30/03/2012 Midlands Today

Hello, welcome to Midlands Today with Mary Rhodes and Nick Owen. The

headlines tonight. Pumping up the prices, petrol

stations cash in as supplies run low following a week of queues and

misery. It's ridiculous, people are clearing places out. It's the

Easter holidays, I am of the the children, doing stuff, so I would

rather not run out. A Labour big hitter makes jobs his

priority as the race hots up to become Birmingham's first directly

elected mayor. I believe it is time. Our city to come together like

never before. Shock as the dead-ball world as the

Aston Villa captain Stilyan Petrov is diagnosed with acute leukaemia.

An Spaghetti Junction from the air, but this weekend, you can see it

from a different angle, lying on Good evening, welcome to Friday's

Midlands Today from the BBC. Tonight, prices at the pumps rise

to record levels as fuel supplies run low following a week of misery

for motorists. The tanker drivers' strike may be off for now, but the

aftermath of the rush to top up was being felt across the Midlands this

evening. Some garages have been emptied of petrol and diesel while

others are close to running dry, after a huge surge in demand. The

worst now seems to be over but tonight one garage in Birmingham

hiked its prices to nearly �1.59 for a litre of unleaded amid fears

about profiteering. Ben Godfrey has this report.

Is this a sign of things to come? A petrol station in Perry Barr today

charging almost �1.64 diesel -- one has 60, for diesel and unleaded.

Yesterday, it was around �1.59. -- �1.49. The attendant could not

explain the prices, the manager was not available. It is connected to

the apparent rush of petrol? For a snapshot of forecourts in the West

Midlands, we joined the morning commute between Dudley and

Birmingham. It is not often you see traffic control at a petrol station

but these are unusual times. Last night, queues stretched for miles

outside the Studley supermarket, but this morning, commuters were in

luck. A tanker had delivered at dawn. We have had certain spikes at

busy times where we have had people supporting the traffic flow. In the

main, nothing not manageable. we headed to Aldbury. This debt of

the strike might have receded, but big queues were still forming.

red light came on so I do need petrels. It is the Easter holidays,

I am with the children doing stuff, I would rather not have run out.

is ridiculous, people cleaning paces out. Two miles away on the

new Birmingham Road, the mayor lorry driver Mike Gallagher. He

only makes short journeys but is included -- increasingly frustrated

at motorists. It is �700 worth of these will, if they're all cars, it

takes ages, you cannot get 10. we have seen on our Knut is much

longer queues forming at the places where people think they can get a

cheaper tank of fuel, supermarkets. Private garages are seeing a good

trade but no different to a normal Friday. In Birmingham city centre,

a mixed picture. Some pumps drained of diesel and regular unleaded.

Those stations without supplies say they are confident they will

receive top pubs throughout the weekend.

-- pop-ups. What has business be light at the Orrell depot where you

are? This is Birmingham fuel oils, a family-run company, which has

capitalised this month on the panic at the pumps. We have had drivers

coming down from Scotland to collect tanks of diesel. Let's talk

to be Lee Cattermole from the company, what impact has had on

business? A big impact, we have bought more fuel than we normally

would, three times as much. Just to supply to more customers than what

we would normally. We have kept everyone going, all our customers,

and taken on new customers and they are happy. We are being told there

is plenty of oil out there, but people have panicked this week. Do

you have any sympathy for the motorists? Big sympathy. Fuel is

expensive and motorists have had to double up on their fuel allowance

into their cars, people are buying �20, they will have to pockets to

get �40. Your drivers are not in the United union which is in the

disputes with the government. A forecourt in Birmingham, �1.59,

what do you make of that? I do not agree with that, they will get none

of the total from their customers. We have put hours up by a a couple

of pence to cover drivers' hours. - - they will get no loyalty from

their customers. He David Cameron has today tried to call on the

union unite to cancel the strikes or together, they say they will not

happen over Easter. And do let us know the latest fuel situation

where you are and if prices are going up. Get in touch via our

Facebook page or you can email us. Thanks for joining us this evening.

Later in tonight's programme: More on the shock news that the

Aston Villa captain Stilyan Petrov has been diagnosed with acute

One of the region's big hitting politicians has entered the race to

become Birmingham's first directly elected Mayor. Liam Byrne was a

senior member of the last Labour government, where he held the job

as second in command to the Chancellor. Now he's preparing to

quit the shadow Cabinet for a new challenge in the second city.

Joanne Writtle is outside the Council House in the city centre

now. What did Mr Byrne have to say today, Joanne? It was all quite a

fanfare, he staged a carefully managed press call to declare his

intention of becoming mayor. His bid his message was that he wanted

to get the city working. His mantra, he said, was Dobbs, jobs, jobs.

The shadow Work and Pensions Secretary emerged with a former

council leader Sir Albert Bore, and his wife and children. The somewhat,

what am as fit as he threw himself forward to stand as Durman and's

Meyer, -- the somewhat carnival atmosphere as he put himself

forward to stand as Birmingham's mayor. We need the mayor to look --

unlock our potential, and get a few things sorted like getting a city

back to work. Sir Albert Bore had originally expressed an interest in

the job himself, but will now drawing surface in -- with Liam

Byrne. They state -- other people want to get the new nomination.

will also support to those who will be elected as the nomination, that

is the Labour Party. I have thrown my hat alongside that of Liam Byrne.

There is no doubt, with a political big hitter throwing his hat into

the ring, the race to become Birmingham's first elected mayor is

hotting up. But before anything can happen, a referendum on whether

people actually want a mayor in Birmingham and Coventry will be

held in May. Conservative leader of Birmingham City Council Mike Whitby

is now said to be warming to the idea, and is seen as the most

likely Tory candidate. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat idea it -- MP

John Hemmings said this. The issue as to whether we should have these

powers concentrated into one individual is open to people to

decide. Do we want a dictator for Birmingham or a more democratic

system, which involves more people? Despite that, John Hemmings said he

may be interested in the job if there is a yes vote. When Labour

lost the general election, Liam Byrne hit headlines with his note

to the new chief secretary to the Treasury declaring there is no

money left. Ironic that if he becomes mayor, it will be in a year

whether City Council grapples to save �62 million.

There is a long road ahead before anyone get close to becoming mayor,

if at all. 11 cities are having referendums, Birmingham and City --

commentary in the Midlands, batted on May 3rd, the day of the local

elections. If people say they want a mayor, there will be a tough

nomination battle. A fight among Labour in this city with Liam Byrne,

Gisella Stuart and Sion Simon are fighting it out. It all culminates

in what is being dubbed a super Thursday on 15th November, when

people would go to the polls to elect a mayor, and also the new

Police Commissioner's. They would be replacing the current police

authorities. The funeral of a Worcestershire

schoolboy who died during a rugby match has taken place in his home

village this morning. Luke Chapman, who was 15 and attended Heybridge

High School in Hagley, died just over a week ago. This morning

pupils, teachers and members of the public lined the village High

Street to pay tribute to him as the cortege passed by.

260 jobs are to be created by a new restaurant, hotel and cinema

development in the centre of Telford in Shropshire. The �250

million Southwater Square project will include an 11-screen Cineworld

cinema, a Premier Inn Hotel and a number of well known restaurants.

Work is due to start on site in the summer and it's expected to be

completed by the end of 2014. The Culture Minister has said he

would regard it as a catastrophic failure if the valuable Wedgwood

Collection of pottery were to be sold off on his watch. Ed Vaizey

was speaking on a visit to Stoke on Trent. A legal ruling means the

museum's treasures face being sold to meet a pension deficit. Our

Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper has the details.

The Culture Minister Ed Vaizey had a guided tour of the galleries at

the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston. He was shown some of the 10,000

treasures which make up the unique connection. He said it would be a

catastrophic failure if this precious collection was broken up.

I think it is essential they stay together, it is unarguable, this

collection cannot be broken up. It is part of the history of our

nation and part of the history of this part of the world. It cannot

be broken up and it has to stay here. To ensure it stays in stature,

members of the Wedgwood family have begun a campaign. They have

welcomed the minister's visit. Having him here is important, it

makes sure people are working hard, it puts pressure on people to work

out a solution to save this collection forever. In spite of its

troubles, the trip -- museum is still open for business. Although

these pieces are being valued, they are still on public display. There

seems to be a growing consensus, this collection should stay intact

and in Staffordshire. But exactly how much money needs to be found

and how much will be raised is still unclear. I am glad the

Minister agrees with us that the collection need to be preserved as

a whole and it should remain here in Staffordshire. What we need to

do is roll up our us leave -- sleeves, think about a fund-raising

strategy and a future plan for the that. Stage one, work towards the

collection, stage two, have a viable business models so as many

people as possible can see this is history. A campaign to save these

pieces for the nation is now gathering pace.

Schools in desperate need of repair are urging the Education Secretary

to announce whether they'll get money for rebuilding programmes.

Michael Gove had been due to make an announcement in December, but

the decision on who will get the funding has been delayed. The BBC's

Sunday Politics in the Midlands has discovered that at least forty

schools across our region applied for the funding. BBC Coventry and

Warwickshire's Political Reporter Sian Grzeszczyk's is here now to

tell us more. So what's this money they're all bidding for? It is the

replacement for Labour's all buildings calls for the future

programme which was scrapped and the coalition came to power. Then

you scream -- scheme, the priority schools building programme, is a

PFI, there is no clue from the Department of Education as to when

these schools will get an answer as to whether they will be rebuilt or

not. What sort of states are the school in? I have been to visit one

school in the Midlands, it is nearly 60 years old, there ask --

cracks in the corridors and mould the carpet. The head teachers told

us she is very frustrated. It seems to be taking a very long time and

there is not a great deal of clarity about the programme. It is

a PFI, should we be paying back public money? I do not know if that

is right for our school anyway. We need any building and we have to do

something, if that is our only option that is what we will have to

do. We have to be realistic, so surely some schools have not got a

chance of getting money. Woodland Academy in commentary are not even

allowed to apply for the pot of money, because their school is a

listed building. They are in a real dire situation. They are an academy

and outside of local authority control, so it is up to the head

teacher to find the �20 million they need to rebuild the school. He

had appointed message for the Education Secretary. We have done

everything you might have expected of us, we are not a failing school,

we have done what we think we ought to have done and they need to do

what they need to do it, provide accommodation that Mr Goh would be

happy for his child to be taught in. -- Michael Gove. We have heard from

some students from the primary school who have some strong views

on it. See that on Sunday. There was an afternoon out of

school for two dozen pupils in Birmingham today intended to show

them how the police are clamping down on drug crime. They watched as

a metal crusher destroyed cars used in drug deals, confiscated from

dealers. Giles Latcham reports. Hardly the wheels of choice for a

flash and successful drug dealer, these are the low key, day-to-day

vehicles used to collect or deliver drugs, now confiscated and turned

into a crushing victory from the police. Our street dealers are not

driving round in flash motor vehicles, they are driving round in

vehicles to blend into the community. So by taking them and

visitor -- risibly destroying them, we are sending a positive message

to the community. In this part of east Birmingham, the community told

the police that they wanted drugs to be a priority by the police. In

recent months, they have arrested 35 people as part of the drug

fighting operation. This car is about to be turned rather more

micro. It was highlighted by the students in local schools, it was

the pupils that designed the leaflet to hand around and the name

of the project. Pupils from the near by Waverley School worthier --

bear to see the school. There is no point in being a drug dealer,

because the police are going to catch you. What do you think of the

police taking up car of a drug dealer and crashing it? I think it

is right, and I think that is a good consequence. Because they are

affecting our environment. So they should be punished for that.

Discussions are taking place in school and in the community, what

they are being told in assembly and what they have seen today, they are

passing the words round to each other that drug dealing is not a

good thing to do. So far, 30 people suspected of drug dealing in his

neighbourhood have been charged and are due before the courts.

Ambassadors from more than a dozen countries visited Worcestershire

today. They were attending an event designed to showcase the best of

what the county has to sell around the world. It's in response to

calls for the UK to increase its exports to help generate growth,

jobs and rebalance the economy. Our reporter Cath Mackie was there.

It was the day the world came to whisper. I represent tie one.

Republic of Macedonia. In the air force. Canada. And hereto -- here

to charm them were local companies. We were the original English water,

let's chat about that. Worcester -- Worcester Bosch hosted the event

which was like speed-skating business. How important is that

face-to-face contact? Very, because you make that contact and it is

more humid -- human. Iconic brands were on show like the Morgan car.

Exports from Worcestershire on the increase and this event is to

showcase what the the area has to offer. The Chancellor wants to

double exports by one trillion pounds by the end of the decade,

although manufactures have asked him for more help to do that.

Getting foreign companies to look beyond London is seen as a start.

The way we will and our way out of the current economic situation is

by growth in international trade, - When you work in London, you get

the impression that the economy of this country is the finance

industry. It is really heartening to see that there is also

production going on. And deals are being done. We just got a very nice

order from China, it is nice to be reversing the trend of imports from

China, now we are exporting. There are many who are hoping that they

can persuade the world that Worcestershire is the place to do

business. Still to come in tonight's

programme: A closer look at life under Spaghetti Junction, and it's

all in the name of art. And it seems that all good things

must come to an end and after a beautiful and exceptionally warm

week, we see a return to cooler and cloudier conditions this weekend.

I'll have all the details for you Onto sport now and we start with

some shock news from world of football. Dan's here with the

details. Yes, desperately sad news from

Aston Villa, that their captain Stiliyan Petrov has been diagnosed

with acute leukaemia. The 32-year- old who joined Villa in 2006 was

sent for tests after developing a fever during last weekend's game at

Arsenal. But he was told at lunchtime today that he had

leukaemia and has already travelled to London to begin his treatment.

It has been a strange day. I was at the manager Alex McLeish's

news conference at lunchtime and at that point he thought Petrov was

suffering with a virus. An hour later though the club released a

statement confirming their captain had leukaemia. He will get the best

medical attention possible. I spoke to him about half an hour ago, he

is typical Stan, defined, but I think he is concerned about how

will it has affected his loved one. What have the fans been saying?

A mixture of shock and surprise. A big game but everyone is talking

about Stilyan Petrov. I am sorry for his family, is seen so there,

best of luck to him. It is devastating, he has been great for

the club. I just pray he did recovers from this, it is shocking

news, I did not realise until you just told me. How important has he

been? Massive, club captain, you cannot get bigger than that, we

want him back. And we've also spoken to the former Wolves

midfielder Geoff Thomas who you may remember successfully recovered

after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2003. He says, it just

takes you back to when you got diagnosed, you think you have a

virus. But he said that treatment in this country is excellent.

can say is that there are some tremendous people in this country

now, they are leaders in the field in rheumatology and blood cancers.

Or you can do is put your life in the hands of the professionals, and

what I can say, there are so many good people who will be working

hard to make sure he get on the road of recovery. We hope he gets

better soon, that is the important thing.

Worcester rugby club's Premiership status could be assured this

evening. If Worcester can win at Leicester, or if Newcastle fail to

beat Sale, then they're guaranteed their place in the top tier of

English rugby next season. But coach Richard Hill hasn't given up

on a top seven finish and that could give them a place in next

season's European cup. It was not a reality a while ago, but we have

had such a big run since Christmas, bigger wins over Saracens, and a

loss as well, suddenly it becomes a possibility. The players get

excited because Heineken Cup football was not on the radar, but

it is a possibility this year. there'll be full match commentary

on the Warriors match against Leicester on BBC Hereford and

Worcester from 7:45pm tonight. Our thoughts are very much with

Stilyan Petrov and his family tonight.

And the fans from all clubs across the West Midlands.

Art lovers are being told lie back and think of Brum in a slightly

bizarre exhibition to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Spaghetti

Junction. It's all part of an art project called Track which forms

part of the city's free Fierce Arts Festival. Ben Sidwell's been

It is one of the most famous road junctions in Europe. Every day, one

of -- almost 250,000 vehicles pass through here, many people never

giving a second thought of what is underneath. This weekend that will

change in the name of art. It is kind of like how we might all

imagine an out-of-body experience. You are on your back, drifting

along. Although it is only 100 metres or so, it feels much longer,

and it is almost like being in a dream. Track is the creation of

artist Graham Miller. His idea is to take people on a journey where

their visual perspective is dramatically changed. I know what

you are thinking, what does Spaghetti Junction actually look

like the other way around? Why As an artist, I thought one of the

things you can do it is a frame things again that already exist. So

Track is a way of doing that. It throws the landscape through 90

degrees. You have got a radically different view of your world lying

on your back. So, Graham, why on earth spaghetti Junction? I have

been here underneath before, and I think it is an extraordinary under

Bella. Four -- underbelly. It is like an accidental Cathedral, and I

like it. Track will be running from tomorrow between 11pm -- 11am and

5pm, and it is absolutely free. Fact is sometimes stranger than

fiction! Let's have a look at the weather.

It is looking cooler for this weekend. We have a lot of cloud

behind us, but this week we have had some beautiful weather. Highs

of 21 Celsius. For this weekend, it is turning a lot cooler. We have

seen 12 -- we will C-class Celsius as a maximum and a lot more cloud

around. -- we will seek 12 Celsius. Tonight, we are starting under

clear skies, so we will have a few patches of mist and fog forming

before the crowd filters in overnight. Some bits and pieces of

drizzle by the early hours of tomorrow morning. For tomorrow, we

are starting off on a cloudy night, -- cloudy note, and it will stick

with us for most of the day and it will feel cooler than it has been

through the week. The air is coming from a northerly direction, and a

weather front is introducing more cloud. I loved -- a rather grey,

damp start. Patchy bits and pieces of drizzle, but it will dry up and

we will see a bit of brighter weather edging in from the north by

the end of the day. For winds will be light. Overnight on Saturday,

the skies clearing, the crowd leaves us and the temperatures will

fall very quickly, and much call the night to come. A touch of

ground frost. The Sunday -- for Sunday, still under high pressure,

After a week of queues on the forecourt, petrol prices from the -

- reached record levels, nearly �1.60 per litre at one station.

We asked through your comments, on Facebook, it said massive queues at

all my local stations, petrels going to �1.43.

Queues around Northfield in Birmingham, no fuel and prices up

to -- by a few pence per litre. Ordinary unleaded is now �1.48 in

Bidford-on-Avon. Profiteering in a crisis.

My husband was in a garage yesterday and was told by the

cashier that the owner had put up a fully or by five pence per litre.