:00:09. > :00:14.Hello, and welcome to Midlands Today. The government says yes to
:00:14. > :00:19.the NHS to line up, to the delight of many business leaders. I am live
:00:19. > :00:22.in Water Orton in Warwickshire, where villagers say HS2 will wreck
:00:22. > :00:26.lives, and the economic argument is badly flawed.
:00:26. > :00:30.The government said the country needed HS2 for long-term economic
:00:30. > :00:34.growth. It will cement what was envisaged
:00:34. > :00:39.at 10 years ago when Eastside was created. Because of the recession,
:00:39. > :00:44.it stalled, as the announcement will really make it happen.
:00:44. > :00:49.But the No campaign say they will fight it. They say the country
:00:49. > :00:54.cannot afford it. It means that my home of 27 years
:00:54. > :00:58.is going to be demolished. For what?
:00:58. > :01:04.I am in a helicopter flying above the Midlands and looking at the
:01:04. > :01:09.impact of the new, revised route. How this region is one of the worst
:01:09. > :01:14.in the land for child poverty. We have to ration what we eat,
:01:14. > :01:18.because I have to wait until I get my next set of money.
:01:18. > :01:22.Plus he has had thousands of winners in a glorious career, and
:01:22. > :01:32.he is still going strong. The oldest racehorse trainer in the
:01:32. > :01:35.
:01:35. > :01:39.Good evening, and welcome to a special edition of Midlands Today,
:01:39. > :01:43.on the day the government said yesterday controversial �17 billion
:01:43. > :01:46.high-speed rail link between Birmingham and London. I am in
:01:46. > :01:50.Water Orton in Warwickshire, wearing number of homes will be
:01:50. > :01:56.demolished to make way for the rail line. Let's tell you a bit more
:01:56. > :02:03.about this village. If it is home to 3500 people. It has shops, a
:02:03. > :02:07.primary school and two pubs. Life will change dramatically. Anti HS2
:02:07. > :02:12.campaigners say the line will damage some of the country's most
:02:12. > :02:20.beautiful countryside. But the government says it is vital.
:02:20. > :02:26.It will deliver a �6.2 million more of benefit to the country. -- �6.2
:02:26. > :02:30.billion. So by slashing journey times as well as providing the
:02:30. > :02:35.changing capacity that we need, it will give a return on the
:02:35. > :02:40.additional investment of more than it four to one. Of a modern,
:02:40. > :02:44.reliable service between hour major cities befitting the 21st century
:02:44. > :02:48.will transform the way we travel and promote Britain's economic and
:02:48. > :02:52.social prosperity. The issue of high-speed rail has
:02:52. > :02:59.really hit the headlines in the past few years. But people in
:02:59. > :03:03.France and Germany have been able to use them since the early 1980s.
:03:03. > :03:07.But it was only in 2007 when High Speed One that began operating
:03:07. > :03:11.between London and the Channel Tunnel in the UK. Three years later,
:03:11. > :03:16.the then Labour government unveiled plans for High Speed Two between
:03:16. > :03:20.London and Birmingham. In December that year, the new government
:03:20. > :03:25.published its preferred route. A public consultation took place
:03:25. > :03:31.between February and July last year. Now, the government has approved
:03:31. > :03:35.the route, and are hoping construction will start in 2018.
:03:35. > :03:41.And by 2026, high-speed rail travel between London and Birmingham could
:03:41. > :03:45.be a reality. Many businesses in the region have
:03:45. > :03:49.welcomed today's announcement approving the high-speed rail route.
:03:49. > :03:54.It is claimed HS2 will create thousands of new jobs and lead to
:03:54. > :03:57.greater levels of investment in the region. There is also the potential
:03:57. > :04:02.for extensive regeneration in Birmingham's Eastside. It is
:04:02. > :04:10.already happening at King's Cross in London, where the arrival of
:04:10. > :04:15.High Speed One resulted in a huge redevelopment project.
:04:15. > :04:19.Once derelict and run down, now the largest city centre development in
:04:19. > :04:25.Western Europe. 4 million square feet of offices, 2000 new homes and
:04:25. > :04:30.the promise of 30,000 jobs. It really is urban regeneration on a
:04:30. > :04:34.massive scale here at King's Cross. Over the next decade, as the work
:04:34. > :04:38.continues, it is estimated they will be spending more than �1
:04:38. > :04:41.million every day. And it is all happening just yards from St
:04:41. > :04:46.Pancras International station, terminus for High Speed One, the
:04:46. > :04:49.line that goes to the Channel Tunnel. For developers, being close
:04:49. > :04:53.to the high-speed rail has made a big difference.
:04:53. > :04:59.It is a big factor. It is not the deciding factor, but possibly
:04:59. > :05:05.without it, 50% of the deals we have done would not have happened.
:05:05. > :05:10.Deals may carry on having a bit slower, but not everyone wants to
:05:10. > :05:15.go to London or Paris or stood guard. Some people do, and they are
:05:15. > :05:20.the decision-makers. He was another run-down area,
:05:20. > :05:24.Birmingham's Eastside. Part of this will become the station for HS2.
:05:24. > :05:29.Regeneration has been slow, but like at King's Cross, experts are
:05:30. > :05:33.now predicting rapid development. A it will make a huge difference.
:05:33. > :05:38.It wasn't meant what was envisaged some 10 years ago when Eastside was
:05:38. > :05:43.created. Because of the recession, it stalled, and the announcement of
:05:43. > :05:46.HS2 will really make that happen. Development here could bring in
:05:46. > :05:52.more than �500 million of investment and help generate in
:05:52. > :05:55.excess of 15,000 jobs. Some of those could be created here.
:05:55. > :05:59.This is the site of an old factory which has now been largely
:05:59. > :06:03.demolished. Part of this site could be used as a train maintenance
:06:03. > :06:07.depot. But in other parts of the region,
:06:07. > :06:11.the effect will not be so great. In places like Telford, business
:06:11. > :06:16.leaders are not so keen on a project.
:06:16. > :06:21.Shropshire is the only county in the UK without a direct links to --
:06:21. > :06:27.direct link to London. So what Direct Line to Telford is critical
:06:27. > :06:32.for me. -- so a direct line. As far as the government is
:06:32. > :06:37.concerned, the regeneration impact of a just to appear to have been
:06:37. > :06:41.seen as much more important than any environmental factors.
:06:42. > :06:46.Patrick Burns has spent a day at Westminster, where there was a
:06:46. > :06:50.demonstration supporting the HS2 rail link outside Parliament.
:06:50. > :06:55.Another of our MPs, including the Conservative MP for Redditch, Karen
:06:55. > :07:03.Lumley, and John Hemming from Birmingham Yardley, who is a Lib
:07:03. > :07:07.Dem, took part. Patrick, not all of Our MPs support HS2, do they?
:07:07. > :07:14.That is true. Two of Coventry's three Labour MPs have come out
:07:14. > :07:17.against it. A lot of Conservatives are also opposed to it, as their
:07:17. > :07:25.constituencies are along the ridge. This is a project which commands
:07:25. > :07:31.the official support or all three main political parties. I am joined
:07:31. > :07:35.by Gisela Stuart, the Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston. Dan Byles,
:07:35. > :07:40.the Conservative MP for Warwickshire North is also here. We
:07:40. > :07:44.have just been hearing about the regenerative potential, job
:07:44. > :07:48.creation in areas that desperately need a boost in the West Midlands.
:07:48. > :07:53.You are booking -- you are putting brooch or considerations ahead of
:07:53. > :07:57.the greater good. I disagree with that. Coventry City
:07:57. > :08:04.Council are against this. I am hearing a lot of hope about
:08:04. > :08:08.regeneration and not much evidence. What do you say about -- to Dan's
:08:08. > :08:14.constituents? They are deeply upset about the damage to their homes and
:08:14. > :08:18.environment. It was going again it -- through my
:08:18. > :08:21.backyard I would ask that it was minimised. But we have to look at
:08:21. > :08:24.the Horn of the country and the infrastructure which will provide
:08:24. > :08:29.jobs for the West Midlands. We always keep talking about
:08:29. > :08:33.Birmingham and London. It is about connecting Birmingham then on to
:08:33. > :08:37.Leeds and Manchester and Scotland. At we need to improve that national
:08:37. > :08:43.infrastructure, but also hour regional network. I would give you
:08:43. > :08:50.one example. In Birmingham, one third of people over 25 do not have
:08:50. > :08:54.a job. We need to provide jobs. Dan, this commands a very powerful
:08:54. > :08:58.parliamentary force. Are you backing a loser?
:08:59. > :09:02.I agree that with all three parties favouring it, it is an uphill
:09:02. > :09:08.struggle. But I still think it is the wrong thing to do. I need to
:09:08. > :09:12.make that case. The Transport Select Committee did a very good
:09:12. > :09:18.report highlighting a number of questions which have not been
:09:18. > :09:23.answered. Will it happen? Yes or no?
:09:23. > :09:27.Yes, it will. The Transport Secretary told the
:09:27. > :09:34.Commons deceiving that she will be visiting Birmingham tomorrow, where
:09:34. > :09:38.even the Labour MPs say she is guaranteed a warm welcome.
:09:38. > :09:42.Thank you very much. Thousands of people across the
:09:42. > :09:46.Midlands have campaigned against the proposed rail link. Farmers,
:09:46. > :09:50.environmentalists, homeowners and some business people joined forces
:09:50. > :09:55.to lobby the government against the proposals. They argue it is too
:09:55. > :10:00.costly, and the environmental and economic arguments do not stand up.
:10:00. > :10:09.We have spent today speaking to residents of what autumn, just one
:10:09. > :10:12.of a number of areas that will be affected by the. -- Water Orton.
:10:12. > :10:17.Today's announcement came with neighbours gathering together for
:10:17. > :10:23.support. I am absolutely devastated. It
:10:24. > :10:31.means that my home of 27 years is going to be demolished. For what?
:10:31. > :10:37.Faure trainer. It is a big worry.
:10:37. > :10:41.If this goes ahead, it went to just be us living close to where railway,
:10:41. > :10:44.it means that we just went have a home.
:10:44. > :10:49.Householders living in the path of HS2 say they have not been
:10:49. > :10:54.contacted by the company behind the scheme or the government. They have
:10:54. > :11:02.years of uncertainty ahead. It will run straight through these
:11:02. > :11:06.houses. Literally straight through? Yes, straight through.
:11:06. > :11:10.There has been a school in this village since the 18 Nineties.
:11:10. > :11:14.Trees have been planted and an outside classroom created. That
:11:14. > :11:19.will now run parallel to the new rail line.
:11:19. > :11:24.I do not want it because it will run in the atmosphere around here.
:11:24. > :11:28.It looks really nice at the moment, and it will make it look horrible.
:11:28. > :11:32.I would rather go on a train that is lower than have one next to a
:11:32. > :11:37.school. It will be years before a train
:11:37. > :11:41.comes through this field. But in the meantime, local communities say
:11:41. > :11:50.generations will be blighted by the desire to give Jenny times reduced
:11:50. > :11:53.from Birmingham to London. -- journey times.
:11:53. > :12:02.Let's talk about to Susan Willis, who lives here in the village, and
:12:02. > :12:07.to Linda Davis, who helps to run at the Campaign Group against HS2. We
:12:07. > :12:12.saw you, Susan, a very emotional today?
:12:12. > :12:17.Yes, it has been a very trying day. I will lose my home which I have
:12:17. > :12:22.lived in for 27 years and built from nothing to what I have now.
:12:22. > :12:26.Many people say you will get compensation. While I use are
:12:26. > :12:30.worried about losing your house? The conversation being offered is
:12:30. > :12:37.nowhere near the market value of our house. If not only do I lose my
:12:37. > :12:44.house, I will also be financially challenged as well.
:12:44. > :12:49.The financial situation at the moment, houses right here are cut
:12:49. > :12:54.by 25% because it HS2. The so you're worried you will not be able
:12:54. > :13:04.to find a home? And the compensation? It is only
:13:04. > :13:04.
:13:04. > :13:10.You've been running the campaign group, isn't it all over? We hope
:13:10. > :13:13.not. There are grounds for a legal challenge. It was decided months
:13:13. > :13:18.ago it would go ahead, before the consultation. It would be a
:13:18. > :13:23.disaster for the whole country, not just us. It would stop investment
:13:23. > :13:28.in local transport infrastructure. They are to be passe you have to
:13:28. > :13:38.look at the big picture -- a lot of people are saying you have to look
:13:38. > :13:41.at the big picture. High Speed One hasn't worked, a lot of money will
:13:41. > :13:47.go from the local infrastructure. No one will get more money for the
:13:47. > :13:56.next 15 years. We have run out of time. Thank you very much. You can
:13:56. > :14:00.read more about the decision on our website. I'll be back later with a
:14:00. > :14:07.look at the environmental impact that HS2 would have on the local
:14:07. > :14:11.region. In other news, the campaign group
:14:11. > :14:18.End Child Poverty says that in Birmingham won a third of children
:14:18. > :14:24.are living below the poverty line. In Sandwell and Wolverhampton have,
:14:24. > :14:34.31% of children are in poverty. There are 29% of children in Stoke
:14:34. > :14:34.
:14:34. > :14:39.and Warsaw. We look at one mother's attempts to help her children.
:14:39. > :14:45.Marsha Edwards is spending just �1 on sweets Farhad two boys. She is a
:14:45. > :14:52.single mother, she lost her job last year. Her temporary property
:14:52. > :14:59.is so bad it is infested with mice. They have to play games because
:14:59. > :15:04.mice overran the flat. The children used to walk down the path, they
:15:04. > :15:14.clapped their hands, and stamped their feet, and said that they were
:15:14. > :15:14.
:15:15. > :15:19.back. The mouse went from there to be covered. They would scurry back
:15:19. > :15:24.off to where they were. They were homeless last year just before
:15:24. > :15:30.Christmas, they moved back to their council flat in Birmingham. This is
:15:30. > :15:40.the children's room. This is practically all the staff we our
:15:40. > :15:47.
:15:47. > :15:52.own. -- staff her. The flat was an empty shell. Some people give up
:15:52. > :15:57.good homes because of their lack of money. They have no way of
:15:57. > :16:02.preparing a meal, they have to get takeaways, they are cold, so they
:16:02. > :16:07.will go and sit in the pub to keep warm. They have nothing to sleep on,
:16:07. > :16:13.so very quickly the lovely flat feels like a prison. The children
:16:13. > :16:21.are well clothed, they have computer games, but at times she
:16:21. > :16:30.says she hasn't had the bus fares to send them to school. I would
:16:30. > :16:37.rather feed them. He does his homework, his numbers, his colours,
:16:37. > :16:40.he does everything he does at school, I still teach him. It has
:16:40. > :16:45.been suggested that half a million children were slipping to the
:16:45. > :16:50.poverty trap by 2013. Marsha Edwards is a trained a nursery
:16:50. > :16:56.nurse, she hopes to get a new job, and a brighter future for herself
:16:56. > :16:59.and her sons. Police in Manchester have confirmed
:17:00. > :17:05.that they have found the body at a student from West Bromwich who had
:17:05. > :17:09.been missing for more than one week. Gurdeep Hayer was last seen getting
:17:09. > :17:13.out of a taxi in Manchester last Monday. He had been celebrating the
:17:13. > :17:21.New Year with friends. Officers say his body was found in a weather
:17:21. > :17:25.yesterday, and was formally identified yesterday. -- in a river.
:17:26. > :17:29.Staffordshire Police have saved more money than expected. They had
:17:29. > :17:36.�8 million to spend, after more people left the band were planned.
:17:36. > :17:43.They will not be recruiting new staff, but saved the money will be
:17:43. > :17:53.reinvested. Plans to build a �60 million waste
:17:53. > :17:54.
:17:54. > :17:56.incinerator in Shrewsbury have been Shropshire Council there really
:17:56. > :18:00.turned it down, but they are planning inspector has approved the
:18:00. > :18:07.scheme. The Coventry explorer, Mark Wood,
:18:07. > :18:12.has reached the South Pole. He completed the first leg of a
:18:12. > :18:17.challenge to trek to both Poles unsupportive. It took him the 30
:18:17. > :18:21.days to complete, in at temperatures as low as -50 degrees.
:18:21. > :18:31.He will fly to Chile, and up to the Arctic Circle to complete his
:18:31. > :18:31.
:18:31. > :18:38.journey. I feel on top of the world, that I am on the bottom! -- but I
:18:38. > :18:44.am on the bottom! It has drained everything out to me. I'm
:18:44. > :18:48.completely exhausted. The last couple of miles felt like I was
:18:48. > :18:53.pulling a big truck behind me. It is incredible.
:18:53. > :18:58.Well done. We have talked about endurance, how
:18:58. > :19:03.about this for staying power. At the age of 88, Reg Hollinshead is
:19:03. > :19:06.the oldest racing trainer in the country. He has nurtured champion
:19:06. > :19:15.horses and jockeys along the way. His son does the day-to-day running
:19:15. > :19:19.these days, our reporter found out Reg is just about ready to hand
:19:19. > :19:29.over the reins. This is the grass gallops for the
:19:29. > :19:31.
:19:31. > :19:41.Hollinshead racing team. We have the first group. It is a family
:19:41. > :19:45.
:19:45. > :19:55.effort. He wheelchair pin. -- we all pidgin.
:19:55. > :19:59.
:19:59. > :20:07.Back in the yard, we found his dad, Reg was born here, and his life is
:20:07. > :20:13.spent the racing horses. How his life? -- how his life? Can't
:20:13. > :20:20.complain. Six out of ten. Reg does not venture to the races any more,
:20:20. > :20:26.but he does not miss them if one -- on television. He is proud that the
:20:26. > :20:30.Hollinshead name lives on. It is nice to see it carrying on.
:20:30. > :20:38.fondest memory is Remainder Man, who finished third in the Derby in
:20:38. > :20:45.1978. It is not all about the past, they are sending a three horses to
:20:45. > :20:52.race in the south of France. It is hoped that the team can keep the
:20:52. > :21:00.Hollinshead team in the racing headlines.
:21:00. > :21:06.Back to our top storey, the controversial high-speed rail link
:21:06. > :21:10.that will go ahead. We are in one are the villages affected. Back to
:21:10. > :21:20.them now. Thank you very much. To appreciate
:21:20. > :21:22.
:21:22. > :21:25.the scale are HS2, you need to see it from the air. We explore the
:21:26. > :21:31.road by helicopter, Warwickshire in particular.
:21:31. > :21:41.We are starting out above Water Orton, where we are broadcasting
:21:41. > :21:45.
:21:45. > :21:55.from, above the east of Birmingham. We are going east just part 42 --
:21:55. > :21:57.
:21:57. > :22:07.past the M42. HS2 will slice past this, and then into Birmingham.
:22:07. > :22:17.This village will end up sliced apart split between road and rail.
:22:17. > :22:17.
:22:17. > :22:21.We are now above Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, this is the location
:22:21. > :22:26.of the Royal Show. It is also home to the National Farmers' Union, and
:22:26. > :22:36.they say the key fact is the impact on bursars are farmland, and food
:22:36. > :22:40.
:22:40. > :22:50.production. -- on a versatile farm land. This is one of the key parts
:22:50. > :22:51.
:22:51. > :22:59.of the HS2 roots. They are spending �500 million on a new tunnel. From
:23:00. > :23:09.up here, you can see the Midlands is a remarkably green and pleasant
:23:09. > :23:16.land. The many, what is going to be lost is just too important.
:23:16. > :23:22.Birmingham Airport says it's good news, our Transport Correspondent
:23:23. > :23:30.is there for us right now. The airport has been a big supporter of
:23:30. > :23:36.HS2? Yes, potentially it is a big winner. 38 minutes from central
:23:36. > :23:43.London. That is quicker than central London to Stansted or
:23:43. > :23:49.Gatwick. They will be more destinations from here. You have
:23:49. > :23:53.been a big supporter of the high- speed rail, you must be pleased?
:23:53. > :23:59.is great news for the people of the region. It is going to create jobs.
:23:59. > :24:03.How will the appal benefit? It is going to spread our reach, we will
:24:03. > :24:10.have most of the major cities in England within 50 minutes of this
:24:10. > :24:13.airport. We see a role for the airport are taking pressure out of
:24:13. > :24:23.the south-east. We were keen to do that before HS2, it is another
:24:23. > :24:29.
:24:29. > :24:33.string in our bio. Our calculations suggest it will be two-and-a-half
:24:33. > :24:37.minutes away from the terminal, we have talked to the government about
:24:37. > :24:47.relocating a terminal over there. You will enter the airport at the
:24:47. > :24:50.
:24:50. > :24:54.station. Could potentially Birmingham become a a large airport,
:24:54. > :24:59.the fourth-biggest? We have permission to guard the 27 million
:24:59. > :25:06.passengers, we are part of that solution. If it brings jobs to the
:25:06. > :25:14.Midlands, we make no apology for that. Let's do it. HS2 is still a
:25:14. > :25:18.long way off. There is a lot of work to do between now and then. It
:25:18. > :25:23.is not going to happen overnight. is not going to happen overnight.
:25:23. > :25:29.Thank you very much. Time for the weather.
:25:29. > :25:35.Another day spent soaking up the unseasonally mild temperatures. The
:25:35. > :25:41.comforting and yellow colours are going to drain away. It will become
:25:41. > :25:49.colder by Friday onwards. You will see a return of the night frost.
:25:49. > :25:55.Maybe some snow in the hills on Sunday. As far as the night goes,
:25:55. > :26:02.resemblances to last night. A cloudy picture, some spots of rain
:26:02. > :26:11.in the West. Slightly milder than last night, temperatures of 7-9
:26:12. > :26:18.degrees. Not cold tomorrow morning, but a dull and damp start to the
:26:18. > :26:24.day. We will start to see that cloud a thinning in the afternoon.
:26:24. > :26:33.Because of the good head start because of those temperatures, they
:26:33. > :26:40.will be up to 11-12 degrees. Above average. Thursday and Friday, a
:26:40. > :26:45.shift in the winds. That will drag temperatures down on Thursday night.
:26:45. > :26:53.We are looking at a double figures, but a cloudy day. Patchy rain
:26:53. > :26:56.spreading southwards. Thursday spreading southwards. Thursday
:26:56. > :27:00.night, the cloud clears. Friday, a lovely sunny day.
:27:00. > :27:09.A only one main story tonight, nationally and in the Midlands. The
:27:09. > :27:14.government has approved the High Speed Two rail link. We have been
:27:14. > :27:19.in Water Orton, one of the villagers affected.
:27:19. > :27:23.An emotional day here. HS2 is controversial, whether you think it