28/07/2014 Midlands Today

Hello, and welcome to Midlands Today.

It's celebration time, as the Commonwealth Games delivers

16 medals, and counting, for Midlands competitors.

After two Commonwealth gold medals, a fantastic Black Country homecoming

triathlete Jodie Stimpson. I am so pleased for you. Thank you. Goodbye.

But, away from the Games, a sporting blow for the region.

You have just said nobody wants a swimming pool. I did not say that! I

see it as a demise in competitive swimming.

A hi`tech plan to help tackle major fires.

40,000 pack into a Birmingham park to celebrate

And, last week, we had soaring temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

I'll have all the details in the forecast later.

Double Commonwealth champion Jodie Stimpson has returned home to

a hero's welcome from friends and family in the Black Country.

Triathlete Jodie won England's first gold medal of the Games in Glasgow

on Thursday, and then won her second on Saturday in the mixed team relay.

After celebrating her two golds, it was back home to Oldbury

in Sandwell where her family have draped a huge medal on the front

In a moment, we'll be chatting live to Jodie,

And still the congratulations keep on coming.

Jodie's 91`year`old neighbour, thrilled about her achievements

COMMENTATOR: The 2014 Commonwealth Games...

Jodie had to swim 1,500 metres, cycle 40km and, lastly,

At the point where she breaks away from her rivals,

You can send people when you are running. You don't know how many

people are around you, but I could sense there were a few that and on

the last lap I was in my head space, I am going to get rid of some of

these competitors. For her parents,

it was a glorious moment. My heart was pounding that much. I

thought, your heart must be pounding doubly. I just wanted to get to the

end. It was great. With 1.5 kilometres to go, that is when it

started to build up inside me as well. The emotions, everything else.

And they were made proud again when their daughter and her team mates

COMMENTATOR: England when the Commonwealth Games mixed team relay.

Since winning her first triathlon at nine years old,

But she suffered huge disappointment in 2012 when she wasn't selected

I think it definitely drove me, and gave me a kick up the backside for

what I needed to do. So, I think it was more so not

wanting to miss another Championship that drove me more.

The determination's paid off, and plans are being made for

It is absolutely really incredible what she has achieved, and we have

two, as a borough, she is one of our own, show how much we appreciate it.

I will probably net get `` get the opportunity again, I am training,

what should I do? The first half should feel easy, with the next

half, push on and keep going. If you're finding it hard on the first

half, do you have gone too fast. The feeling at the end is so worth it.

And I'm delighted to say Jodie joins us now.

Can you describe what the last five days have been like?

Oh, amazing. When I crossed the line, I could see all my family and

friends in the grandstand. That was like a roller`coaster of emotions

which all came at once. Then, I got back home, it was the same again.

Anyone who could not make it up to Glasgow were outside my house. I had

no idea. What about the family and friends in the stadium, could you

see them? Yes, when I was able to look into

the grandstand, as my brother, my mum, my dad, my sister. It was

fantastic to share what a big achievement it was. Were they going

bonkers. Totally, they were jumping up and down. I have watched the race

back. I can see everybody running behind me trying to get me trying to

get near then you come home and see everyone else, it must have been

terrific for you today. As I say, it has been nonstop,

fantastic. I have so much support back home. I wouldn't have been able

to achieve without them. It is as much mind as their medal.

You will become a role model for people in Sandwell, that is a

responsibility. If I can get one or two people to

have a go at sport, the triathlon, I see that as a success. I hope other

people will have a go now. We have a photograph of you as a

youngster, performing, starting on the way. Could you ever have

imagined then that you would achieve so much now?

Definitely not. I have always loved sport. I have always wanted to

compete at a high level. It has always been a dream. You never know

if dreams are going to come true and mine came true at the weekend.

We have two ask what happens next. I suppose Rio is rearing up in your

mind? Definitely. When I missed out on

London, that was the number one thing, I didn't want to miss another

Championship, it hurt too much. Definitely, Rio is on the cards, two

years will go so quickly. You will have even more people

following you now. Congratulations. The only 50m swimming pool

in the West Midlands is to close, even though 11,000 people signed

a petition to keep Coventry City Council plans to close

the pool and replace it with a new ?37m leisure centre elsewhere

in the city. More details now from

Sian Grzeszczyk. You said nobody wants a 50 metre

swimming pool. I did not. These campaigners vented

their frustration on the councillor who made the announcement today,

after hearing they are set to lose The anger is frustration.

Frustration at the council aren't listening to what we are saying. A

50 metre pool can be profitable. Despite one of the biggest petitions

in the history of the council, the politician responsible insisted they

had listened to people's concerns. The cost

of maintaining this building works And to refurbish the whole

of this building would cost over We have not ignored the petitioners

at all. It's been enjoyed by thousands

of Coventrians for decades, and those swimming there today were

sad to hear the news. I grew up in the city and thought

it was available for all. The majority of people come here

do not realise the facilities will

not provide the same. This is where the council wants to

build a brand new ?37 million leisure centre, with water park,

and a new 25 metre swimming pool, Part of the sports centre is

listed and so councillors Instead, they'll have to

find another use for it. There are two cities

which won't have a 50 metre pool, In the meantime, there are plans

for a new 50 metre pool at Birmingham University which is

due to open in 2016, a year before We'll have more Commonwealth Games

news later. School's out for summer, unless,

that is, you're I will be finding out why many of

our parks but this one in Dudley are thriving, despite having their

funding cut dramatically by local councils.

A 19`year`old man is being by questioned by police in Warwickshire

about the murder of a man who was shot dead near Rugby on Friday.

23`year`old Jordan Banton died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police have located the vehicle they believe was used

by the killer, a Vauxhall insignia, similar to this one.

Two other men have been released on police bail, and a woman has

been released without charge in connection with the killing.

Police in Birmingham have released CCTV pictures of the moment

an officer was flung to the ground, as he tried to stop a getaway van.

PC Gareth Lowe spotted the vehicle in Upper Balsall Heath Road.

But, when he grabbed the passenger door handle, the van sped off.

The officer was treated in hospital for minor injuries,

A burglar caught breaking into a house that had been fitted

with secret recording equipment by police has been jailed

Andres Balog didn't realise the cameras had been placed

in the Park Village property by Wolverhampton detectives.

It's one of many capture houses in the area designed to catch

A Birmingham MP has called on the city council to fly

the Palestinian flag at the Council House as a mark of respect

Two other local councils, in Preston and Bradford, have

already raised the flag, despite criticism, but Birmingham say they

Khalid Mahmood says it's not a political statement.

We have a counsellor dying and we pay respect to that. We have

hundreds of young people dying in Gaza and we can't pay respect to

them? This is the humanity Birmingham needs to show.

Labour have officially launched their campaign for the West Midlands

Police and Crime Commissioner by`election, at an event today

The party's candidate, David Jamieson, is a former MP

The by`election comes following the death of Bob Jones

Labour, who oppose the role in principle,

In this by`election, it is not about the future of the Police

Commissioner's job. That job exists, it has to be done well, there is a

budget of 500 `` half ?1 billion to make communities safer, and I want

to make sure that is done well. West Midlands Fire Service want to

trial technology that would allow 999 callers to send them video

from the scene of a fire. Around 65%

of emergency calls are now made by mobile phone, and many of those are

smart phones with built`in cameras. Our science correspondent

David Gregory`Kumar is here now. What's the thinking

behind this then, David? A year ago, saw the biggest fire

in the Midlands at a Smethwick All

the emergency services were praised But, to be honest,

the first 999 calls didn't really So, could live video sent

from the smart phones of people at the scene been more useful

when deciding the level of that The Fire Service have a 90`second

window between answering the call, and getting the right resources

on their way to the right place. So, listening to this real 999 call,

just how bad is this fire? That was the first 999 call

of hundreds made about this fire. 100,000 tonnes of blazing plastic

in Smethwick just over a year ago. The emergency services were praised

for their response to this fire. But, if they'd had access to live

video from the scene as well as the 999 call itself,

they might make very different decisions about the scale of

the response from the very start. More often than not,

we are going in blind. That is what every emergency service

works on, But, at this briefing, we're seeing

a new way to supercharge Just click on a link sent out

by the Fire Service, and your phone starts streaming live

footage to the emergency services. Something like this,

we can see straight away this is a serious incident escalating rapidly,

and impact on the communities. We need to get the right

resources as quickly as possible. Technically, you could get

a system like this up and running And what happens here than people

who work in the control room see the kind of thing usually only fire

fighters see. David, you mentioned potential

problems with this idea, David. There are all sorts of issues

this technology throws up. This is the control room at West

Midlands Fire Service in Birmingham. These are the people who deal with

emergency calls, and who could be What would be the impact

on these operators of seeing video Confronting them with upsetting

images usually only seen And then there's

the wider question of privacy. How comfortable are you with

the idea that any mobile phone could actually be sending back live

video to the emergency services. That's why, ahead of any trial,

the Fire Service would If you go to my blog, you can

read more about this technology. And also how you can

contribute to this debate. Scores of young people,

who could be the business leaders of the future, have been attending

the first of a series The camps are designed to teach some

of the skills needed to run They're being aimed a 11 to

16`year`olds, and our business correspondent, Peter Plisner,

has been along to find out more. You can use the marshmallows to

connect the sticks together. The Spaghetti Tower,

a team building exercise on the first day of a week`long course

for budding young entrepreneurs. Although school's out

for the summer, these young people have opted to come back to learn

more about business and enterprise. I think it has been great fun. And

it is helping develop our cooperation skills.

If I had my own business, I would probably want to go into business to

stop robbers. and those in charge say it's

all about having a plan B. It is not an alternative to college

or university. It is giving them the skills to think about what they

could do in the future. They can become financially independent and

not rely on the bank of mum and dad. And to further whet their appetite

for business, local businesses Passion drives everything, and a lot

of hard work and commitment to ever you are trying to do.

According to the latest figures, the number of 18 to 24`year`olds

starting up businesses or going freelance rose by 97% last year.

With 26% of those surveyed saying they'd done

Interestingly, some 78% said they were looking to expand their

And here's one young man who's constantly expanding his business.

Tyge Ible is 15, and bakes cakes from his mum?s kitchen.

It is good, you are in charge and you don't take orders from other

people. You know what you want to do.

And that's what will hopefully drive other young people to do

the same and become the entrepreneurs of the future.

A rousing welcome home to the Black Country for Jodie Stimpson,

a double gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games.

Your detailed weather forecast to come shortly from Rebecca.

Thousands pack a park in Birmingham to celebrate Eid and the end

The Midlands has already won 16 medals at the Commonwealth Games

in Glasgow, and there are high hopes of another one tonight.

The Uttoxeter swimmer Adam Peaty won gold in the pool on Saturday.

This evening, he'll try to add a second medal to his collection.

Performing with the confidence of a man who's having the time

19`year`old Adam Peaty, from Uttoxeter, swam

an outstanding semi`final in the 50 metre breaststroke, to qualify

It is getting very competitive now. We all know each other. It is

getting very competitive but it is good at the same time, pushing you

forward. It is great. Peaty had already won a gold

in the 100 metres on Saturday night, Back home in Staffordshire today,

they were still reflecting on his So excited. So tearful. And the

atmosphere made it really. And when I knew he had won the gold medal, it

was the proudest moment of my life, and I will never ever forget it.

England are one of the favourites for gymnastics

gold, and Wolverhampton's Kristian Thomas has long been the backbone

He won a bronze in Melbourne eight years ago,

and England are leading the way on day one in the competition.

Two Birmingham athletes have given themselves a chance

Hannah England qualified for tomorrow's final of

the 1500 metres, while Tom Parsons is through to the high jump final on

Wednesday after clearing two metres twenty at his second attempt.

99 parks across the West Midlands were today awarded Green Flag

status, a Government`backed initiative which highlights the very

There are around 500 parks in our region, with most of them attracting

So there's clearly an appetite for park life.

But local councils are having to find innovative ways to maintain

Bob Hockenhull is in Dudley at a park which seems to be thriving.

Basically, through people power. Lots of people in the local area

decided not many people were using this park, and it was looking a bit

scruffy. They decided to do something by cleaning it up, and

have become very adept at obtaining grants which have been used to pay

for much`needed facilities. Buffery Park in

Dudley, vibrant once again. A few years ago, it was rundown

and underused. In disrepair, no one using the park,

no play area, no water games, The children, people here,

it didn't make them happy. They have worked to improve

the public space. Lobbying for grants to bring tennis

courts back into use The community

are really positive about the park. We have had more people on the

park than we have for many years. 365 parks across the wider

West Midlands now have friends The highest number outside London,

and it looks It is warned councils may not be

able to help fund parks at all. If the rate

of budget cuts continues. There is

a possibility that will happen. But I will fight

so this does not happen because parks are unbelievably

valuable to the community. There is a feeling across the

West Midlands that our parks are there for everybody

and everyone should enjoy them. Everybody feels,

if Government cuts mean there is less funding available, then we will

have to get together and assist At Canon Hill Park in Birmingham,

that regeneration has come in the It has cost half a million pounds,

and the company pays rent to the council and believes it will

boost visitor numbers. We are getting many generations of a

family, all playing, having great fun, anyone can win.

So, whether it is with private money or through volunteering,

park lovers are determined to keep the green lungs of their towns

This is an example of the innovation, this pavilion was lying

derelict, but the group decided to spruce it up. It is being used by

community groups paying rent, and that means the group has money which

they are ploughing back into sprucing up this park, so everybody

wins. 40,000 people came together

in Birmingham earlier today, for one of the biggest Eid

celebrations in the country. The event at Small Heath Park marked

the end of the Muslim holy month A celebration to end the long month

of fasting, organisers said this event at small fee part was the

biggest of its kind in the UK. With Ramadan over at sunrise, thousands

join together for morning prayers, and the fantastic weather encouraged

a record`breaking crowd to celebrate in the open air.

I will be surprised if anything like this in Europe where people come

together on this scale. We have mosques with small accommodations,

but 40,000 people coming together, I will be surprised if anybody else

beats this in Europe. These facilities are one of two in the

Islamic calendar. This comes at the end of a tough

Ramadan, very long and hot days of fasting. That calls for an extra big

submission with lots of fun and food. After so much sacrifice, it

was time to indulge. Eid means feast, and like Christmas,

gifts are exchanged, there is a big family meal. Many also wanted to

come together with the wider community to celebrate.

The atmosphere so far is buzzing, well done to the arrangements.

45,000 people from Somali background, Muslim, Arabic, people

from Canada are here who have flown over especially. It is wonderful.

As ever, the children are having the most fun.

It's not like school or Jewish and. Is this one of the best days of the

year? Yes. Happy Eid, everybody! `` like tuition.

Another hot and steamy one out there today.

It isn't a bad week to come. Today, 24 Celsius. As the British summer

Time goes, a few showers can be expected. We will see the sun at

times but as we head to the end the week, things will get a little more

unsettled. It is not feeling cold. Impaired to where we were this time

last week, with 30 Celsius, we are back to where we should be sent it

is feeling a little cooler. Plenty of clear skies overhead today which

allowed the sun to come out for a time. We have started to see the

cloud filling in at the end of the day. That cloud is with us overnight

and will keep some clear skies leading to missed developing. A

mostly dry night. Temperatures ranging between 11 and 14 Celsius.

We start tomorrow with a change. This weather front works its way

through. Bringing mostly cloud, some rain. Not a bad beginning to the

day. Plenty of sunshine through the morning. Temperatures are not

falling away too far overnight. In the afternoon, we will see the cloud

filling in. Temperatures up to 24 Celsius tomorrow. The cloud

continuing to thicken at the end of the day. Some rain. Then we will see

the cloud moving away overnight stop we will get some more clear spells

of a head which could lead to some mist and fog patches, cooling down a

little bit tomorrow night. Wednesday is an unsettled day. The sun will be

out in the morning but then we will see showers. Temperatures will

tumble. The winds will pick up. Starting to be more unsettled after

a scorching July. By August, I am afraid we have rain in the forecast.

Typical! After brief lull in hostilities,

there's more agony in Gaza as a hospital and

a children's playground are hit. And a rousing welcome home to the

Black Country for Jodie Stimpson, a double gold medallist

at the Commonwealth Games. I'll be back at ten o'clock

with your latest update. I leave the ashram, travel halfway

across the world to find my father, Oh, well. As Vashrati says,

gotta keep smiling! We don't tend to use the bathroom

together here. All right, well,

I'll catch you later. This ashram of yours,

it might be a cult. I take it back,

he's definitely Cuckoo's son.