02/05/2012 Midlands Today

Hello, welcome to Midlands Today with Sarah Falkland and Nick Owen.

The headlines tonight: Staffordshire and West Midlands

Police collaborate on more services but insist it is not a merger.

public can expect a better level of protection - more resilience from

those critical services they depend on. In the midst of a rain-sodden

drought, farmers call for a fairer deal on water usage. How a 200-

year-old master could help a hospital buy the latest in robotic

equipment - a cyberknife. We will meet Ken, who is old enough to be

the grandad of Stephen Hendry, but who is still potting balls at the

Good evening, welcome to Wednesday's Midlands Today from the

BBC. Tonight: Two of our police forces agree to share armed

officers and other specialist units. But the men at the top of

Staffordshire and West Midlands forces deny it is a merger - more a

ground breaking collaboration. Tonight, the body representing rank

and file police officers in the region said they fear it is a step

In the firing line, specialist units like armed officers. Dog

handlers and accident investigators are to be combined - West Midlands

and Staffordshire teams becoming one unit. At a special meeting

today, one word was banned. This is not a merger and definitely not a

takeover. This is a question of commonsense - a much better use of

public money. We can retain excellent levels of operational

resilience and operational services for the community. There is no

question at all in terms of one partner being more dominant in that

relationship. Both police authorities met in Stafford today.

Smiles all round but could this spell the end of the Staffordshire

force? Absolutely not. I would like to make the point it is not, in any

way, but back door to mergers. Mergers are over and done with.

Only a few jobs will be lost. The savings will be �2.5 million a year.

Today's decision means there will be just one unit controlling these

specialist teams - like Jamie and his job, Harley. It could mean they

will be policing, not Staffordshire in parts of Birmingham. This means

they can put the bite on criminals. Sceptics are warning the public

could lose out and there are fears this could mean the start of

privatisation. Money is tight. Budgets have been cut. We need to

streamline. We do not need to lose the quality of service. This is the

start of the introduction of private companies into the policing

family. But what will the public get out of this? They will get a

better service and better protection, which will be delivered

in a more affordable manner. Both Staffordshire and West Midland

forces plan to speak to their neighbours, Warwickshire and West

Mercia, in the next few weeks - about working with those forces.

Peter joins us now. Do the police federation have a point or is this

a sensible financial decision? Those two chief constables say it

is all about practicalities and clear-sighted financial efficiency.

The Police Federation, what they are concerned about, they know that

West Midlands Police is pioneering partnership work with private

companies. Contracts are being advertised for �1.5 billion. What

they fear is, perhaps, a long way down the road - this is all about

economies of scale. Perhaps it would make the combination of new

units more attractive to a private company. The chief constables say

it has nothing to do with privatisation. Do you see more of

these link ups in the longer term? It is already happening. West

Murcia and Warwickshire already do it. Do you think forces could end

up merging completely? Not merger because of the when they are

financed. If you are in Staffordshire, you will say to

yourself, I am paying a premium amount of council tax for my police

force. Our Staffordshire police officers armed officers going to be

poured into areas of the West Midlands? Will they get married --

value for money? Yes, say the police constables, no, maybe not.

Coming up: We will be live in Coventry as the countdown to the

Olympics continues. Yes, I am backstage at the City of Coventry

stadium as more than 400 young dancers create an evening of

Olympic celebration. Drought then deluge. The recent weather has

exposed some of the tensions between the environment and water

users. Farmers feel their use of water is penalised while water

companies take as much as they want. Everyone agrees though that water

rules are inflexible and outdated. David Gregory has been

investigating for a special edition of Inside Out. It has been the

wettest drought many of us have known, but has recent rain changed

things? We have built up a big debt over the past two years. One month

of above-average rainfall will not really repay that debt

significantly. It will take maybe six months of above-average

rainfall to get anywhere near repaying the debt. I have been

investigating the rules that govern our water supply and it has brought

me here, to the banks of the River Severn in Worcestershire, where our

two-year dry spell has exposed some real problems - not least for the

people running the system, the Environment Agency. I think there

is a nervousness with sitting down with the Environment Agency. They

do not understand demountable to retake had is only 1% of all water

usage. -- up the amount of water we take out. To the individual

abstracting water, it is the make and break of the whole business. It

makes it difficult to sit down with an official who you feel does not

understand your situation. It is your livelihood, your income, your

family you are affecting extracting the water. But the agency says it

is doing its best with an antiquated and inflexible system.

We have pushed the system as far as we could. An extended season in

terms of failing winter storage reservoirs. In the summer, we can

take high flows. We have tried to be as flexible as we can with the

farmers. If the farmer is having troubles with their licensing

regimes, they can approach us and we can see what we will do. And, if

after April our dry spell does continue, the tensions between

farmers, environment and water companies will only increase.

Earlier, I spoke to Environment Minister Richard Benyon and began

by asking him if it was simply too difficult for farmers in our region

to get planning permission for water storage. Planning decisions

taken locally. We want to encourage farmers. We are talking about

reservoir of guidance. It is sometimes an impediment for farmers

have in storage John Mann farms. We published a paper loss to which

wants to seek more on farm storage by businesses such as the ones you

have seen. Are we likely to have some change on that? In the

national planning policy framework, we talk about sustainable

development. It fits in with that. We want to see farmers equipped

with being able to cope with changing climate. One is to be able

to store water in the winter when we have rainfall in the winter. We

have not had much over the past two years. Food security is fundamental

to this government. We want to make sure farmers are equipped in every

way they can to do this kind of work. If there are problems, we

want to hear about it. We do not have a hosepipe ban in the West

Midlands. What would your message be to water uses? I understand, it

seems absurd than a here we are in drought and then they see heavy

rainfall and flirts. -- that they here we are in drought. We have to

make sure we are planning for the future. This wet weather could end

quite soon we could have continued dry weather and we know we will

then have problems in many parts of England, through the year. We have

also got to plan for next year. The Government has seen this coming. We

have been planning from a year ago. They think we can cope with the

difficulties. This rain helps but it is not getting us out of trouble

in terms of the trout in many parts of England. I hope the West

Midlands and areas around Birmingham will be OK for the rest

of the Year. David Gregory joins us now from Edgbaston Reservoir in

Birmingham. What is your reaction to the minister's interview? Many

farmers will be quite disappointed in the comments about planning. It

is a local issue. Farmers say it can take up to 18 months to get

planning permission to build water storage on farms. You can spend up

to �25,000 jumping through hoops. Farmers would like the Government

to simplified the bureaucracy and red tape to allow them to take

advantage of wet month likely had just been through. The drought has

exposed these tensions, hasn't it? What can be done? That is what we

are looking out tonight. It is these old, and dictated rules --

antiquated rules. Trying to simplify them is difficult. Taking

away water rights means you have to compensate. We need to look at it

otherwise we cannot take advantage of poor water we're getting.

howlers are looking at Edgbaston reservoir? -- what water. With

ground water, it right beneath our feet, it is at all-time lows right

across the Midlands. It is causing real problems for the embarrassment

in the summer. That is what we are in environmental drought. -- why we

are. And Drought 2012, an Inside Out special, is on BBC1 at 7:30pm

this evening. If you miss it, it will be on the BBC iPlayer. UK Coal

has confirmed it is cutting around 150 jobs at its Daw Mill colliery

in North Warwickshire. Last month, the company said the mine would

shut in two years' time, unless it can cut costs and increase

productivity. The Stoke City footballer, Jermaine Pennant, has

been arrested on suspicion of assault in Manchester. The 29-year-

old was charged earlier this week with drink-driving, and driving

while disqualified, after a car crash near his home in Cheshire in

the early hours of Sunday morning. The assault is alleged to have

happened in a nightclub shortly before. He has been bailed pending

further inquiries. Staff at an IT firm in Solihull have staged a

protest over plans to axe 640 jobs from its UK business. The Unite

union says the Computer Science Corporation wants to make

compulsory job cuts and is ignoring offers of voluntary redundancy. CSC

was behind a project for the NHS which was scrapped last year. The

company says it is in the early stages of consultation with unions.

The staff along with the staff and Chesterfield are integral in being

able to provide the services but government and other important

clients, including British Aerospace and a number of the

financial institutions, with the facility to carry out their work.

hospital charity has been trying to sell an old masters painting for

nearly �1 million, so that it can buy a new treatment called

Cyberknife. The painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds now belongs to the

Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Charity. Strenuous efforts are being made,

though, to keep the painting in Birmingham. Our health

correspondent has this exclusive report. For 224 years, Dr John Ash

has glowered down on the people of Birmingham. For the past 18, on

loan to Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery, where he resides alongside

other city grandees, Matthew Boulton and James Watt. But he is

up for sale and the museum wants to keep him. For are the people of

Birmingham, we have to get this. It was painted for the people of

Birmingham and it has always been here. It is a major work by a major

artist. One of the first portraits of a Bourgeois, and not an

aristocrat. Reynolds shows Dr Ash in all his grandeur, as founder of

Birmingham's first hospital, the General. But buildings change and

so do priorities. At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham,

they have two of the most up to date radiotherapy machines in the

country. But they want to buy this, Cyberknife, so precise that robots

alter their aim according to each breath a patient takes. To be able

to have the best treatment in the world at a local Cancer Centre in

Birmingham is what we are aiming for. The sooner we can do it, the

better. If selling the painting is part of that, my vote is to sell.

Selling the painting means the Cyberknife could be bought by

December. We have been asked by the hospital to fund raise. The money

from that would be a large part of our appeal. The slightly grumpy

looking doctor might have been quite tickled that his final legacy

would be to provide cutting-edge treatment to the people of

Birmingham. There were a lot of very wealthy people in the world.

The Americans are great collectors. The museum has raised �150,000 and

is placing its hope on Heritage Still to come: What links this man,

a microscope, a stethoscope and Botox with the Diamond Jubilee

celebrations? And, April was a washout. So far, May's not filling

us with confidence and, with bank holidays hardly ever scoring highly

for weather, could we be on a losing streak this week? If you

keep watching, you will find out before the end of the programme.

Time for sport. Ian Winter is here. Aston Villa fans will be keeping a

close eye on Bolton Wanderers tonight. They are at home to Spurs,

who visit Villa Park on Sunday. Last night Stoke City drew 1-1. It

was a bizarre own goal by Peter Crouch. Cameron Jerome equalised

within two minutes of coming on. That is how it finished. The game

was a bit flat and needed a bit of a sparked and tempo. Up we provided

that with fresh legs. It caught Everton by surprise a bit.

Brookes could not believe it when he heard the news. The snooker

fanatic from Birmingham thought it could not possibly be true. But it

was. Stephen Hendry, the seven times World Champion, is retiring

at the age of 43. So, this afternoon, I popped out for a quick

frame with Ken, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday. The

Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, April 1990. And Stephen Hendry was

winning the first of his seven World Snooker titles at the ripe

old age of 21. Ken Brookes did not start playing until he was 27. But

when he did, he was soon hooked and his passion for the game means he

is still playing every week, at the age of 90. The best player --

Stephen Hendry is a cruelly the best player there has ever been.

arguably. Lucky for me there was only pride at stake this afternoon.

Ken is still better it -- very competitive. I could only sit and

watch and wonder. He is old enough to be the grandad of Stephen Hendry.

Come on, Ian, played the shot! During his career Icarus Stephen

Hendry made 800 century breaks. Ken has managed it twice. -- during his

Korea, Stephen Hendry has made. will continue as long as I can hold

the cute and gives a reasonable account of myself on the table, I

will be delighted. -- beat queue and give a reasonable account.

was 68 when he won the Veterans Cup. He will dine out on the memory of

beating yours truly. Perhaps Stephen Hendry retired not a moment

too soon. Well done! Carry on putting. Shrewsbury Town will have

I went to watch Derbyshire against Gloucestershire today and it was

really nice. You have a blue mark on the lawsuit - chalk dust. --

your suit. A century after the Titanic disaster, a fundraising

appeal has begun in the Black Country to create a memorial to a

cellist who performed in the ship's legendary band. The body of John

Woodward, who grew up in West Bromwich, has never been recovered.

His name was added to his family's gravestone in a local cemetery, but,

after decades of erosion, it is crumbling away with no known

relatives to repair it. It is said that when Titanic plunged through

the icy depths, John Woodward, a humble 32-year-old from West

Bromwich, was alongside his fellow band members, clutching their

instruments, stoically playing on. Paul Kidson and Lorna Jenkins are

relative strangers. They happened to visit Heath Lane cemetery and

felt urged to act. The Woodward family grave is hard to spot - the

sandstone facade is crumbling away. We were shocked to find a stone in

this condition. We said it needs attention. If we have another

memorial, we will put on marriage, cellist. All over the country there

are statues and everything, but Paul has come up film stars,

everything. This man was a real hero. -- footballers, film stars.

John Woodward was eager to please. He chose his finest cello for the

trip. Nearer My God Timmy is thought to be the last piece of

music he played and his body was never found. John Woodward lived in

West Bromwich. The census shows as he was one of nine children. By the

time he joined the maiden voyage of Titanic, his family have moved to

Oxford. The only one we heard Bob was a grand niece called Charlotte.

We know nothing about her. -- we heard off. The new memorial will be

cast in marble. A public appeal for donations has started to raise up

450 young people are on stage tonight in Coventry helping to

build up excitement in the city, ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Coventry will be an Olympic football venue during the games,

and tonight's event, entitled Believe, is promising carnival-

inspired costume and high energy dance. A perfect assignment then

I did try to get hold of one of the costumes but they would not let me

get into it. This is the world premiere. That is the only time it

will be performed. 400 children from across Coventry and

Warwickshire and here tonight giving their all, in aid of the

Olympics. You are of the Simon Cowell of this event. How hard has

it been to get the kids to do what we are seeing now? If it has been a

positive journey. All of them have taken on board the commitment to

the project. What they have done tonight has been a credit to their

hard work. I have seen Death Has Been Smiling At Me, which was a bit

surreal. It is the story of perseverance and getting over

adversity. We have taken inspiration from the athletes and

the Olympic Games this summer. have to say, or the children here,

one thing they all deserve a gold medal for his staying as quiet as

they are far the performance is going on. I am the one who's been

told to be quiet the whole time. I spoke to someone tonight he was

only four and I said to him, what does that mean about being here? He

said, it is just about having fun and that is what I'm doing. If you

look at all the children's faces, that is exactly what they're doing

- having fun. Back to you in the studio. I cannot believe she did

not get the costume. Now, the story of a microscope, a stethoscope,

Botox, and our reigning monarch. A Birmingham artist has created

what's thought to be the world's smallest portrait of the Queen. It

is less than 2 mms high and took him nine months to complete. And

there were a few dramas along the way. You need a microscope to see

artist Graham Short's latest masterpiece. That is because his

portrait of the Queen is less than 2 mms across and has been engraved

on the head of a pin. It was about five years ago I saw a portrait of

the Queen by Rolf Harris and I liked his work. I thought, I would

try to do this more as portrait in the world. It took about 90 months.

It took about 90 pins. I have to polish the head and start again.

makes his engravings and his tiny workshop in the jewellery Quarter

in Birmingham. And he tends to work mostly at night. I need to be

perfectly still when I am working. My arm is strapped to the bench. I

wear a stethoscope and try to engrave when I am still between

heartbeats. Add to not take caffeine. I have Botolphs round my

eyes every few months, just to deaden the nerves and muscles. -- I

do not take caffeine. His other works include the Lord's Prayer,

parts of the Koran and this incredible engraving of the words,

"nothing is impossible" on the sharp edge of a razor blade. Did

you get right near to the end of the Queen and slip and have to

start again? No, a no. While I am near to the end, I'm very careful.

-- when I am. Some of the engravings have sold for around

�50,000, and there is already interest in Her Majesty by a well

known cruise ship operator. On Bank Holiday Monday we will be reporting

on diamond jubilee celebrations around the region. Please e-mail us

with the details. How is the It is quite late in the day for

those official figures but, as it turns out, April was cooler,

sunnier but with more than double the usual rainfall But, at least,

today was good. Don't bank on it staying that way though we have a

couple of fronts tumbling down from the north before we hit the weekend.

But it becomes largely drier after that, which is a turn up for the

books. It will however become colder by then with night frosts

with temperatures almost halve today's values. We have a few

showers across the region this evening. This rain will light

across southern parts of the patch a move steadily northwards. I do

not think it will reach the extreme north, so Staffordshire should

remain dry tonight. There is a warning for torrential downpours in

the south. That will extend to central areas as well. It will be a

mild night with temperatures around 6-eight Celsius. It will be a wet

start to the day. The band of rain will move northwards. There will be

heavier outbreaks by the afternoon. Elsewhere it begins to dry up.

Temperatures will suffer. Highs of only 11-14 Celsius. More showers on

Friday in fairly dry for the weekend. A look at the headlines.