17/07/2014 Midlands Today

The Met office issues a level to crash on the BBC News Channel.

The Met office issues a level to alert as the heatwave continues.

Make sure that you have enough water intake.

But with heat and humidity come thunderstorms ` this weekend looks

We'll find out how people are coping with the heat.

Fine tuning for the future, the Midlands plant making specialised

engines for BMW's hybrid sports car. We are proud to have it. It is

a big boost. The Shropshire golfer making a

blistering start at the open. And getting children interested in a

virtual career in engineering. An official public health warning

has been put in place, The Met Office has issued

a level two alert. This means that on average

the temperature will be 30 degrees Celsius during the day and

around 15 degrees Celsius at night. They say it can have a significant

effect on people's health if the hot weather lasts for at least two

days ` and the night in between. Our reporter Kevin Reide has spent

most of the day finding out how people are coping,

and he's at Droitwich Lido tonight. This has been the busiest day of the

year so far with 650 people visiting, I understand that one

family has been here since 1030 this morning. That contrasts with cloudy

days when they can get as many as five people.

Droitwich having one of its busiest days so far. `` Droitwich Lido.

And a similar picture in Walsall. But all this son and heat levels

have led to a health warning. `` of this sunshine. Keep sensible

precautions. Take enough water intake. Make sure they are aware of

the signs of dehydration, the science of disorientation, and they

take adequate precautions. In Walsall the message seems to be

getting through. She's got factor 50 on. Factor 50 on her and the same on

me. Yes, we have some cream. I have a T`shirt to protect him. She has

plenty of sun factor on. Back in Droitwich and by late

afternoon, temperatures had soared to the high 20s, that is over 80

Fahrenheit. We have hot air working its way up

from the near continent. As that meets cooler air from the Atlantic

we will see some thunderstorms. They could cause some severe disruption

through Saturday morning. We will be out clearing debris from the rivers,

blocking culverts, making sure that water can flow through quickly.

So all good things come to an end, and for more those little else to do

but to have fun in the sun. `` for now.

There are still some people in the pool. They have stayed open

especially for us. I am joined now by Sandra who works here. How busy

hazard in? It has been really busy, the son has been shining. `` how

busy hazard being? Does the message about suncream get

through. There are a few people that do forget, we do tell people it is

best to put the suncream on. Especially when the water is cold,

they forget. And this place was under threat not

so long ago. We do a year`to`year basis and see how it goes, hopefully

we will have it again next year. Tell me whether water comes from. We

have got Brian in the water, `` salt in the water.

What are you expecting for the first `` next few days? I am hoping for

lots of sunshine so we have loads of people down.

It could be quite a contrast if the weather changes on Saturday though.

Yes, thunder and lightning, you cannot swim in that. Fingers crossed

for hot weather. The door was open at half past ten

tomorrow morning. And Rebecca will be have the full

forecast later in the programme. One of the worst schools inspectors

had ever seen ` The first electric hybrid sports car

from BMW goes on sale in the UK this week, with engines

made here in the Midlands. The car combines a petrol engine

and a plug`in electric motor. The company's Hams Hall plant in

Warwickshire will be the sole site Our business correspondent

Peter Plisner reports. Enjoying the fruits of their labour

` BMW workers looking around Sadly the car and the majority

of its parts are made in Germany, but the engine that powers it is

assembled here. And this is the new multi`million

pound production line that's been Although it hasn't meant new jobs

here, it does mean job security for the

plant?s 800 workers, including newly We were given the opportunity to go

on to this line as apprentices in our last year, and we have seen it

right from the start, we have seen it go into production.

BMW's plant opened in 2001. Since then it has produced more than 3

million engines. This i8 engine is the first product to come out of

here since the company announced a new investment programme for its UK

plants. Nick Shappard has been at Hams Hall

since the plant first opened And more investment is being made

elsewhere in the plant. They constantly invest in their

plans and their people. This empty space will house

another new assembly line. The plant director says Hams Hall

has a bright future. The engine for the i8 is built on a

flexible production line, but as we develop the family further we will

be investing in the high`volume production facilities being

installed as we speak. The new i8 is not cheap, but getting

behind the wheel you can see why. I have never driven a hybrid sports

car. You would expect performance to be compromised, but the sky was

incredibly powerful. And it is much more environmentally

friendly than the average sports car. `` this car is incredibly

powerful. West Mercia Police are to

reinvestigate the attempted rape of a woman, which led to a Redditch

man being wrongly jailed. Victor Nealon, who was living

in the town at the time of the attack, was sentenced to life in

1997 and spent 17 years in prison. Fresh DNA evidence meant that

his conviction was then quashed Two applications for judicial review

into the downgrading of services and Stafford Hospital have been turned

down. The applicants say they will appeal.

The applicants now have to decide whether to appeal the decision.

The families of those killed in the Birmingham Pub Bombings are

calling on West Midlands Police to reveal if republican terrorism

suspects were told they would never face prosecution.

A judge`led review of official letters issued to Irish republicans

` informing them they were no longer wanted by police ` has concluded

that the scheme was systematically flawed, but not unlawful.

Brian and Julie Hambleton's sister Maxine was among the 21 people

They want to know if anyone suspected of being involved was told

We are going to write to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of

Northern Ireland, and as came if years any information regarding the

228 people who are in receipt of one of the environs letters. If one ``

if anyone of them have ever been associated with the Birmingham pub

bombings, and if they have, we would like information. A smack the on the

run letters. `` the on the environs letters.

A Birmingham MP says it's "peculiar" there have been no updates

about when a new local TV channel is to be launched in the city.

Steve McCabe has written to the Department of Culture, Media

In 2012 Ofcom awarded licences for 21 local TV channels to be set up

City8 has to launch by November the 6th, having won

the licence for Birmingham ` or it will lose the licence.

So far, only four local TV channels are actually up and running:

in Grimsby, Norwich, London and Nottingham.

Earlier I spoke to Steve McCabe about the questions he's raised.

It was introduced in a fanfare about two years ago, and there has been

radio silence since. I want to know if the company are still in

operation, and if we are likely to see a launch before the November

deadline, and obviously I want to know if everything's all right on

the financial front. Why are you so concerned about this?

Digital media has great potential for the Birmingham you `` Birmingham

area. Local television is an important element of that jigsaw.

We have tried to speak to City8 today and left numerous messages

for Debra Davies who's in charge to ask for her reaction,

I have not heard from her, I have no idea what she is doing. But I have

had a phone call from a gentleman who is involved with the company,

who suggested he will try and arrange a meeting with some of the

representatives, and I am hoping that might be possible sometime next

week. Was he able to answer any of your concerns? He suggested the

project was still making progress, and that they were still optimistic

there would be a launch, but after all this time what I'm interested in

is a bit more detail. How would you sum up this whole

situation? It is peculiar. We were told that there was this great new

world opening up, that we were going to have local television, the

company was all set to run, it had an April launch date and then a

September launch date, and then total silence. If the company cannot

do it, somebody else has got to have the chance to do it. If the company

is going to do it, they need to tell the rest of us what is happening.

A primary school in Dudley, which was described as

"one of the worst" inspectors had ever seen, is celebrating today

Ofsted inspectors visited the school two years ago

Heronswood Primary in Kidderminster has also been rated good,

just under a year after failing their inspection.

So how difficult is it to turn things around?

Lindsay Doyle has been to Priory Primary in Dudley to find out.

We were special measures. This time when the inspectors came they told

us that we were now a good school. This is officially a good school

according to Ofsted. It is a lovely school anyway, but I am really

glad. It is positive to see the school going up again. Two years ago

it plummeted into special measures. The school was in a mess, leadership

and management was inadequate, behaviour was really poor.

Safeguarding, there were issues there as well.

The magic of science, a simple experiment with milk and food

colouring, resort, and engaged class of 7`year`old pupils. We were told

we had really good reports. We all cheered. Everyone is so proud and

pleased to see the report. With almost an entire set of new

teachers and more focus on creativity and pupil behaviour,

Priory primary joins only 5% of schools nationally who have come

from special measures into good in such a short space of time. We have

put in some staff that were really, really enthusiastic and wanted to

make learning fun for the children, and it all came together. One of the

most important things has been the involvement of the students

themselves. A school council has been set up. We

get to choose what we want in the school.

And the chance to get published. It is a published book with all of our

stories in it. We get to choose our activity at the end of the week.

No longer would do better `` "could do better", predicted grades next

year, a stars. Our top stories.

The Met office issues a level to work `` alert as the heatwave

continues. The Shropshire golfer

Ashley Chesters makes a blistering start at the Open; he's

just four shots off the lead. The Library

of Birmingham is shortlisted for What do a group

of hoodies mean to you? Should children be seen

and not heard? Increasingly youngsters are finding

themselves labelled unfairly. As part of our Midlands Tomorrow

series, we went to see a music group called Beats that aims

to offer an outlet to young people Noreen Khan begins her report

in Nuneaton ` A Saturday concert for shoppers in

Nuneaton is not just about fundraising, but through music these

youngsters are coming to terms with difficulties in their lives.

Abbey started drinking to cover up depression problems. She thinks

adults are too quick to judge. I was missing for a week, it was a sort of

blackout, I do not remember what happened.

Young people are seeing is being yobs and rough. There are some

adults who think we are up to no good. If we judged all people that

way, how would they feel? Tom has spent some time in care. He

thinks the music group has turned his young life around. It is a

horrible experience. You are back and your parents'. How

are things? `` back at your parents'. We are still a bit bumpy,

but it is better. The music group meets once a week

and is constantly backing `` battling for funding. To the

teenagers it is a way of dealing with events that happen around them.

My dad desert dust `` decided to leave, so that left me all upset. I

wanted to talk to my mum, but I had to hold back because I thought it

would upset her, speaking about it. Do you think grown`ups are quick ``

quick to criticise young people when they make mistakes? Definitely. But

they always say you need to learn from your mistakes.

Nuneaton is no different to any other time, and when I spoke to some

adults, they revealed they actually had some sympathy and hopeful

today's teenagers. I think they get a hard time. If they had something

positive and creative to do, I am sure you would see a marked change

in youth behaviour and anti`social behaviour. The young people today

are doing quite well. And if you have a story

about what it's like to be young and growing up in the Midlands,

then we want to hear from you. You can e`mail us

at [email protected], or get in touch

on Facebook or Twitter using Golf,

and the Shropshire Amateur Ashley Chesters has made an impressive

debut at the Open Championship. The 24`year`old

from Wem finished his first round He's grinning from ear to ear `

and who could blame him? Ashley Chesters has played

the round of his life, But he started the day a bag

of nerves. I could feel my heart pumping out of

my body. I nearly said, what is going on? But I was so happy to see

the ball goes straight `` go straight.

And every step of the way he was followed by family and friends.

A tremendous start, having built up to and for 12 months.

But there've been no posh hotels for this pair.

Chesters, along with his best friend and caddie Ricky Pharo, spent

As they finished their round with a birdie on the 18th green, a first

round score of two under par was beyond everyone's wildest dreams.

I can't actually believe it. We couldn't have hoped for anything

better than what he has done today. Of course, he's now got to do it all

again tomorrow if he's to realise his dream of making the top half

and playing at the weekend. But now his name's up there

for all to see, Ashley Chesters is And you can follow Ashley

and all the action from The Open at The Library of Birmingham has been

shortlisted for a prestigious award. Run by the Royal Institute

of British Architects, it's a nationally recognised award which

the West Midlands won last year. The Library opened last September,

and has been described by the Dutch company who designed it

as a "People's Palace". Our reporter Amy Cole is there

for us tonight. What do the judges like

so much about the library? The judges say the library is a bold

addition to the city. They have commented on the Harry Potter

rotunda. The award does not just recognise innovative design, but

also the impact a building has on the community. Last year Astley

Castle won the award after architects created a space that

reflected the history of the building but also build in some

21st`century mod cons. ``. Game. I'm joined by Tom Epps,

Exhibitions Manager at the Library. You face tough competition from

The Shard, The London Olympics Aquatic Centre

and Liverpool's Everyman Theatre ` I think the library stands out from

the competition because it is a public library that belongs to

everybody. Our architects had a problem because not only did they

have to produce a beautiful building, but also meet the

expectations of a million people. You have had a lot of visitors. Yes,

well over 2 million people. On our busiest days we had about 15,000

people. Loads and loads of visits from schools and younger people. I

was talking to somebody earlier about the award, and he said what he

thinks is unique about this building is that it is absolutely first class

in terms of a library and really stands out from all other cities.

We'll find out that result on October 16.

Children from two Midland schools have been taking part in a hi`tech

project aimed at encouraging an interest in engineering.

The Civil Engineering giant Atkins is running the project, which is

using the latest virtual techniques to demonstrate how building will be

These children are finding out how "augmented reality" turns this paper

But this technology can be used for so much more.

The photographs in this woodland exhibition can only be seen once

It's hoped that days like these will spark an interest in engineering.

Students get an insight into engineering, and the jobs that are

available. There is a preconception that it is all about Thomas and

electricians, but there is a lot more out there, opticians, allsorts

of science. `` plumbers. For the children,

it's been a fascinating insight I never believed somebody could

shine and iPad over something and, with a 3D drawing. Imagine how

advanced the technology will be in the future.

There's a real sense of excitement in the forest today as

the children use their smartphones and tablets to reveal the pictures.

But how does the technology that they're using today benefit

Using the technology we are using in the forest, they can have an idea of

what they are about to step into. We can put those onto manhole covers,

so you can use the application to show the QR code, and they can see

it and walk into it before they open a manhole.

These kids had fun today, and organisers hope that days

like these can prove how creative an job in engineering can be.

I will have the full forecast in a minute, but first, we have seen lots

`` a lot of photos sent in. It has been a lovely day today,

temperatures have done very well. We got up to 27 in Worcestershire,

widely in the mid`20s across the region. There has been plenty of

sunshine, clear skies for much of the day, and it stays that way for

the next few hours. But we can just see a hint of what is to come

working its way in. We have showers to contain `` content with tonight.

As we had through the early hours we will see that rain working its way

up. `` head through. So a rumble of thunder as well. Temperatures

ranging between 16 and 18 Celsius, so a muggy, sticky night. The last

of those showers will slowly clear away as we head through tomorrow

morning, then it is another good day in prospect. If today was hot, today

`` tomorrow is going to be hotter. Temperatures rising up to 30 Celsius

in some parts of the West Midlands, most likely in eastern parts. But

with light winds it will feel pleasant. It is all change, though,

as we head into Friday night. We have a yellow weather warning in

place for heavy rain. We are expecting severe disruption from the

thunderstorms working their way through on Saturday night. We could

get hail, lightning and flush `` flash flooding. We end tomorrow

though with some good spells of sunshine, then overnight cloud

starts to fill in. Some heavy downpours in there, some lively

thunderstorms as well. And another very muggy night, temperatures

between 16 and 19 Celsius. This is how Saturday looks, starts off with

heavy rain, eventually easing off, but then we will get some home`grown

thunderstorms. Sunday looks better, and the start of next week is much,

as well. Is much more calm.

Malaysia Airlines passenger plane carrying nearly 300 people is

on the Russian border. The Met Office issues a level two alert ` an

It took less than 90 seconds for the eight-storey building to collapse.

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