17/02/2014 Midlands Today

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: More help for

victims ` the promise from the Prime Minister as he visits flood hit

areas of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

People have shown incredible patience, and we're going to have to

be in this for the long haul. We'll be live in Upton`upon`Severn,

where some residents are still under feet of water.

Fears for safety in the floods as children start half`term holidays.

Floodwater is dangerous. It has got lot of the `` lots of debris in it.

Also tonight: As Benefits Street ends, what's the impact on those

who've appeared in the controversial TV series?

Everything has been OK. But I know other people are going through hell.

Bring back standing at football matches ` the campaign backed by

Midlands clubs. And a much better week in prospect,

but there are things to watch out for which I'll be highlighting in

the forecast later. Good evening. The Prime Minister

promised financial help to those who need it most, as he toured flood`hit

areas of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire today. ?10 million

will be available immediately. But it may come too late, so say some of

the hardest hit businesses. Takings in Upton`upon`Severn are reported to

be around 50% down, with some businesses fearful for their

survival ` whatever the politicians may promise. Ben Godfrey has this

report. The Prime Minister arrived in Upton

on a raft of optimism. While he may not stop the rain, he

praised the flood defences. The Severn has been held back but so

have some shoppers ` and trade is suffering. Personally in my

business, we have lost 50% of our trade. There might be a couple of

businesses, I am not going to quote them, which probably won't survive

this. The Prime Minister told me any

business struggling with the impact of flooding can claim money for a

clean up. We are making available ?5,000 grants to make them able to

better protect themselves in future, but this ?10 million and is today,

that is for businesses that have either been directly affected or

indirectly affected by the floods. The big problem has been access to

the town while Upton Bridge is closed to traffic. But the Army is

doing its bit with their big green shuttle bus. We hopped aboard,

strapped ourselves in and journeyed over the river.

This vehicle's wheels are six feet high, and since Friday 750 people

have used this vehicle operated by the while Irish regiment.

`` Royal Irish Regiment. Traders aren't just worried about

footfall ` it's also their stock. In Worcester, while the main bridge was

being cleared of debris, this hotel was being cleared of cash and

computers as looters struck. I am really, really livid. How can

somebody do that to someone when you have been flooded? We have already

lost business, and somebody has gone in there and Robert it. In the Cobra

meetings, we have stressed the importance of visible policing, and

obviously the presence of military personnel also provides that

reassurance, but anyone who commits a crime like that should know that

the authorities will be after them. This afternoon, the Prime Minister

was meeting Gloucestershire Police. Huge swathes of farmland across this

region are underwater, surrounding communities like Ashleworth near

Tewkesbury ` he insists everyone will get equal flooding support.

Some people here `` say you are only here because of the detrimental

flooding in the South. I do not think that is fair. When the bad

weather started before Christmas up in Norfolk, we had the emergency

committee meet them, here know we are in the West Midlands. I will try

to get to every part of the country that has been affected.

Back in Upton, people are getting by with good grace and humour ` despite

some frustrations, the signs of recovery are there.

So what's the picture across the region tonight?

Well, the Environment Agency tell us that we still have 33 flood warnings

in place and 18 flood alerts. While most bridges in our flood`hit towns

and cities have reopened, two remain closed. They're the Bewdley Bridge

and the road bridge into Upton`upon`Severn.

Worcester's main bridge reopened in time for the half term school

holidays, but there are concerns over safety, with so much flooding

still around. Ben Sidwell reports. The water may be going down in

Worcester, but there is still a lot of it around. With it being

half`time, there are no extra safety concerns. The rivers are earning

really fast. `` running. Floodwater has lots of debris in it, and there

might be manhole covers lifted in places where you will not see them.

So a dangerous place to be. Despite yet more rain today, there was

plenty keen on capturing the devastated scene.

This flooding has meant that Worcester has been seen around the

world, and you do is `` they do say there is no such thing as negative

publicity. So after one of the toughest week in the cities ``

toughest weeks in the city for years, could something positive come

out of this? At one of the region's biggest

tourist attractions, this was the biggest weekend. We did whether done

`` wonder whether people would come. I am not sure how many people came

because of the flooding, but actually our event was busier than I

feel it would be as Mike I feared it would be.

Some tourists have been undeterred. Emily and her family have come from

Northumberland for their half term holiday. We decided we would

travel. We had had some warning about how it was difficult to get

across the Severn Valley, but we decided to do it. I think there were

as many people as we would have expected on a Sunday `` sunny Sunday

night we had yesterday, and it was good to see they have not been

deterred by rumours of the floods. With the city starting to get Brown

`` back to normal, the hope is that these tourists will return again

after the water has gone. Ben joins us now from the closed

bridge in Upton`upon`Severn. As you were travelling around

Worcestershire today how did it compare with a normal half term?

I was actually here last Monday, and the levels have dropped, but

probably only by about that much. Many of the roads are still closed

including the main bridge just to the right of May. Let us find the

latest, Nick Green is from the Environment Agency. Everyone wants

to know, have we gone past the worst? River levels are run here are

still very high and remain higher. There is some water to come through

from Bewdley in Shropshire, and then hopefully we will see the rivers

start to fall down, but don't expect them to go very quickly. This water

just is not going anywhere, it is hanging around. Yes, it has been

around for a long time, since just before Christmas. Communities have

been impacted by these waters, and I think everyone is looking forward to

the levels going down. We were talking about tourism. Could it

affect tourism? I think when you have got defence such as this in

place you can find that people come to visit the town. The fact it is

here has meant the town has stayed dry and everything is open for

business. Where this flood barriers are concerned, if I was here in 2007

I would currently be waist deep in water. That is a great relief for

the people. Whilst the floods have brought

misery to many, for some specialist businesses they've provided a boost.

Firms supplying equipment to the worst affected flood zones are

reporting sales which have more than doubled since Christmas. And as the

clean up gets under way, they're expecting to get even busier. Here's

Liz Copper. This company, near Woore in

Shropshire, makes, maintains and supplies pumps. It's been inundated

with orders. Flooding in basements, back gardens, office blocks,

everywhere we are getting calls. It's also been a busy time for firms

helping to drain waterlogged land. This contractor works mostly for

farmers and companies in the agricultural sector. There are

worries high ground water levels could lead to pollution. I am moving

a lot of dirty water because of all the rainfall, to stop the stores

overflowing and causing pollution problems.

These specialist businesses are reporting more than double the usual

number of enquiries for their services and products.

Pump still with the aftermath of floodwaters, but there is a growing

focus on what more can be done to prevent flooding in the first place.

And with concerns prolonged periods of extreme wet weather could become

the norm, there are business opportunities for firms involved in

designing flood`proof buildings. That is looking at hole developments

which are based around very eco`friendly environments, so it is

not just buildings but the way we live, how we live, what we do, how

businesses, schools, have a whole lot interacts.

`` how the whole lot interacts. As the task of draining rain`soaked

land gets under way, for some companies at least the deluge has

led to a surge in business. And you can see a special report on

the work of the Severn Area Rescue Association on Inside Out with me at

7:30 tonight here on BBC One. Coming up later in the programme,

poet Benjamin Zephaniah on the power of words to help ex prisoners go

straight. When you start thinking about poetry, and start being honest

in a way that you could question yourself.

And a unique tribute to the troops ` students in Birmingham have created

this amazing model of one of the bloodiest battles of World War I.

Jaguar Land Rover has started recruiting to take on an extra 1,700

staff in the West Midlands. The luxury car maker is investing ?1.5

billion in the UK, which includes increasing the workforce to 8,000 at

its plant in Solihull. Plans to extend the Midland Metro

system further into Birmingham have been approved by the city council's

Cabinet today. They've agreed to borrow ?3 million to pay for

developing and designing an extension to the system to include

New Street Station and Centenary Square.

Visitors are being urged to stay away from the Alexandra,

Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals due to an outbreak

of norovirus. The highly contagious virus causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

The NHS Trust is urging friends and family not to visit patients in

their wards unless essential. Millions have tuned in over the last

few weeks to see an ordinary Birmingham street become one of the

most famous addresses in the country. That's James Turner Street,

or Benefits Street in the Channel four series. The last episode is

followed by a live debate tonight. But does it paint a fair picture? In

a moment I'll be talking to one commentator who believes the show

should be viewed as entertainment and not reality. But first, Dan

Pallett has been looking back on one of the most controversial TV series

of recent years. You see this street here? It was one of the best

streets. Five weeks ago James Turner Street

was just another road in Birmingham. But its portrayal in the C4

programme Benefits Street has sparked a phenomenon.

You have read the headlines, now it is time to tackle the issue head on.

And Channel 5's debate wasn't the only one. The BBC's Newsnight

tackled the programme, it's been all over radio and newspapers. And the

debate also spread to the House of Commons. Many people are shocked by

what they see, but the reality is that is why the public backs are

welfare reform package, to get more people back to work to end these

abuses, which all day actor when `` what the last Government left. ``

all date back to what the last Government left.

But Benefits Street hasn't just got Britain talking.

The programme even prompted debate on French television. But what about

those in the programme? Stephen Smith, known as Smoggy, was the 50p

man. He happy with how he was portrayed ` but others are upset. ``

he is happy. For myself everything has been OK, but others have been

going through a living hell. It is just not necessary, the show was not

supposed to disrupt everybody. It was supposed to just show what

things were really like. But like it or loathe it, James

Turner Street is now so famous that the street signs have been stolen.

Ellis Cashmore is Professor of Culture, Media and Sport at

Staffordshire University. The programme brought in the highest

ratings for Channel four since the Paralympics two years ago ` why? It

is phenomenal. You have to remind yourself that this is

entertainment, this is not sociology, it is no more a

reflection of Birmingham life than shameless is of Manchester. But it

is there to entertain. I am not dismissing the idea that some drama

does not educate us and enlighten us, and perhaps this is doing so,

but first and foremost it is drawing in 6.5 million viewers. Channel four

would dismiss the argument about entertainment. They describe it as

the series that reveals the reality of life on benefits. But is it

representative of life in Birmingham? Probably say no. This is

a fraction of people. But it has really stimulator debate.

Internationally and also in the Houses of Parliament. So has it

actually started to create a series `` serious debate out of something

which was purely entertainment? At one level, but anybody who feels

indignant about it, I understand why they feel indignant, but the bosses

of the utilities companies are giving themselves huge bonuses while

gas, electricity and water bills keep going through the ceiling. The

chief executives of the banks are giving themselves performance

related bonuses in the millions. The parasites do not only live on

Benefits Street, they are elsewhere. We are just concentrating on one

tiny corner of Birmingham, where there are a few people who are

exploiting the system. This is not representative of Birmingham.

Award`winning Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah knows the powers

of words. He used his skills today to try to show offenders and

ex`offenders how they can take control of their own lives, turning

their backs on crime. Here's our arts reporter Satnam Rana.

Poetry saved his life, and poetry is what Birmingham's Benjamin Zephaniah

is using to help offenders and ex offenders. When you start thinking

about poetry and starting to express yourself, you start to be honest in

a way that you can question yourself. And I know that is what

poetry did for me, and I know it can work.

People like those taking part in today's workshop in Kitts Green in

Solihull. Others attending today have turned their back on

criminality for good. Jason, who now works for social enterprise iSore

Media. But five years ago he looked like this ` a heroin addict who'd

been convicted for a string of crimes from shoplifting to firearms

offences. I have never seen anybody `` I had never seen anybody getting

clean from drugs. Leona has turned her back on crime.

She was convicted for burglary two years ago.

Working with people such as Benjamin is such a good boost to remind

people to keep on going on that right path. There is light at the

end of the tunnel. It was here that Benjamin Zephaniah

served time as a young man. He is now hoping to inspire some of the

young offenders with his story. The hope is that those taking part

in the workshop will be inspired to look for training, education and

jobs. According to the Probation Service, offenders who are

unemployed are twice as likely to reoffend than those with a job. I

want to buy my family `` and my bread and feed my family.

If you are a drug addict, understood and start taking drugs, `` and your

children start talking `` taking drugs, you have generations of drug

addicts. I would rather create generations of poets.

Benjamin's rhythmic renditions and powerful poetry is the

Football clubs across the Midlands are backing a campaign to bring back

standing at matches. Legislation after the Hillsborough disaster led

to the introduction of all`seater grounds. A new safer design could

mean the return of standing in the Premier League and Championship.

Many fans believe that will lead to a better atmosphere at games, as

Nick Clitheroe's been finding out. Saturday afternoon at St Andrews,

and Birmingham City are battling Huddersfield in the Championship. In

this all`seater stadium, some fans prefer to spend the game standing.

It's not illegal but it is a breach of ground regulations. And even many

of those who do sit would rather stand. The atmosphere's better when

you are standing. Especially away days. The atmosphere's completely

gone. With everybody standing up in the seating areas, it can cause

problems. Bring back the standing. There is real pressure for change.

The Football League has agreed to lobby on behalf of its clubs for the

introduction of safe standing. Last week, a section of the rail seating

that would be used was installed at Bristol City. Made in Shrewsbury,

these are rows of seats that can be locked away to allow standing.

Behind each seat is a rail for every single supporter.

Although the football league are on board, the Premier league and the

Government still have to begin Vince as well.

It's a long way from the old`fashioned idea of terracing with

fans crammed into sections between barriers. But for those who lost

family in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, it isn't enough. We were

trying to be open`minded, we have gone to look at the seats and what

they want to implement, and we are still opposed against it.

One Premier League club that has supported the idea of safe standing

for supporters is Aston Villa. They've even offered to trial the

system at Villa Park. We have identified one or two areas that

could potentially be used for a small`scale trial, so the rest of

food bowl could see a safe standing works within Premier League

environments. But although there's growing support

for safe standing, the Football League have warned there's unlikely

to be overnight change. There will be many tributes paid to

the fallen on World War I in the centenary year, but this one is very

unusual. `` the fall of World War I.

It's been created by students, including some who lost relatives in

the fighting. `` the fallen. The first night of the Battle of the

Somme. Captured in stunning detail by the descendents of those who

fought. The agony on the soldiers' faces, the giant rats scuttling in

the mud ` all brought to life. All of this has been created out of

brown paper. But it really does capture the full horror of life in

the trenches. With a budget of just a few hundred

pounds, design students at Birmingham City University spent

four weeks making the war scene, carefully researching every last

detail. I am so proud of the students on

what they have achieved. They have captured such an emotion of being in

the trenches. If you look at the figures, they are all accurately

proportioned, there is a certain amount of accuracy in their

uniforms, facial hair, facial expression.

First`year student Grace Westwood from Sutton Coldfield was

responsible for making the soldiers. We literally had to start making

basic structures and building of them using newspaper to pad them

out. Hundreds of thousands of men died.

They were the same age as the students who've depicted their

suffering. For Grace, it's been a poignant journey. She's found out

how her great`great`uncle Eric from Oswestry died minutes after he was

hit by a shell. He was 22. He was sent to convalesce, and my great

great uncle went to visit him when he was convalescing. He went to

war, fought and at the age of 22 he did die.

The paper battlefield is open to the public at Birmingham City

University's Parkside building for the next two weeks. Then it'll be

torn up, consigned to history, like so many soldiers who gave their

lives to the Great War. We've been warned river levels could

continue to rise, but what's the prospect of some drier weather,

Shefali? continue to rise,

We have got prospects this week, but this is basically how the week is

looking in summary. It is not going to be as wet windy, and it is going

to be milder. `` wet or windy. But I would like to draw your attention to

something happening later in the week. This system is moving in from

the west, making it windier and wetter with it, but nothing compare

to last week. It is going to trigger a change during the second half of

the week, but it is a low`pressure week. As far as the temperatures go,

this is the area of mild air, warm air mass that is heading our way for

Wednesday, but even now the winds are lapping up but warm air and

wafting it our way. This evening however we currently have a weak

weather system heading eastwards, producing more in a way of showers

later tonight which will gradually ease into the early hours. 20 of dry

weather by that stage. Still a lot of cloud, but that will keep it

warm. The winds are still fairly light, bit of missed as well as we

head into the morning tomorrow. We will not see any increase in that

showery activity tomorrow, so scattering of showers, but some

decent spells of sunshine in between. Temperatures for Southern

counties could even rise into double figures of around ten to 11 Celsius

coupled with a light south`westerly wind. You may see that showery

activity increasing by the evening tomorrow. Some of these could be

heavy, but by and large I think we are looking at 20 of dry weather

through the night. `` plenty of dry weather. It is Wednesday that could

be more showery, but Thursday is going to be wet.

A reminder of tonight's top story: More help for victims ` the promise

from the Prime Minister as he visits flood hit areas of Worcestershire

and Gloucestershire. Back to Ben Sidwell in Upton `

what's the overall feeling there tonight?

I have to say that most people are delighted by these flood barriers,

mainly because they have kept the town dry. Although I have spoken to

the landlord of the hotel just down there. He said even though he is

dry, traders `` trade has been decimated. He is now going to see if

he is eligible for any of that money that the Prime Minister has promised

for the flood victims. But as a whole here, most people seem to be

happy. That was the Midlands Today. I'll be

back at ten o'clock with the latest on the levels on the River Severn.

Have a great evening. Goodbye.