are not going in where. Basically, we hope to provide some

more Olympians in that time. With the kids saying they want to be

boxers when they grow up, it is interesting. We can see that

Wolverhampton is not a city where nothing happens. At the test event

in London, Chloe and Lauren were busy scoring the bouts, and I was

ringside. This is not simply a test event for the organisers. It is

also a test for the Olympic hopefuls, fighting in the ring and

learning how to answer questions from people like me. The organisers

of London 2012 want the Games to reach out to all, to inspire people

to get involved in a new sport in their communities. In Chloe and

Lauren, they may have their role models. Don't argue with them!

used to go boxing, didn't you? Absolutely exhausting but I was

pretty rubbish at it! And to see more on how the girls

got on, you can go bbc.co.uk/schoolreport.

The lost history of Birmingham's gay community is being brought to

the stage for the first time in a new theatre production. It's being

performed at a National Trust property in the city centre and

features untold stories stories that stretch as far back as the

19th century. Here's our arts reporter, Satnam Rana.

Actors revealing hidden histories from Birmingham's gay past in the

setting of the city centre's Back To Backs. Madness has historically

been seen as a fall from grace. Homosexuality was a form of madness.

The tale of Charles, born in 1820. He ended up in a lunatic asylum

because of his "unnatural desires". He is a lunatic! And then there's

the rags-to-riches story of the Saltley's Fred Barnes.

# Give me the moonlight, give me the girl... A butcher's son turned-

entertainer. The production Gay Birmingham Back To Back is an

extension of an oral history project, Gay Birmingham Remembered.

It's to contextualise our past. Where we have come from. That is

really important. A group of children in their teens came and

they were profoundly affected because they did not know that is

where it had come from in their community. There are stories of

women meeting women in wartime Birmingham. And the struggle

between race and homosexuality in the 1970s. I will be standing

outside the club trying to pluck up the courage to go into the women's

only disco, to find others like me. This production has been put

together by Women & Theatre as part of The Shout Festival, celebrating

what organisers call queer culture. For the National Trust, it's a way

of engaging with diverse audiences. It has enabled us to communicate

with the gay community and introduce them to the National

Trust and the Back To Backs. Beyond the production there is a lasting

legacy. The stories here will be visualised and it will be a

permanent record of what has been, up till now, the city's hidden gay

past. And you can watch the production at

Birmingham's Back To Backs tomorrow. For more information, follow the

link on our Facebook page. It started off beautifully but what

It is looking very windy indeed. The wind will start to pick up

overnight tonight. But on the plus side, it will be dry as well. The

cloud we have had this afternoon will start to break up, so we will

be under clearer skies overnight. Temperatures will take an early dip

so it will feel quite chilly but it will stay dry. Temperatures dipping

to around four or five degrees in the morning. But the wind will pick

up tonight, so the Met Office have issued a yellow warning four-strong

wind tomorrow morning. It is all down to this area sitting to the

north of us, creating tightly- packed isobars. We will see very

strong winds through the day, but it will be mainly dry and bright,

with the best of the sunshine through the first half of the

morning. Temperatures will be peaking at around 11 or 12 degrees.

But a windy day, so it will feel chilly. Gusts up to 65mph during

the region tomorrow. Its days dry through the day, turning cloudy

overnight and we could see spots of rain overnight from Saturday to

Sunday. But the pressure is starting to build across the region

for Sunday, so looking like a mainly dry day and bright as well.

Plenty of sunshine on offer. Temperatures peaking again at 12,

13 degrees. The wind will be moderate on Sunday. Monday, his

star as dry and bright, but Det cloudy through the day. On Tuesday,

we will see the rain heading away. But over the weekend, dry and

bright and the wind will increase through the day tomorrow. Monday,

looking chilly and then wet and A look at tonight's main headlines:

Heathrow tells passengers to expect delays of up to 12 hours on strike

day next week. And here, 10,000 sign a petition

demanding hospital bosses keep Stafford Hospital A&E open 24 hours

a-day. Earlier in the programme, we asked

you how next Wednesday's public sector strikes will affect you.

Matt Lakin wrote on our Facebook page: "In many areas, working to

rule and overtime bans would be far less disruptive and far more

effective". Gill Evans says: "I work in the

private sector. Who cares about my pension or lack of it?!"

Andi Conway wrote: "If it's a stand against this government, then of

course services will strike, and they have that right. We still live

in a democracy". Vincent Hayes says: "I support the strike. The

Tory Party are trying to dismantle the public sector and the NHS". But

Lucy Garman says: "I have had to take the day off work and will lose

a day's pay so I can stay at home to look after my son. It would of

cost �37 for a school day in child care. What makes me angry is the

fact that three weeks ago, we were sent a letter warning that parents

who take holidays or days off in term-time will be recorded as