23/10/2016 Midlands Today

Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.

Good evening.

The Liberal Democrat candid`te for West Midlands Mayor is calling

on the government to make Birmingham Airport the prefdrred

option for an additional runway

Today the Transport Secretary confirmed a decision will bd made

over airport expansion this coming week with Heathrow and Gatwhck seen

as the strongest contenders.

Amy Cole reports.

Conversations about adding `nother runway to Heathrow or Gatwick have

been flying around for a long time, but what about abandoning plans

for expansion in London and looking to Birmingham instead?

Would a second runway here `t Birmingham Airport really mdan

that London wouldn't need another one at all?

Managers here say it'll be Britain's first HS2 airport

in ten years' time.

They've expanded the terminal already,

with another ?100 million of improvements coming soon.

Now, they say, they have to fill it up.

It could handle twice the current 11 million

passengers a year.

So talk of a second, short runway for

regional airliners is a plan the Liberal Democrats are kden on.

If we heap everything onto Heathrow, they are already breaching the noise

and pollution emissions down there.

So I think we spread the wealth opportunity,

we spread the opportunity for this region,

which has been starved of investment for at least 30 xears.

Green campaigners think plans for a second runway should be dhtched.

The Liberal Democrats are aligning themselves

with big business, and so I don't think

they've consulted communities over this.

We are not in favour of HS2, which any airport

expansion here, any second runway, would be dependent upon.

But the Transport Secretary has much more expansive ideas about

Birmingham Airport's potenthal.

Birmingham Airport is already a really important connection

for this country to countrids like India, to the Middle E`st.

The arrival of HS2, the linkage we get for the new Birmingh`m

interchange station, is going to make a real

difference to this area.

And he's the one to watch.

He's announced a decision on airport expansion will be made on Ttesday.

Ludlow's maternity unit, which was suspended last wedk

amid concerns over the structural condition of the building,

will be back in full use early next month.

The Shrewsbury Telford Hospitals Trust says cracks

and mould in the building forced the closure.

It's apologised for any disruption caused.

Dozens of homes in Cheltenh`m remain without gas following damagd caused

to a pipe in the town.

Around 300 properties were affected by the disruption

in the Hesters Way Road are`, after a mains pipe was cracked

by another utility company.

Engineers from Wales and West Utilities are currdntly

working to drain water from the gas network.

An association honouring veterans who fought

in Burma during the Second World War, is to close.

The Birmingham branch of the Burma Star Association

was formed in 1952 and originally had 200 membdrs.

Now there's just six.

Our reporter Laura May McMullan went to see their Standard being

"laid up" for the final timd.

The 14th Army fights against the forces of Japan.

It was a battle that lasted nearly four years.

More than a million British troops fighting

the Japanese invasion of Burma.

Today in Birmingham, veterans who fought in the campaign

gathered at St Martin's church to mark the end of an era.

It was terrifying, really.

It was rather frightening because we were going down `

major peninsula, and to stop, to prevent the Japs coming behhnd us,

they blew up all the bridges.

I was 18, 19, 20 years of age.

You have no fear.

You have fellow servicemen, who you wouldn't let down,

and they wouldn't let you down.

The comradeship is tremendots.

The Burma Star Association hs one of the the oldest World War Two

veterans organisations in the country.

And now, more than 70 years on from the conflict,

for these ex-servicemen - this service will be the last.

My father was a Burma veter`n, and I just wish he could have

been here still today, but every time I've carried it,

he's been at my side.

These soldiers are often described as the "forgotten army".

This standard will now take a permanent place

to ensure their efforts are always remembered.

One rugby result to bring you and in the

European Champions Cup, Wasps scored a late try to draw

20-20 with Toulouse.

Finally, there's just a few hours left to get your

nomination in for the 2016 , Midlands Sporting Unsung Hero

We're looking for those inspirational characters

who get others into sport just for the love of it.

The details of how to nomin`te can be found on the BBC Sport

'Get Inspired' website.

Time for the weather.

Here's Lucy Martin.

Good evening.

Well, despite a slight falsd start this morning with plenty

in the way of low cloud, we did see some brightness `nd blue

skies through the afternoon.

As we move through this evening and overnight, we are largely dry.

We have got varying amounts of cloud, but we will see some clear

skies, and with those clear skies, temperatures will fall to a minimum

of between 6-8 Celsius.

As we move into the early hours we will start to see some cloud

creeping in from the south, that's thanks to a warm front that

will be with us through tomorrow morning, building

in with that cloud.

Just the chance of catching a light, patchy shower tomorrow,

but there will be some brightness in the mix.

Temperatures at a maximum of 12 Celsius, with just

a north-easterly breeze.

I'll leave you with the outlook temperatures creeping up

at the end of the week.

And that's all for now.

I'll be back with your next update at 10.20pm.

Until then, enjoy the rest of your evening.

Bye for now.