29/03/2017 Midlands Today

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight:

Not just jam tomorrow - businesses call for more investment

in the region to offset the impact of Brexit.

This is one of the places that could benefit. There have been calls for

more expansion here to help boost our exploits. -- exports.

Also tonight, Prince William opens a new remembrance centre

in Staffordshire and pays tribute to the officer killed

Staying safe by the sea - a hundred thousand schoolchildren

to get lessons from lifeboat staff, following the drowning

If we can help them before they even go into the water,

to give them the knowledge of what they need to do,

then we're in a better position straightaway.

How flamingos standing on one leg inspired a designer

And if today's cloud didn't grab you, I'm sure

It could turn out to be the warmest day of the year so far.

The formal process of the UK leaving the EU has begun.

Here in the Midlands, the majority voted in favour of leaving

But some protestors took to the streets today

to call for a softer approach to negotiations in the months

to come and to encourage all those who voted to remain

to make sure their concerns are heard.

The Prime Minister said there was no turning back,

and already in Coventry, people say they're

I feel the decisions being made aren't in the best

I feel this is all just going to go south because we have no plan.

It's just took so long, they've been messing about so long.

This could have been done within a couple

The opinion was good at the beginning, but after a while

I was voting against the campaign and

hoped that we, as British citizens, would not have been deceived

But now that it's happened, I don't know what to expect.

Business leaders have begun the push for more investment

in infrastructure across the region, to make sure they can compete once

Since the referendum vote last year, there have been mixed fortunes,

with some firms winning new contracts, while others have

Here's our business correspondent, Peter Plisner.

A recipe for success or a disaster for the economy?

Views on Brexit are still mixed and so is the picture on the ground.

At this Walsall cake maker, they've seen a big boost

They've gained a bigger slice of the market because of changes

in exchange rates and the weaker pound, it's made their products

We're extending that right towards the end.

This whole warehouse is going to be shifted out into the car park.

They're now so busy that they've bought forward plans to build

a new production line as retailers turn to UK suppliers.

It's caused a lot of uncertainty, especially when the pound weakened,

that majorly impacted on the whole supply chain.

So they needed to turn to UK manufacturers for this reason,

but also the other uncertainty as well with imported goods,

any tariffs that may be implicated in that process.

But not all companies are feeling a Brexit boost.

At this south Birmingham advanced engineering firm,

they've noticed a drop off in sales since the referendum last year.

But not only that, some of the foreign firms they work

for appear to have pressed the pause button when it comes

And that, according to management, has meant laying off some contract

staff and trying harder to find new work.

We've gone from about a one in five enquiry to sales conversion

What we've had to really do is put our foot down on the gas

to get a lot more enquiries to get the conversions.

But despite Brexit concerns, experts maintain that the Midlands

Actually, the West Midlands economy seems to be out performing

the national economy and, again, we're faced

The region would be really looking at more infrastructure expenditure,

particularly into the road and rail infrastructure,

Like it or loathe it, Brexit is here to stay

and the business as usual attitude appears to paying dividends.

And Peter Plisner joins us from Birmingham Airport now,

which is one of the areas hoping to benefit from Brexit.

So an important date in the political calendar, Peter,

but has anything changed on the ground?

Not a lot, business as usual here at Birmingham Airport which could

benefit from those calls for more investment, in a transport in

production, to help boost our exports. With me is the regional

chairman of Coopers, what difference will people notice from today? No

change from today other than the covered already about the process

has started. What's important is now this is the opportunity for us to

start planning at a business level and what we take opportunities from

across the Midlands economy. How can we take advantage of the Brexit

move? For the Midlands economy, it's important to recognise that we've

got to be balanced the economy, we've got heavy industrial

manufacturing presence, but one of the only cities outside the UK with

10,000 people employed in banking, our university sector is strong with

significant exports, it is up to us to seize the opportunity that the

combined authority and the mayoral election brings us to continue to

invest in the region. What about jobs? We have seen two companies,

one likely to create jobs as a result of Brexit and one losing

jobs. Inevitably, there will be winners and losers, with that

uncertainty. The middle of the economy since 2010, nearly 500,000

jobs created, with the Midlands engine and announcements, nearly 10

billion of infrastructure, prospect of 300,000 jobs being treated over

that period, while certain industries will face challenges, the

opportunity is to look more likely a field for opportunities. The

starting gun has been fired. What businesses hear what is the best

deal possible that the Government can negotiate. Peter, thank you for

that. And there's more analysis

of what this means for the region, from our political editor

Patrick Burns on his blog, as well as on the Sunday Politics

this weekend at 11 o'clock. Two people have been arrested

by West Midlands Police on suspicion A 21-year-old man and a 23-year-old

woman were arrested in Birmingham. Police are currently searching six

properties in the city. Five homes and one business address

as part of their Counter Officers say today's arrests are not

connected in any way Parts of the Midlands came

to a standstill today, to mark the terror attack

at Westminster, in which four people Tributes were held in Birmingham

and at Coventry Cathedral. A 30-year-old man arrested

in Birmingham in connection with the attack remains in custody,

a 58-year-old was released today. Here's our special

correspondent Peter Wilson. No grand bridge, no

vaulting Cathedral here. Taxi drivers standing

next to civic leaders. We will stand united

against tyranny, against oppression, On the skyline,

a mosque and a church. The reality is that in Birmingham

we are all British Brummies. All of the other labels

come after that. There is one important

community in Birmingham Some knew first-hand

about terrorism, a racist planted a nail bomb at a mosque

a few years ago. I think the tree is a great

symbol of unity in itself, as the trunk of three,

we are one as a nation, -- tree, as citizens,

and as a community. Last week, one man who'd lived

for a short time in Birmingham brought havoc to the streets

of London, taking These people who perpetrate these

evil crimes wish to split us and by having everybody here today

shows they are losing. In terms of PC Palmer, our thoughts

with his family and all the victims. For children, the events of this

past week can be hard to understand, To show our community and our

country how we help and we care about each of them. A minute 's

silence shared with many across the country.

Another tribute was paid to the victims of the

Westminster Terror attack, at the National Memorial Aboretum

Prince William laid a wreath at the police memorial garden

The Duke of Cambridge also opened a new Remembrance centre.

A warning, Liz Copper's report does contain some flash photography.

The Arboretum is a place where dedication to duty is honoured.

And a week on from the attack at Westminster, Prince William laid

flowers in tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who lost his life

The message on the wreath read, "Your legacy is our way

For a member of the Royal family to come and want to lay a

wreath for policing, to remember that a police officer

has given his life to protect the people in this

country is important to everybody who works in policing.

The Duke of Cambridge is patron of the appeal,

which funded the ?15.7 million new centre.

Earlier, he met children from All Saints Primary School.

He asked us if we had been to the Arboretum

before and I have been to

the Arboretum before a few times with my gramps,

because my gramps has got dementia and I think

it's a really nice place for him to come.

I think it's special because it commemorates so many people and

so many amazing people that have helped the country.

I said that the Arboretum is great because it helps

people remember what those people did for us.

Not a lot of people realise what the war was really like

and we need places like this for people to come and learn

The new facilities will enable more children to visit

and take part in the educational activities here.

This is a place for all generations to gather and reflect.

The Duke also met veterans from each of the Armed Forces in the

Arboretum's newly built Heroes Square.

It's just such a nice, beautiful place.

It's just nice to come and reflect and remember

the ship masons who are no longer with us.

Our dead were buried at sea, so there is

no lasting memorial for someone to go to.

So this place provides a very fundamental place.

Every day of the year, in public and in private,

And as it continues to grow, this remains a place to seek solace

Telford's accident and emergency department could close overnight,

A report going to the NHS board which runs hospitals

in Shrewsbury and Telford, suggests they should start

drawing up plans now, to deal with serious staffing

shortages and a continuing recruitment problem.

Our health correspondent Michele Paduano is in Telford for us now.

They are saying that if you are an A E consultant this county needs

you. Simon is the chief executive of this hospital and services at a back

door closure of the A E departments, they have no choice. We

have been trying to recruit two consultants for some time without

any success. I am joined by Sian Davies, from the Telford Council,

the have been fighting this decision for the best part of ten years, the

closure of A E. What do you have to say? This as an NHS in crisis.

It's not just about A E, the children's unit, the midwife unit,

only a few months ago they couldn't afford to put some are designed to

be word. The NHS is in crisis in Shropshire and the Health Secretary

needs to intervene immediately, or his deputy, the deputy Home

Secretary for health. If you are in crisis, there is a funding shortfall

and the Royal College says you have two man accident and emergency

department with consultants 24 hours a day, don't you have to make those

decisions? The NHS is in crisis and what we need is urgent action. It

has been demonstrated in shops that it is underfunded as a health

economy, we need money and resources and we need the help secretary to

take a personal interest in this. What you intend to do now? Rally our

residents, put pressure on Health Secretary to intervene now. Clearly,

the clock is ticking, six months to take this decision, but there are

some out there are concerned that given the stress this system is

under, it might happen before you. -- happen before then.

The Welsh coast is a popular holiday destination for many Midlanders,

but its waters also pose a potential danger.

More than 100,000 schoolchildren are to be given water

safety advice around Birmingham this year.

It follows the death of two teenage boys from the city,

who died off the coast of Wales last summer.

Today two of the lifeboat crew who went to search for them,

Waseem Muflahi and Yahye Omar Mohamed -

Waseem Muflahi and Yahye Omar Mohamed - friends who drowned

during their first ever swim in the sea.

When you look at a surf break, you'll see the waves breaking

and then the current will be going out either side.

Today at Waseem's school, lifeboat staff from Barmouth

involved in the search for the teenagers last

August came to deliver an important safety message.

We help people by going out to sea to rescue people.

If we can help them before they even go into the water,

to give them the knowledge of what they need to do, then we're

Like Yahye and Waseem, many young people from Birmingham

travel to the Welsh coastline, not sufficiently aware

Birmingham City Council wants every school pupil to have a lesson

in safety around water before the summer holidays.

There was an 11% increase in lifeboat launches off

That's why these lessons in sea safety are so timely.

To be honest, it helped me really, like, a lot, because before that,

you know like the rip current, saying that

It happened to me once and I went against it.

I've never been caught in any danger in water,

But I feel like what I've learned, it's easy to escape danger.

The dangers of riptides is a lesson these pupils are particularly keen

to learn after the loss of a friend who is sorely missed.

Throughout the course of this year, we have mourned that death,

and as a community it's brought us together to raise awareness

Nearly 200 schools have so far signed up to have the safety

lessons, hopefully helping to prevent anymore

The families of some of the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings

travelled to Westminster today, to hear the Labour MP

Andy Burnham introduce a ten minute bill,

which would make it a criminal offence for members of a public body

to cover up wrongdoing within their organisation.

It would also give families the same resources as public bodies,

to pay for legal representation at inquests.

A pedestrian hit and killed by a stolen car, after a police

The family of 45-year-old Dil Bahadur Subedi say

he was a "well respected son, husband and father".

He died at Belgrave Middleway in Birmingham on Sunday night,

as police pursued a green Ford Mondeo.

The car was later found abandoned in Northfield.

Police are still looking for the driver.

BMW workers from the Hams hall engine plant in Warwickshire,

have travelled to Germany to hand in a petition at the

Earlier this month they held a protest outside

the Midlands factory, over plans to close their final

A ballot about whether staff are in favour of taking industrial

action closes at the end of this month.

The pension changes are due to take place in May.

Thanks for joining us on Midlands Today, this

is our top story tonight: Not just jam tomorrow -

businesses call for more investment in the region to offset

And sweep away the cloud and rain, add a spot of sunshine

and a southerly and we'll be on course tomorrow for the warmest

And why buying this piece of land in Staffordshire could prevent

lapwings and snipe from dying out in the county.

Now, they say there's no such thing as a free lunch,

but what about if you've rescued most of the ingredients

The charity, Fareshare, has been doing that in Birmingham

for the past ten years, taking what supermarkets

would otherwise discard and giving it to community groups.

In that time they reckon they've saved enough for ten million meals

but that's still only a small percentage of perfectly good food,

Look at all this food in a warehouse in Birmingham.

Donated by supermarkets and manufacturers who would

Reasons include over production or it may have a short shelf life.

The charity Fareshare West Midlands gives it to groups, including

domestic violence refuges and children's breakfast clubs.

I love my job, absolutely love my job.

It just gives me such a good feeling to know that we've helped

And it's a fundamental of life, it's food.

270,000 tonnes of food is wasted by shops and manufacturers every year.

That's enough to provide 650 million meals.

The Birmingham Support Group is one of 150 in the West

And this is what they'll use the food for.

We take it up to a soup kitchen on Albert Street, every Wednesday,

and we distribute it to the homeless and the needy.

Next to load up, The Brasshouse, which provides services

Over in Smethwick, the workers waste no time in turning food that

would have been wasted into nutritious meals.

I've made a chicken and mushroom curry with rice and we feed

So anyone in need of a meal and anyone in our area is welcome

We have lots of families, lots of different cultures.

The charity makes free lunches on Fridays.

Today's an extra because the FareShare warehouse is

He's had a spell of being homeless, but now lives in a flat in Oldbury.

It's OK coming to these services and meet friends and have a chat.

For people like Tony, the mountain of food saved

Wildlife experts are warning that some species of wetland birds

are in danger of dying out in Staffordshire.

In decline, are numbers of lapwing, curlews and snipe.

Now, the local wildlife trust is hoping to raise the ?50,000

it still needs to buy a piece of land,

where the birds have traditionally nested.

Look at this stunning area of Wetland.

I'm in the Staffordshire merlins and the Staffordshire wildlife trust is

hoping to buy this piece of land to save endangered species of birds.

Joining me is John from the Staffordshire wildlife trust. Why is

this land so important? This piece of land is important because

historically it used to support lapwing, curlew and snipe, all three

species we are looking to concerned in this area and it sits between the

roaches and Blackbrook nature reserves, two of kind nature

reserves so it is perfectly positioned. What is special about

this land? It is special not as because it supports those three

species bid because those three species are suffering locally and

lapwing and curlew are globally threatened. Snipe, in this area,

have suffered and 89% decline since 1985. That's why it's so special, it

can support all three species. I can hear some birds, can't see any right

now. What can you hear? I can hear some curlew, we are doing better

display, ready for breeding. How much do you need to be used to

secure this land? Currently we have ?60,000 we have already raised, we

need to raise at least another ?50,000 to secure the land. John

from the Staffordshire wildlife trust, thank you. The trust hopes to

raise the funds by the end of this year.

And staying with the bird theme, what links a flamingo to a new pair

A Birmingham designer has created stilettos which she says

are so comfortable they can be worn for

And it all began by watching how flamingoes balance on one leg.

As Laura May McMullan reports, the business idea is now helping

As far as flamingos go, they'll happily stand comfortably

And for Shaherazad Umbreen from Birmingham, she wanted the same

I'm really passionate about flamingos and if they can

stand with poise, grace and elegance, I wanted a way

It's all about body weight distribution

I just love the intricacy and I can't believe that design

By day, she's a successful marketing manager.

But for the last three years, she's managed to research and design

the shoes herself with the help of University College Birmingham.

And then have them moulded and produced in the jewellery quarter.

The design for this was from technology today

and we use an old technology to produce from it.

It's really important for me to use traditional craftsmanship.

I wanted really high quality, I wanted to know the product

was going to last, that people were going to be

So it had to be Birmingham and it had to be the jewellery quarter.

So what's important to us ladies, style or comfort?

Heels are for occasion wear only, as far as I'm concerned.

I hardly ever wear them cos they're really uncomfortable, but it'll just

Don't wear high heels because they really hurt the balls

of my feet and I've got two children and I can't run

If you wear high heels for a very long period of time,

prolonged periods throughout the day and for months,

then that can cause physical changes in the foot.

But Shaherazad hoping for a change in all that.

Her ethos is - wear good heels and do good deeds.

Profits from every pair go to helping women's projects in some

But at ?250 a pair, they're not cheap.

If you think that's a little steep, she's now working on a diamond

Now more on the rise in temperatures tomorrow,

Not quite a scorcher, but much warmer. All we need is sunshine and

a southerly breeze. We lacked that today. These are the scenes across

much of the region, cloudy skies, rain as well. For some parts of the

region, if you were lucky enough, you got brightness and sunshine. In

Coventry, that worked quite well for the temperatures, highs of 15

Celsius, the warmest spot in the region. However, the temperatures

are going to be rising quite high tomorrow. That is down to eat slight

adjustment in the wind direction from the south westerly breeze we

had today to a southerly breeze tomorrow, sucking up the warm air

from a near continent. We are on course for the warmest day of the

year so far, that will be tomorrow with highs between 16 and 18

Celsius. This evening and tonight, feeling the effects of that warmer

air as early on as tonight. A lot of cloud across, like outbreaks of

rain, those will die away later on tonight during the early hours. Dry

air into the end of the night and temperatures down to about 11 or 10

Celsius. Very warm, very mild. That is our starting point for tomorrow.

Seeing those temperatures lead up to 16 or 18 Celsius tomorrow. 18 across

the south-west once this early morning rain clears the way. We are

left with sunnier skies. A dry end to the day and we will see those

winds coming in at a moderate speed of around ten to 15 mph. A

noticeable breeze but the air will be warmer. Further ahead, low

pressure dominating which will allow for frontal systems depletion from

off the Atlantic. Ridges of high pressure in between those fronts,

dry weather, it showers as well. Servers will occur tomorrow night

and we will see more for a public first on Saturday. Those could be on

the hefty side. Some cloud, sunnier spells on Friday, top temperatures

of 15 to 16 Celsius. Still quite good but 13 bytes Saturday.

And on tomorrow's Midlands Today, we're finding out how a high-tech

We go behind the scenes at South Staffordshire

water as they unveil their water treatment plant.

That's all from us for now, I'll be back with your next news

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