23/11/2017 Midlands Today

That's all from the BBC News at Six.

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today.

The headlines tonight:

Ending centuries of tradition,

Aga workers leave their Shropshire

foundry for the last time.

A lot of history, personal history

there. It was quite upsetting to

close the gates for the last time.

We'll be reporting live

from Coalbrookdale which has been

described as the cradle

of the industrial revolution.

Also tonight:

A shocking rise in rape

and sexual assaults

in Staffordshire: cases recorded

by the police have more

than tripled in five years.

These statistics have gone through

the ceiling, I really understand

that. But it is because people can

now voice an opinion and say this is

what has happened to me.

The busy

Christmas period approaches, what is

causing the traffic in Birmingham?

causing the traffic in Birmingham?

In demand with pop stars

and footballers - portraits of music

icons made by breaking

up old records.

And nothing particularly

recording breaking

about the weather today,

but standby for something chillier

for the next few days,

we may even get a dusting

of snow for some.

More details later on.

Good evening.

A slice of the region's

heritage has been confined

to the history books today.

After three centuries

of making cast iron there,

a foundry in Coalbrookdale

in Shropshire finally

ended production.

Cast iron production began

on the site when Abraham Darby

opened a factory there in 1709.

Aga's been making parts

for its ovens there since 1946,

but the company's American owner

says it's no longer cost effective.

At its height, over 600 workers

were employed on the site.

Joanne Writtle reports.

Some of the final workers

leave Aga foundry

in Coalbrookdale signalling

an end to 300 years

of cast-iron production here.

They hang up their boots to mark

the end of their working days here.

I have been here 31

years, end of an era.

I thought I would go out

of here on the day that I retired.

Unfortunately, I'm not.

Glyn Baker had clocked up 40 years

and was greeted by his parents Irene

and Dennis who once also worked

at the foundry.

Like so many families once

did in Coalbrookdale.

After emotional goodbyes,

they reminisced over a cup of tea.

Very emotional.

It got a lot of history,

personal history there.

It was quite upsetting coming out

of the gates for the last time.

His father, Dennis, and mother,

Irene, worked for years

at the factory, too,

but today with therefore their son.

Very, very touching really.

I mean, he put his heart

and soul into his job.

I can't ever remember him

losing any time from work

there and the atmosphere

in the founding was tremendous.

On our estate alone,

I reckoned up last night that

families on that estate worked

at the foundry.

Until today, around 40

people worked here,

but decades ago there were 600.

Among them, Graham Hickman.

He was made redundant in 2005,

but came back today to say goodbye.

Well, just to say goodbye

to the lads who have clocked up

between them, 42 of them, they have

clocked up 907 years service.

They have shown a great deal

of loyalty to the foundry.

Many generations of their families

before worked here.

I think it is a fitting tribute

that somebody should

turn up and say goodbye.

AGA range master declined our

repeated requests for an interview,

that told us that the decision

to close the foundry here had

been a difficult one.

The company said it would also

like to thank the remaining workers

for helping to wind things down.

Later this afternoon,

members of the community came

out to say farewell.

The end of a foundry first used

by Abraham Darby in 1709.

And Joanne joins us

from Coalbrookdale now.

This really is a sad

day for everyone

in that part of Shropshire.

It has been a very poignant day, all

day people have been turning up here

to take pictures of the dates

covered in -- dates covered in the

work of's boots and one local

councillors at the closure would

really change the face of the

community here in many ways.

Obviously, there's not as many

people now that work here.

At one time, everyone

who lived in all the houses

around here would have worked here.

Obviously that has changed

across the years, now it is more

about losing that rhythm.

The foundry, it makes

noises, things that happen

regularly at certain times,

there is a rhythm to it

that we all get used to.

I guess that has stopped now

so that it is a change.

Wondering what will happen

with the buildings and

the site and future use.

In now mulling work will continue at

the Aga factory a few miles ago in

Catley in Telford where 190 people

work, but casting will now move to

other parts of the UK and also

overseas. The company, Aga range

master say that they will retain the

long-term future of the Aga brand.

Staffordshire Police say over

the last five years they've seen

a three-fold increase in the number

of rapes and serious sexual

offences being reported.

They say officers are dealing

with an unprecendented

number of complaints -

some of them dating back many years.

Charities are also affected

by growing numbers of

people coming forward.

Here's our Staffordshire

reporter, Liz Copper.

Michel Joy is a survivor.

She's experienced

more than 40 years of

sexual violence.

She's waived her right

to anonymity to speak about

the effects.

The most amazing experience

for me was to learn that

I wasn't guilty.

It wasn't a dirty secret.

I was allowed to speak about it.

I'm learning that I'm a human

being and I have rights.

And I have choices, too,

which is incredible

for me.

This helpline is run by the charity

Savanna in Stoke on Trent.

It seen a significant

rise in referrals.

We offer emotional support

and one-to-one counselling

and we also offer practical support.

It's an advocacy role, independent

sexual violence advisors, we have

three of those here.

They support anybody that

wishes to report to the

police.

Staffordshire police now deal

with an average of seven reports of

rape and serious sexual

offences every day.

80% of complainants are female

and 80% are under 30 years old.

These are cases that

may date back and these

often will be people

who have

not felt confident to come

forward previously.

Perhaps they have not had

the trust in the criminal

justice system or the police to come

forward and take that step of coming

to a police station and speaking

to a police officer

about what they have experience.

That is a pattern also

being recognised by survivors.

I know the crime rate,

the statistics have gone through the

ceiling, I will you understand that.

It is because people can now voice

an opinion and say this is what has

happened to me and not hide

so much from everybody.

Stand up and be counted.

Charities and other organisations

offering counselling

services are showing growing numbers

of complainants coming forward.

The effects will be

felt across the whole

criminal justice system.

West Midlands Police have

released shocking images

of an elderly man who was attacked

at his home in Sutton Coldfield.

A warning, you may find the picture

you're about to see disturbing.

87-year-old Arthur

Gumbley was viciously

beaten and robbed in his home

on Tuesday night.

He was found lying on the floor -

he'd been punched and kicked.

The thieves ransacked

the house and stole cash.

Officers are looking for two men

in connection with the attack.

A toddler has died

after being injured

at a house in Birmingham.

Emergency services were called

to an address in Northfield

on Sunday afternoon,

following reports that

a 21-month-old girl was unconscious.

She was taken to Birmingham

Children s Hospital in a critical

condition, but pronounced

dead last night.

A 28-year-old man and a 30-year-old

woman have been arrested

on suspicion of causing or allowing

serious injury to a child.

Plans for the West

Midlands Mayor to take

on responsibility for policing

in 2020 have been announced as part

of second devolution deal

in yesterday's budget.

The move would see the role

of Police and Crime

commissioner scrapped.

The current Commissioner David

Jamieson and Midlands Metro Mayor

Andy Street are both due

to complete their

respective terms in 2020.

Doctors have raised serious concerns

about the takeover of two

mental health organisations

across the Black Country

by Birmingham-based

Community Healthcare.

They feel that the management

of the new organisation is currently

unacceptable and it'd have an impact

on the safe delivery of services.

Here's our health correspondent,

Michele Paduano.

Embroidery one of the is ways

Frida Griffiths copes

with the depression that

ended her career as a policewoman.

She now worries for patients

about a takeover being stitched

together behind closed doors.

Birmingham community health

care trust, which is not

a mental health trust,

is to take over the Black Country

partnership to cover Sandwell

and Wolverhampton and the Dudley

and Warsaw mental health

partnership, creating one

of the largest mental health trusts

in the country.

An illness, it takes

quite a lot of time,

patience, compassion.

I know that applies to all elements,

but especially with mental health

and if they haven't got any

expertise in doing any

of that sort of thing,

how are they going to organise

an efficient mental health service?

Mental health doctors across Dudley

and Walsall have written

that they have serious concerns

about medics being sidelined.

They said...

We showed the letter to the former

chief executive of the Black Country

partnership uses her colleagues

also have qualms.

There seems to be concerns around

the lack of knowledge around mental

health services and how

they are being run and

the proposals for the future.

There are worries to about finance,

Bloxwich hospital treats frail,

elderly mental health patients.

Doctors are worried that £8 million

set aside to replace this facility

with a building in Walsall

and a further £5 million

to refurbish wards in Dudley

could be swallowed up by debts

in the group elsewhere.

Dudley and Walsall managers say

all three wards are committed

to replacing this facility.

Birmingham community health care

which runs the dental Hospital

and services for the elderly says

there will be no negative impacts

for safety and quality, keeping

users save is their first priority.

Robust processes which make it

a high processing organisation

will be adapted and enhanced.

Thanks for joining us

here on Midlands Today this evening.

Our top story, ending centuries

of tradition in the cradle

of the industrial revolution,

Aga workers have left

their Shropshire foundry

for the last time.

Stand by for Beccy's

weather forecast later -

it's looking a bit

chilly as we head for the weekend.

Also this evening, remembering

a little known pioneer

of the motor industry,

who invented the first all-British

four-wheel drive car.

And there's no stopping

the rampant Wolves,

whacking four past Leeds last night

to increase their lead at the top

of the Championship.

Getting around a city centre is hard

enough these days, but

in Birmingham drivers are having

to contend with increasing

levels of congestion.

Some roads have been gridlocked

because of roadworks at several

major junctions and,

with Christmas approaching,

things are expected to get worse.

Our Transport Correspondent,

Peter Plisner has been

monitoring the roads today.

First come the cones,

then the congestion.

These roadworks ironically designed

to ease the jams appear to be

doing the exact opposite.

This is the sort of gridlock that

many drivers have been complaining

about when this roundabout fills up

with traffic, congestion,

spreads out around the city centre.

More roadworks nearby,

this time part of the continuing

development of the city.

Here, they're making space

with a new Metro tram line.

In the city's traffic control

centre, they have a bird's eye view

of what is going on in the message

from here is do not

drive into Birmingham.

Yes, works are taking

place and while they are,

everybody's key priority should be

trying to find other forms

of transport other than private cars

to get in and around Birmingham.

Today wasn't a good day

for public transport either.

A signal failure at New Street

Station meant three platforms

couldn't be used during this

morning's rush hour.

The congestion on the roads means

bus companies are struggling to keep

to their timetables.

This firm specialising in school

buses has certainly noticed

the increasing hold-ups.

Our services are having

to start earlier.

We are having to get more buses

on the road and our team

of controllers are having

to constantly be looking at the GPS

to make sure our services

are running more less to schedule.

Him

Where does it all leave mayor

Andy Street's campaign pledge

to deal with congestion?

I'm disappointed in

the short-term, of course I am.

That doesn't mean I'm disappointed

that these pieces of work are done

because they are both solutions

to that, whether it be the Metro

work around Paradise or whether it

be the improvement to Holloway head

junction which has long been called

out as a problem and I'm very

pleased that the roadworks

are being done to

improve that in time.

The good news is that

some roadworks including

here at Birmingham's Holloway Circus

will be lifted from mid-December

to help keep the traffic

moving over Christmas.

Be warned, they'll be

back in the New Year.

And Peter joins us now

from Birmingham city centre.

What's it's looking like tonight,

Peter, where you are?

on the roundabout itself seems OK

tonight but as you can see approach

roads are still heavily congested.

What people are noticing is that the

rush-hour seems to be going on a bit

longer in the evening, normally

about half past four to about six

o'clock, now what it is going to

about half past six or perhaps at

seven o'clock. Work traffic is

mixing with leisure traffic, we are

getting gridlock sometimes in the

evening as well.

Why exactly are they carrying out

these works so close to Christmas?

It is the obvious question, but

according to the City Council, this

work had to be done in this time

slot. They couldn't do in the summer

because they were doing work out on

the Ring road and they can't do next

summer because some of the

preparatory age is to work is being

done. This is a big scheme, it means

that other things are queueing to be

done. They are lifting these

roadworks for Christmas, that is

good.

Any indication of what the impact

has been on businesses in the area?

Businesses certainly have been

saying that they are losing trade

because people are not coming into

the city centre in their cars, what

we have seen, I have spoken to one

takeaway food restaurant today, they

say that they have lost money, they

say that they are taking longer to

make their deliveries, having to

take on more staff and they are

thinking of moving to a mopeds

-based system so that they can

actually get through the traffic.

Those are the measures that some are

taking. It is not good for business,

it has to be said.

I'm sure those of a certain

age will remember

Lanchester cars, they were up

there with Rolls Royce as some

of the most exciting and beautiful

early models to take to the road.

But their inventor,

Frederick Lanchester,

is little known these days.

Now a permanent exhibition

celebrating his life has been opened

at Coventry University.

Frederick Lanchester was responsible

for more than 400 patents

and invented the first all British

four wheel drive car.

His cars are also featured

in the popular BBC

drama Peaky Blinders.

Here's Kevin Reide.

Lanchester cars were familiar

on the roads nearly a century ago.

Now the life works

in their designer Federer

--Frederick

Lanchester are being celebrated

in Coventry University.

This micro museum shows

much of his pioneering

designs, such as the first petrol

electric hybrid vehicle,

the first completely British built

car and many other

things.

He filed over 400

patent in his life.

People called him the UK's

Leonardo da Vinci.

He was such a genius.

His car company was originally

founded in Birmingham and

was featured in the Birmingham-set

drama Peaky Blinders.

But the company eventually

moved to Coventry,

where this 1953 model

was

one of the last to be built.

It's owned by collector

and author Chris

Clark who has nine of his cars.

I had my first Lanchester

at the age of 14.

It was full of mice and cobwebs

and my aim in all of this is

to make people aware

of this British genius.

His name should be up there

in lights with Stephenson and Brunel

and Watts.

His name and indeed his legacy lives

on in his cars, but it

is a little-known fact that he was

also a pioneer of aviation.

He designed this

aeroplane seven years

before the Wright

brothers first flight,

but because he lacked

a

formal education,

nobody would back it.

Now more than 100

years on, an aerospace

Now more than 100 years on,

an aerospace graduate has studied

the design in detail.

And created virtual reality

which shows it could have flown.

In the field of aerospace

and aerodynamics in

general, he is massively

underappreciated and maybe one

day his name will actually be

remembered and renowned, not just

not just in Britain,

but across the world.

Coventry University began life

as the Lanchester Polytechnic

in a nod to Fred, but the name

was dropped in 1990 due to confusion

over location.

It is hoped this micro

museum will bring him

recognition once more.

Football and, after

last night's action,

Wolves are now four points clear

at the top of the Championship.

They thumped Leeds 4-1,

with the goals coming

from four different players.

It was their biggest

home win of the season,

but it was a very different story

for struggling Birmingham City who

went down 2-0 at Middlesbrough.

Dan Pallett reports.

And on the menu last night

was another feast of football -

topped of with a large

dollop of goals.

And this wasn't stodge.

Wolves are playing

some sumptious stuff.

Barry Douglas served up a tasty

starter with this free kick.

The main courses were even better.

Ivan Cavaleiro finished

off a flowing move with

this excellent finish.

And although Leeds scored

a fine goal of their own

through Ezgjan Alioski,

the game quickly swung

back in Wolves favour

after Ronaldo Vieira was sent-off.

Diogo Jota showed a great pace

and composure for number three.

And dessert came

via the penalty spot.

Intense Wolves pressure

earned them a penalty.

And Helder Costa dispatched it

for a 4-1 win which moves

them four points clear.

From feast to famine.

Birmingham City have a worst away

record in the Championship.

And they've scored just three times

away from St Andrews.

So once Britt Assombalonga had put

Middlesbrough in front

at the Riverside, the result

was entirely predictable.

Things may have turned out

differently had Che Adams hit

the back of the net instead

of goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Assombalonga showed him how it's

done with his and Boro's second.

The consoaltion for Blues is that

remain just above the bottom three.

Well, one man who knows

all about scoring goals,

both for Wolves and Birmingham City,

is Peter Withe.

But he's more famously

known for his exploits

in an Aston Villa shirt -

having scored the goal that won

the European Cup for Villa in 1982.

His autobiography has just been

released and Dan Pallett

is with Peter now at a book

signing in the city centre.

Thank you, Nick. Peter, you have

many links to the Midlands, but you

are most famous for your time with

Aston Villa. We are about to look

back to the 1981 Charity Shield ways

scored twice at Wembley, have any

times a week get asked about those

glory days?

All the time to be

perfectly honest. It doesn't matter

where I am in the world, I still get

asked the questions. It is great

memories with regards... It was

funny because I was talking to a man

whom made his dead you in a Charity

Shield and I scored two goals

against him. If you look at what we

have achieved since 1980 right the

way up until 1983, it was the

nominal.

What we did. I bake you

don't mind those questions to look

back at the fond memories.

Yes. I

look now at the players of today and

they don't seem to communicate with

the public as much as what we

probably communicated. Whether they

have never been taught, we were just

always associated with supporters.

We got on with it. Let's talk about

the modern day, Villa, blues and

others are all championship sides.

I

have seen blues, I saw them against

Forest, another one against my old

teams. Very well done. I was

slightly disappointed with Forest,

the way they played. I think they

are playing very well at home, but

when they come away from home, they

can't seem to get results. Villa as

we know started this is awfully, and

everyone was calling for Steve

Bruce's head and I was saying don't

panic at this moment in time, it is

not one of those situations. I think

they need to string results

together, that is what they have

done. Now they are in the top four.

Going well.

Going very well. Put

together results, you've got the

lead quickly. I know, I have seen

them play and I have been very

impressed by the wolves, they have

played very well. Villa went there

with a run on and then lost, so it

is interesting. One of my old teams,

Sheffield United is doing well after

having troubles.

Fully immersed in

the game still. It doesn't hurt to

look back and reminisce every now

and again.

It would have been

sacrilege a few years ago,

but now a Staffordshire artist

is gaining worldwide fame

by breaking up old records to create

portraits of music icons.

Ben Riley's pictures are believed

to have been bought by the likes

of Pharell Williams,

Olly Murs and a number

of Premier League footballers.

This weekend, he'll be in Las Vegas

for his latest exhibition.

Ben Sidwell reports.

When it comes to breaking records,

Ben Riley from north Staffordshire

is in a different league.

I came up with this light

bulb moment, it had

what it takes because it is so

unique and different and there is no

one else in the world is doing it.

Ben's idea was to create portraits

of music icons using only bits of

old records.

No other materials are used

in the pictures, all the

intricate details are formed

using ground-up vinyl.

His work began to gain

notoriety on the Internet and

quickly demand grew.

From the village of boldly in north

Staffordshire to London, Los Angeles

and Las Vegas, Ben's

work is now being sold

in galleries around

the

world.

At Silver Star Gallery in Chester,

Ben is one of their most

popular artists.

Here, they've sold

over 50 of his works.

£1600 a portrait.

Each piece is unique

to itself, hence the price

tag on the pieces.

But they have been

massively popular.

Our customers really

do love them, as I do.

Ben is jetting off to Las Vegas for

his latest art show this weekend.

So to the weather and,

after a comparatively warmish day

or two, it's all rather downhill now

as we trundle towards the weekend.

Getting decidedly chilly, Beccy!

Getting decidedly chilly, Beccy!

As my dad would say, it is time to

get your coat out. For the boast of

is, it is basically a woolly jumper.

It cool trend. I want to take us

back to yesterday, a lively period

of weather. 55 mph. 11 o'clock last

night, temperatures were 12 or 13

Celsius, better got up to today was

just 10 Celsius. We really did start

to cool off. As we had through the

next few days, it will get even

cooler. Plenty of such an out and

about, winds are lighter. Lost three

showers through the day, heavy

downpours. The skies by the end of

the day looks like they were on

fire. A stunning end to the day for

many of us because things are

starting to cool down. Tomorrow will

be dry and bright, but certainly

starting to feel cooler. This is

why. A plunge of air directly from

the Arctic working its way down

across as, sinking its way

southwards. A cold night on the way

and maybe even some winter flakes.

Across the south of the region,

cloud will push its way through.

Further north, Midlands,

temperatures ranging between one and

five Celsius. A chilly start the

day, the winds are starting to ease

through the day and it is going to

start to get colder. We will start

off fine and dry with plenty of

sunshine. Watch the north Midlands

because through the Cheshire gap we

will see some showers coming down.

Colder air, we will start to see

something wintry. Temperatures

5-7dC. We will see that speed of

showers pushing its way through

during the overnight period. A very

cold night coming into Saturday.

Even in the centre of Birmingham, it

will be about 1 degrees. Those

showers are going to start as a

touch wintry. Parts of Staffordshire

and Shropshire will get eight

dusting of snow possibly. It will be

a chilly few days.

And that was the Midlands Today.

I'll be back at ten thirty

with your late update.

Have a good evening.

Bye for now.