02/02/2012 Midlands Today

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today, with Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee.

The headlines tonight: A third of the households in the

region live in fuel poverty, more than anywhere else in England.

People are having to choose to either eat or stay warm, and people

are dying. Powering ahead - Jaguar Land Rover

say they'll be recruiting a record number of apprentices this year.

A startling jump in the number of serious injuries from horse-riding.

Doctors urge people to be more careful. 15 years ago it was rugby

injuries. For the past five years or so it is the horse-riding.

And Tarka would have loved it! A special underpass is built to stop

otters dodging traffic on a busy Good evening and welcome to

Thursday's Midlands Today, from the BBC. Tonight, the number of

families trapped in fuel poverty continues to escalate. In 2003,

nearly 7% of homes in this region were affected. But that soared to

more than 26% in 2009, an increase of more than 400%. People are

considered to be in fuel poverty if they're spending more than 10% of

their income on gas and electricity. Next week, advice will be on offer

for people struggling to meet their energy bills, as Kevin Reide

reports. Margaret Gale, from Bell Green in

Coventry, has found it difficult to cope since losing a full-time job

two years ago, followed by the death of her husband in 2010. She

now works part-time advising people on how to manage household bills,

so it was a surprise to her when she received a huge energy bill

herself. Almost sudden, I got this �600 bill... It was devastating. I

just went into a panic. I thought I could manage. I tell other people

how to manage and all of a sudden, I couldn't. Over the last decade,

households in this region have been squeezed by energy price increases.

Back in 2003, fuel bills for the average household were about �500.

It's now well over �1,000. And back then, one in ten homes were in fuel

poverty. That figure is now one in four. Across Coventry in the

Foleshill area, and Arthur Watkins lives alone after his mother died

from cancer. When she passed away, he was so worried about paying the

bills he went without heating for a full two years. I would come in and

made myself a cup of tea and go upstairs and get into bed and keep

warm. Arthur was helped by the Coventry Law Centre, who've seen a

huge increase in fuel poverty cases in recent years, so much so they've

set up a special project team to tackle the issue. The type of cases

we are seeing are people that are really in a bad way with their fuel

a Riaz, not being able to heat their homes. They are struggling to

feed themselves or keep warm. is the worst case you have seen?

Somebody springs to mind, a gentleman I saw last week who broke

down in the interview at his home, because he just couldn't afford to

live. He was living on toast. And he was unable to turn his heating

on and had no hot water. He was boiling the kettle to wash himself.

The Law Centre has also helped Margaret, but as someone who works

voluntarily in the community, she fears her case is just the tip of

the iceberg. We had a talk yesterday with the senior citizens

I work with. Some of them are really thinking about giving up

their home and going into council homes, which are 10, �11 cheaper,

so they can pay their fuel bills. They come up and sit in the centre

so they don't have to put the electric on. It is just everybody

is terrified. With very cold weather with us now, many will be

facing that difficult decision whether to turn up the heat or stay

in the cold. A short time ago, I spoke to

Jonathan Stearn from Consumer Focus, the watchdog which fights to secure

a fair deal for energy customers, and started by asking him why he

though this region had the worst fuel poverty in England.

Fuel poverty things. -- fuel poverty is caused by three things.

How fuel efficient homes are, income and it is mostly to do with

income and inefficient houses. you also mention prices. Companies

have been making huge profits and prices until recently have been

going up enormously. Surely something has to be done? They are

going up and they have gone up 150% since 2003. Consumer Focus is

constantly arguing and questioning of the levels of prices that energy

companies are charging. We need to make sure as much pressure is put

on companies to keep those prices as low as possible. One thing

people can do themselves is if they can actually get online and get a

direct debit, they can get cheaper deals because you can save around

�200 a year if you can do online direct debit. There will be those

watching tonight you cannot pay fuel bills and they are getting

into debt. What is your advice to them? There is something called A

warmfront, which allows you to have heating installed in your home if

you have not got any or if you have a very inefficient home. And in the

West Midlands, the number of claims have gone down by a third, so use

that and it can help you keep your home warmer.

There's plenty of fuel poverty advice on our Facebook page, and

later in the programme we'll be looking at another fuel issue. This

time, the rising cost of petrol and diesel, which rural pub landlords

claim is having serious Some positive news now for young

job hunters, with Jaguar Land Rover announcing they're taking on 133

new apprentices. Although welcome, that's not going to solve the fact

that one in five young people in the region can't find a job. So

what help is on offer? Well, tonight in the Black Country,

there's a roadshow to promote apprenticeships, and Cath Mackie is

there for us now. Cath, it's clear there's an increasing focus on

apprentices? It does seem to be a bit of a buzzword at the moment.

500 new apprenticeships were announced an Walsall just this week.

There has been a steady flow of people here to talk to companies,

businesses and colleges about apprenticeships. One company, one

you have mentioned, Jaguar Land Rover, they announced they are

taking on a record number of apprentices.

They're the faces of the future for the Midlands car giant Jaguar Land

Rover. And Stephen Mason, and 22 and I'm an apprentice. I'm Kirsty

and I'm a second-year apprentice. And they hope to persuade more

school-leavers to join them. I have a friend doing this course but I

have not come out of college so I have not had to pay for it. Kirsty

and Stephen are just two of the 237 apprentices currently working at

Jaguar Land Rover and they're about to be joined by 133 more, a record

intake for the company. We're not going to be complacent. We have

great plans for growth and it is our people who drive these brats

and make them happen. We need the best and we need more of them. --

drive these products. With more young people out of work, 4,000

people have already registered an interest in the apprentice scheme

at JLR. It's perhaps not surprising. The company is at the glamour end

of the car industry. Many of their suppliers across the Black Country

have found recruitment more of struggle. When I told my friends I

wanted to be an engineer, they weren't that impressed. They didn't

think it was a girl's job to do but that is why they have been

promoting it a bit more in girls' schools. Both Kirsty and Stephen

act as apprenticeship ambassadors to schools and colleges. The

application deadline for the JLR scheme is in April. With me now is

a one man I cornered earlier. Sam, why have you come to this? I have

come to look at my options and see what I can do for the future.

you considering university or do you want to go straight to work?

am considering university but the work option is still there. Have

Jaguar Land Rover convinced you to apply? If they have convinced me. I

might consider what later on. move on to Chris Luty. There are

colleges here and big business. Our small businesses out there thinking,

what is in it for me? It is fabulous that Jaguar Land Rover is

taking on so many people but it is the small and medium businesses

that will be keen to make apprenticeships that successful. It

is worth emphasising that apprenticeships offered good

recruitment opportunities for companies to take on board young

people who are motivated and have the skills and the enthusiasm to

help businesses grow. If employers don't do well and their competitors

are involved in the apprenticeships, who is going to win? Small

businesses have told me they want to take on apprentices but they

cannot get the colour but. How do you address that? The local

colleges are experienced in selecting young people and

screening them, making sure we get the right fit for employers and the

right skills that companies actually need. Thank you for that.

If you cannot make this event tonight, it is on until 8pm and

there of three similar events in the West Midlands next week.

A new chairman's taken over at the NHS Trust which runs Stafford

Hospital. Professor John Caldwell's in-tray is already full to the brim

with the fall-out from the public inquiry over appalling standards of

care there. The Accident & Emergency department is currently

closed overnight, and campaigners have called on him to make

restoring that service a priority, as well as making sure patient

safety is guaranteed. Here's our health correspondent, Michele

Paduano. It might not sound like it, but

Cheryl Porter is part of the silent majority in Stafford. She and her

son Leo had excellent care, and she's campaigning for a 24-hour A&E

and is sceptical about proposed change. We want our A&E back 24

hours. We want our hospital working, working correctly and safely. And

we need our hospital for the whole of the community. But change is on

the cards. On his first day at the office, the new chairman, John

Caldwell, hinted at radical change at Stafford Hospital to bring down

the hospital's spiralling debts. the moment, we have a real

distinction between hospital and doctors in the community. That is

something that may well change in the coming years and it may well be

that by virtue of what is perhaps forced upon us here, we end up

sitting a path that other parts of the country might follow. Since

Stafford's troubles were first exposed, there have been three

chief executives, and John Caldwell is the third chairman to take on

one of the hardest jobs in the NHS. All the chairman has to do is

manage public expectation, keep an eye on safety and manage the agenda,

all with keeping an eye on the media. And there's no tea and

sympathy for the new chairman at the cafe where the pressure group

Cure The NHS began. He needs to clean up the hospital's act quickly.

We thought the hospital would be a lot safer by now. His priority has

got to be patient safety. He has got to renew the trust in this

community. He seems to accept that. And I would want to, as we move

forward, ensure a much greater level of accountability of staff

for the care that they operate. future actions will determine what

sort of hospital Leo has in future. Remote country pubs with a roaring

fire and welcome could soon be a thing of the past. Many are

struggling to get enough customers to survive. Licensees say the cost

of fuel puts people off the drive to far flung pubs. In the

Shropshire hills, they have come up with a new project to attract more

pub-goers. The splendour of the Shropshire

hills. Many pubs have existed here for centuries. But if a pub is to

survive, they need customers. And sometimes they are to come by in

this area of outstanding national beautiful stop their remoteness is

part of their charm but it is also leading to a decline in customers.

Some people simply don't want to spend the money travelling to

At the Callow Inn in Bromlow near Minsterley, the landlady says trade

has halved in two years. She largely blames the high cost of

fuel. Research just published suggests the rate of pub closures

is slowing down. 52 a week were shutting in 2009. Now it's 16 a

week. And six of those are in rural areas. But staff at the Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty offices here are fighting back. A hundred

thousand pounds has been spent on creating 12 walks to and from pubs

so as to encourage visitors. Modern technology means the routes can

even be downloaded from beer mats. Tourism has a huge advantage for

the local economy here. Without it some local communities would not

exist anymore. Just around the corner from the Callow Hill - the

creators of some of the walks hope this glorious countryside will help

bring more tourists to the area and spend money in the pubs. It is so

important that the pubs stay alive. They are the focal point for the

community, whether it is a small one or the one down the hill here,

it is the focal point of the community. We want to get people

off the beaten track. There are walks down to valleys and strange

you would not know about and why she were following this route.

Shropshire Hills may be one of the most sparsely populated areas of

England but its pubs play an important part in keeping the

area's character - and its hoped this initiative will help preserve

that tradition. Thank you for your company - still

ahead. We're off to Hereford shirt were road-safety for otters is a

high priority. The forecasts model pushes it

further in our direction - will it be a white-out? How much no will we

get? -- so no. -- snow.

Doctors say they are seeing more spinal injuries as a result of

horse-riding accidents and rugby - and it has prompted a fresh safety

call today from one of our specialist hospitals. Medics there

recently treated Olympic showjumper Tim Stockdale after he suffered

multiple fractures to his neck. That has strengthened ties between

the hospital and British showjumping.

Ian Bolshaw is learning to walk again after being thrown from a new

horse who's trying out. His spinal cord was crushed and for five weeks

he was completely paralysed. He walked for the first time a few

days ago. At the time I had a riding hat on. As I landed on my

face, a helmet force my head back as my body followed onto my make. I

heard the crack straightaway. I knew I had done something serious.

He's one of a growing number of horse riders to be treated at the

leading Spinal injuries Centre in Oswestry, prompting a leading

consultant to speak out. If you look at the statistics 15 years ago,

it was rugby injuries. For the last five years or so it is horse riding

related to spinal injuries. I think the number of rugby injuries have

reduced because there has been a campaign which has been successful

I think. Olympic showjumper Tim Stockdale was treated at hospital

few months ago after he broke his neck in a riding accident. Like Ian

who we saw earlier, he too was on a new horse. He is now recovering and

managed to go to Olympia in December. Here at their equestrian

centre, the owner says safety is paramount. She takes it seriously

when riding indoors and went out eventing. Karen supports their

address of consultants to check saddle fitting and take extra care

when riding a new horse. Finding the right service to ride on - an

arena like this would be perfect and the horses less likely to take

off if he gets a fright. Back at the Spinal injuries Centre Ian is

learning to do everything again. British showjumping is supporting

the hospital, naming it as a chosen charity for 2012.

Aston Villa fans are still waiting for the first home win. Remember

5th November! In last night's Premier League football Aston Villa

rescued a point against Queen's Park Rangers while West Brom

manager Roy Hodgson made an emotional return to Fulham.

Villa Park has hardly been home sweet home for Aston Villa this

season. They'd lost four and drawn one of their previous five games

here and for 45 minutes this looked like another miserable night. QPR

only signed Djibril Cisse on Tuesday but it took him just six

minutes to get his first goal. Stephen Warnock has come close to

scoring own goals twice recently, biphenyl manager here to the

despair of himself and his manager. Just as the fans were gearing

themselves up to jeer, a slick passing move set-up Darren Bent's

hundred: The Premier League. Alex McLeish's half-time talk must have

been good. His players were transformed. Shots rained in on

Paddy Kenny's goal and several times Villa's players felt handball

had denied them. There was no denying Charles N'Zogbia. He has

taken a while to settle since his summer move but a stunning volley

brought him a first Villa goal and a vital point.

QPR probably couldn't believe their luck such was the generosity of the

goals we gave away. But they got the proverbial out in the second

half and it was a much better performance. I thought we could

have won it. Roy Hodgson spent three happy years at Fulham and led

them to a European final, so no wonder he got good reception on the

long walk across the Craven Cottage pitch to the dug-out. The game

which followed will not live long and in memory however, and only

really came to life in the last quarter. Clint Dempsey is in fine

goalscoring form and seemed to have given Fulham the points. But

Hodgson sent on Somen Tchoyi and the Cameroonian equalised eight

minutes from time. When escort work the end, you fear the worst, but we

got back into it. -- when they scored. We could have had a calmer

time but over 90 minutes the team paid well and we deserved the point.

The point lifts Albion eight points clear of the relegation zone.

She was a star aged 13 - and this weekend aged just 20, batsmen

Danielle Wyatt sets out on her England tour. Danielle is from

Stoke on Trent and is determined to make their today New Zealand a

winning one. -- their tour of New Zealand. It is not what you'd

expect from a cricket session, but if you're stuck indoors like

Danielle Wyatt you have got to be creative. And England's women have

to make every second count. These training days in Edgbaston are

vital. Danielle is just 20 but she is already an old hand, having made

her England debut two years ago. was planning my 21st our party

yesterday. I feel about 30 with all these tours, I have been in

Australia three times and I am only 20. She has been on the radar since

2004 when she made three consecutive centuries for

Staffordshire. But her next target is making the team for the upcoming

tour of new Zealand as the next 18 months includes the World Cup's in

20 and 50 or over cricket. We have a tough schedule coming up. This

tour is really important for us to gain momentum leading up to the

world tour in September. Every game now is important. Danielle has been

in the country a fortnight after 10 weeks playing state cricket in

Australia. She flies out to New Zealand and Sunday for a month. She

might work hard but she does not lack for winter sun. We don't get

winter sun! She is looking forward to it and says she is on Twitter if

you want to follow her on the tour. The take-off on Sunday. Good luck!

Back in the 1970s, they were on the brink of extinction, but otters can

be found in every river across England now. It is a remarkable

turnaround after major work to clean up the country's waterways.

Dangers still exist - particularly when otters attempt to cross the

road. However, help is at hand. Patrolling the A438 in Stretton

Sugwas in Herefordshire, Charles Pickles is on the lookout for

otters. Over the past few years this road between Hereford and

Brecon has become a Watership Down for otters. # Bright Eyes...

#. A number of otters have lost their lives on this road recently.

Each year in the UK more than 400 are killed on our roads, which is

where this comes in - it is an otter crossing. Built as part of

the flood defences, it gives the otters away to get safely across

the road. We had to put in a pipe to take a flood water down to the

River Wye so we had to close the main road. We use that opportunity

to put in this otter underpass. Otters are very clever. If AC a

convenient way of crossing the road, they will suss it out. It has been

proved in many places and already a lot of lives have been saved by

under passes. Signs are also being put up to warm waters that otters

are nearby. Charles and other nature lovers will patrol the

stretch of the road from time to time, making sure otters use their

own crossing. The flood scheme cost millions of pounds and the otter

scheme was just part of that, but if they can save their lives, it

will be money well spent. Otters are clever but I do not

think they can read signs just yet. Wild otters are very shy and the

when she saw there were rescued animals which were used to being

handled. -- used on there. Anyway how about the weather? A

battle of forces this weekend - it looks like the colder air will beat

looks like the colder air will beat the milder air which means there

could be a period of significant snowfall. The Met Office had issued

a yellow warning for an area of snow to cross the region on

Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, producing up to five

centimetres of snow. It will then turned to sleet and rain. That will

cause some ice on Saturday night which will be a problem. It is this

warm front which will bring the amen and then turn to snow when it

comes into contact with the cold air. We have a warm front -- we

have a warm front here. Temperatures will start to pick up

towards their end of the week. It will be even colder tonight than

last night. Temperatures will plummet to-nine Celsius in some

cases. Clear skies with light winds. A severe frost tonight, very cold

indeed. Temperatures pick up well by tomorrow. Just above freezing.

That frost will gradually disappear as temperatures pick up. A fine and

sunny day. Dry up also. The cloud starts to move towards the east.

Tomorrow night things start to change and cloud rolls in from the

West. For the weekend we start to see snow on Saturday.

A look at tonight's main headlines: Prince William is in the Falklands

- and into a diplomatic row between Argentina and Britain.

And a third of the households in the region living fuel poverty -