20/04/2012 Midlands Today

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

headlines tonight: A court's told fire service managers failed, and

failed badly, on the night four firefighters lost their lives in a

smoke-filled factory. "Keep our mothers and babies safe"

- campaigners' safety fears over plans to move a hospital's

maternity services. At the end of the day, you're taking that

mother's and child's lives in your hands by making them travel.

A jury is given graphic details of how three men died after being run

down by a car during last summer's riots.

STEAM WHISTLE BLOWS. And the last steam-powered

narrowboat still working heads south to join the Queen's Diamond

Good evening and welcome to Friday's Midlands Today from the

BBC. Tonight, three Warwickshire fire service managers have today

gone on trial accused of the manslaughter of four firefighters

through gross negligence. A jury at Stafford Crown Court head how

incident commanders allegedly "failed and failed very badly"

during a fire at a vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on

Stour in November 2007. In court the prosecution claimed the

firefighters who died were "exposed to unnecessary danger". Our

reporter Joan Cummins was there. What was the case's background?

you say, it should have been a routine call-out to a fire at a

vegetable packing plant in Atherstone on Stour back in

November 2007. Instead, it was to end in tragedy for Ian Reid, Ashley

Stephens, John Averis and Darren Yates-Bradley. Today, the jury at

Stafford Crown Court were given more details about the terrible

incidents of that night. We learned that the first call about the fire

came through at 5:39pm. Then, a breathing apparatus team consisting

of the four men who died were sent into the building the 22 minutes 17

-- later at, an emergency was declared. Timothy Woodward, Adrian

Ashley and Paul Simmons denied negligence. You have heard about

the timings of the incident today, what more was said in court? Open

indicate for the prosecution, Richard Matthews QC said that this

was not about the trivialities of the red tape involving health and

safety. Instead he said it was about the needless loss of four

lives, lost as a result of being sent into a situation when nobody

was in peril. No one required rescue. They were sent into what he

described as an obviously dangerous situation for no good reason. In

the public gallery, supporters of the three defendants sat near to

relatives of the four men who died at for the first time, we heard how

Ian Reid had become separated from his colleagues. He had been seen by

other teams running past them in an obviously distressed state.

Attempts to resuscitate him later failed. The bodies of the other

three men were recovered from the wreckage days later. The trial is

expected to last 10 weeks. Thank you

And you can read more about the case on the BBC Coventry and

Warwickshire website. Good to have you with us here on

Midlands Today. Later tonight, for better, for worse, it's a nail-

biting, heart-stopping weekend for some of our football clubs as the

It's a month until the final decision's made about whether to

move specialist maternity and children's services out of

Shrewsbury to Telford. Anxious campaigners in the west and south

of the county are angry that a document outlining the risks of the

move still hasn't been made public. Last year, specialists in baby care

argued it was the wrong decision, although the hospital says it's put

measures in place to guarantee mothers and babies will be safe.

Here's our health correspondent, Parents of these children in

Oswestry paint a grim picture of the future. They're worried about

having to travel further in an emergency to Telford. Archie

suffers from severe allergies, Jessica was premature like her

brothers, and George stopped breathing following convulsions.

Why should we be abandoned? We deserve an NHS that is on our

doorstep, everybody deserves to have the best treatment we can

receive. I have had three premature children and I believe two of them,

if I had to travel to Telford, two of them would not be alive. It is

upsetting to think that a child could be lost due to a hospital

been moved. Last year, 33,000 people opposed

moving specialist maternity and children's services from Shrewsbury

to Telford. We have heard nothing in the past 15 months to confirm

that those clinical risks that we feel are in place, and the

consultants feel will be in place, when these services move, has

changed. Specialist maternity and children's services since set to

move to Telford. They have got the money and planning permission and

have even appointed the builders. There's just one hurdle to cross so

why have we not been shown all the safety data?

The hospital chief executive says assurance was given by an expert

panel. In the view of local and national experts, when they look at

the proposals, the concerns that people had have been addressed and

they can feel assured about that. But that panel also said more

safety work was needed. In September, we were told ensuring

that safety passed to the primary care trust. The safety has been

assured but with conditions attached. That there would be

further discussions around patient assessment prior to transfer,

around access to services and the like. That is the work that is

continuing and which we will see reflected in the full business case.

The full business case will only be made public ten days before a final

decision. A summary produced this week didn't have the safety

document called the quality impact assessment. Surely you could

publish that? I think the truth is we have provided all the assurances

we are able to and we have provided huge amounts of assurance to the

public about those concerns that people have raised with us. We are

very sure that those concerns can now be put at rest.

Some parents have yet to be reassured that their children are

safe. Three men from Birmingham have been

arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of possessing terrorist

material. The men were detained after arriving on a flight from

Oman last night. West Midlands Police say the arrests were planned

and there's no immediate threat to public safety.

A 51-year-old man accused of murdering a Worcester woman has

been refused bail by a judge at the city's Crown Court. William Cummins

is accused of killing Jacqueline Harrison whose body was discovered

by police at her flat in Dines Green last week. She'd been

assaulted. William Cummins is due back in court in July.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was shot in Birmingham.

Armed officers were called to a house in the Cotterills Lane area

of Alum Rock last night after reports that shots had been fired

through a window. A 49-year-old man who'd been visiting the address

suffered leg injuries. He's now being treated in hospital while

police carry out further searches at the scene.

They were all "in it together". The words of the prosecution in the

case of eight people accused of murdering three men during last

August's riots in Birmingham and the Black Country. It was claimed

in court that the men had all set out to loot local businesses, but

ended up resorting to using deadly weapons in the form of their cars.

Our special correspondent, Peter Wilson, has been following the case.

What was the new evidence heard today? The families of the three

men came here to hear the medical evidence and last year, Haroon

Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir for all of them hit by a black

Mazda calf. Thrown high in the air. Mr Jahan and Mr Ali both suffered

severe damage to their spinal cords while Mr Musavir died from head

injuries. The prosecution argue that there were three cars all

acting together as part of a concerted plan. What else was said

about the men in the dock? There are eight defendants who all deny

the murder charges. It was said that a police accident investigator

estimated that the black Mazda car which hit the men must have been

travelling between 37 and 45 miles an hour from a standing start. And

there was no sign of deceleration. Has any motive been put forward for

the attack? Prosecution say the men in the dock did not set out that

night to commit murder, they claim that the men instead work in convoy

looking to look businesses but because there were some 100 Asian

men out on the streets armed with bricks and bats, and that in some

cases bricks were thrown up the cars, that the men in the dock

resorted to using their cars and lethal weapons. All of the men

denied the charges and this case is continuing. Peter, thank you.

A leading Midlands MP has defended the Government's record on support

for business, after stinging criticisms by the chairman of one

of our biggest firms. In a recent report to David Cameron, Sir

Anthony Bamford of the Staffordshire digger-maker JCB

warned that engineering businesses were falling behind the

international competition. Earlier this week, JCB announced record

earnings of �355 million. We're joined by our political editor,

Patrick Burns. On this evidence, JCB don't appear to be doing too

badly. They are doing brilliantly but Sir Anthony Bamford was making

a broader point, so unless regulation was made less tired, we

would fall behind international competition, mainly from Germany. A

leading Conservative member of the Business Select Committee told me

in an interview for the Sunday's Sunday politics programme that the

Government are doing everything they can to support industries.

Businesses always want more business-friendly mergers and I

support them in that but I can assure that a lot of business from

the measures are going on with the regional growth fund, with the

Enterprise Zone we are seeing in the Black Country, Jaguar Land

Rover investing 750 new jobs, so much going on. Patrick, that

international competition that Sir Anthony Bamford is referring to, it

is not going away, is it? That was also noted by my other guest, a

Green member, and he was looking at JCB being a major local employer.

It is a wonderful, wonderful thing that JCB are doing so well. The

engineering excellence that England has historically been known for and

I think possibly we have lost the pole position on that to Germany as

being for engineering excellence but it is absolutely wonderful.

you can see those interviews in fall on the Sunday politics which

is on the later time this week, 2 o'clock because of coverage of the

Still to come this evening: the last working steam-powered

narrowboat in the country, and it's heading south from Staffordshire to

join the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant.

And a weekend of umbrella weather so if you're out and about over the

weekend or indeed planning on going along to see the steam boat as it

stops off at Fradley Junction and Stone, prepare for some showery

Stratford upon Avon is preparing to mark the birth of its most famous

son. The legacy of the playwright William Shakespeare will be

celebrated throughout the weekend. But tonight, people there are being

treated to an opera play written by a contemporary of the Bard, known

as the Shakespeare of the East. It's called The Peony Pavilion - a

love story written in China at about the time they were making

nice vases, the Ming Dynasty. sleep, perchance to dream.

Shakespeare was penning lines like this at about the same time. Two

men, from very different backgrounds whose plays stood the

test of time and who died coincidentally in the same year.

It might not sound like it, but it's the Chinese equivalent of the

Bard's most famous tale of star- crossed lovers. It is about the

love story of the Romeo equivalent, the dream and coming back to life

is all about love, the same as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

say that the original version is an epic is an understatement because

if you wanted to watch it from start to finish, you would be

sitting for 10 whole days. The director here has jotted down to

one hour. The Chinese performers have been

invited here by the Heart of England Academy - a partnership

between Stratford College and City College, Coventry. China is a huge

and wealth in country, and emerging great superpower. The more that we

can promote the beauty and everything that England has to

offer and the UK through culture and performances like this, it is

so much better of the economy as a region.

For the children at this afternoon's rehearsal a traditional

dragon dance to end their east/west cultural experience. Perhaps more

their cup of tea? Brilliant, it looked like a real dragon, amazing.

After tonight, the Chinese production will move to Coventry

for one night only. It can be a tough job getting

schoolchildren interested in Shakespeare. But one inner city

school in Birmingham has succeeded, thanks to the enthusiasm of a

former pupil who just happens to be a famous actor. David Harewood,

starring in the TV series Homeland, had just five days to coach the

students. Then it was onto the stage in Stratford. Bob Hockenhull

reports. Actor David Harewood's career has

taken him to Hollywood. But he's never forgotten his roots so jumped

at the chance to mentor pupils at his former school in Washwood Heath

in Birmingham. The challenge - to turn them into Shakespearean actors

in five days. It will be a challenge because I don't like

doing things in half measures, if I do it I want to do it well. If you

can enthuse the and to do Shakespeare and if they fall in

love with the language and are able to perform it, they will get more

out of it if they put something into it. I want to make sure that

they put a lot of effort into it. David admits he was a bit unruly in

class until a teacher cast him in a play and gave him direction. After

being introduced to the pupils, he sets about testing their acting

abilities for a performance of Macbeth. Hello, and today and here

to sell this hat. Two buildings, and that is it. There are eight-

part but at least 10 children that I would like to get involved.

In X Factor style, the chosen actors are announced by David.

And for those who are picked, a chance to perform on the stage at

Stratford in front of friends and family. An experience David hopes

will leave a lasting impression on And you can see that documentary in

full on Sunday at 10:25pm on BBC One. It is well worth what, very

moving. Dan's here with the sport and a

pretty big weekend ahead. Aston Villa will hope to end any

lingering fears of relegation by beating Sunderland tomorrow, and

that would mean getting the better of former manager Martin O'Neill.

He left the club two years ago on the eve of a new Premier League

season. Some Villa fans were angry about the timing of his departure

and may show their feelings at tomorrow's match. But the

Sunderland manager says he can't change anything now. There's

nothing I will say here today that will change people's mind about

things. I had a great time and enjoyed it immensely for four years.

The 4th year was turning a little sour, I must admit which was

unfortunate. Ironically it was our most successful year as well.

Villa's fate will not be decided this weekend but it may prove to be

the day for three of our team. It could change for Wolves, Shrewsbury

Town whose destiny may be decided by 6 o'clock on Sunday evening.

Time and tide wait for no man, and certainly not for rock-bottom

Wolves. Seven points adrift of safety with only four games left.

In less time than it takes to boil an egg, Carlos Tevez could poach a

couple of goals on Sunday, to end a season of misery at Molineux. If

QPR beat Spurs, then Wolves are down if they lose on Sunday. Would

it feel like the end of the world if Wolves were relegated? I am sure

it would, particularly for the players and supporters. Everybody

will feel like it is the end of the world but everything moves on. We

will be looking to improve next season wherever we are.

The sands of time are also racing away at the Ricoh. After 48 years

of playing in the top two tiers of English football, those heady days

are almost done. If Bristol City win tomorrow, then Coventry City

will be relegated regardless of the result of their game against

Doncaster. That is the way our season has gone. You have given

everything and you look for a bit of quality, they deserve a result

at the weekend. Their last home game of the season and we want to

give them something to cheer about. At least Shrewsbury Town are on the

up and up, defying gravity to seize the moment and lift themselves out

of League Two. Promotion will be guaranteed tomorrow if they beat

Accrington, and either Crawley or Torquay lose. That is magic and so

is this. Somewhere over Shropshire lies the end of the rainbow but

there will be no promotion party until the deed is done. I will get

excited when we have finally done it. I have seen many clubs come

unstuck at the last hurdle. We are not there yet, the feeling is not

there it, we must make sure people do it and then we will celebrate.

So what truth we need is a goal like this from the African -- what

Shrewsbury need is a goal like this Not the only team feeling the heat.

We have got Birmingham City in the championship, if they win at

Brighton and Middlesbrough fail to beat a phantom, they are in the

play-offs. With Cheltenham, they play Crewe.

What about Walsall and Hereford also battling relegation?

Walsall's situation, if they win and we can lose, it is not certain

they stay in League One but pretty much, it is goal difference.

Hereford near the bottom, -- at the bottom, all eyes on Barnett but

then over to Hereford tomorrow if they win and Macclesfield and

Barnet lose, there could be out of trouble by Saturday teatime. It

will be difficult. I was at commentary earlier on, in her --

you have got the phone and the league table. You are on the phone.

Exciting if you are impartial? Yes, terrible if you are involved,

isn't it, Nick? Kidderminster and Luton. Six out of seven, good run

of form. I do not want to worry you! Looking to get back in the

Football League. They are taking at least 10 coachloads of fans, it

will be an amazing atmosphere. Kidderminster in the play-offs at

the moment, it is some game. next four or five weeks, nerve-

jangling. To say he has been A 100-year-old steam narrowboat has

set off on a journey from Stoke on Trent to London to take part in

celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The boat,

President, will be joining up with the pageant taking place along the

River Thames in June. Our Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper

saw her begin the historic trip. She was once part of a fleet of

working boats. But now President is the country's only restored

operational steam narrowboat. Starting from Etruria in the

Potteries, she'll be retracing a once well-used route. These boat

used to go non-stop from London to Birmingham. They would take things

like bedsteads back down on the return journey.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the canal system in

Staffordshire was at the very heart of the county's industrial

development. And that heritage is being reflected in this journey to

the capital. The boat will be carrying a modern-day cargo

including products from Staffordshire's 21st century

companies. This boat was originally partly

made in Staffordshire. Restoration work's been carried out ahead of

the trip including refurbishing the engines. It'll be crewed by

volunteers. I think it will be an awe-inspiring sight. People will

come from miles around and will be viewed no doubt internationally

through the internet and it will be a wondrous sight that has never

been seen before and I presume will not be seen again.

So, time to cast off and set off. It'll take around three weeks to

complete the journey. A unique narrowboat taking its place in an

It all looks calm and serene, something very a relaxing about the

canals. I hope they have got lots of umbrellas. How is it looking for

That looks like we will hold on to the April showers and some of them

will again be on the heavy side especially through the afternoon

but in between them, we will get some good spells of sunshine and

the winds will be lighter so that means was the showers start it will

stick with you. I umbrellas at the ready this weekend. Overnight

tonight, received temperatures fall away quite quickly and we will see

temperatures dipping under clear skies, around three Celsius. A

chilly one tonight and that is how we start the weekend. The area of

low pressure is keeping things unsettled. We will see showers

continue to feed him through the weekend. For Saturday morning, it

will start dry and bright and a few showers darted towards the north of

the region and then tomorrow afternoon, we will see the showers

building, some of them heavy with some hail and thunder mixed in as

well. Some temperatures peaking at around 11 Celsius. Be winds will be

light and the showers will be heavy and prolonged tomorrow afternoon.

On Saturday afternoon, a re-run of tonight. Clear skies and light

winds. A chilly night on Saturday and we will see a touch of ground

frost hereunder and on Sunday, this area of low pressure is pulling

away and we are sandwiched in between the other area of low

pressure waiting in the wings for Monday bringing wet and windy

weather our way so for Sunday, it will be many be dry and pride to

start but the showers kicking in through the day and some of them on

the heavy side, temperatures peaking at around 11 Celsius with

light winds. Remaining heavy for the marathon in London over the

weekend, a chilly start with temperatures peaking at around 14

sausage with some showers. -- 14 A look at tonight's main headlines:

Formula One bosses insist the race in Bahrain will go ahead despite

the police using tear gas and stun grenades against opposition groups.

And a court's told fire service managers failed and failed badly on

the night four firefighters lost their lives in a smoke-filled

factory. That's all from us this evening,

but we'll have the main news in our bulletins across the weekend. And

in Monday's programme, we'll be finding out why farmers who were