:00:09. > :00:09.Good evening. on the BBC News Channel,
:00:10. > :00:12.Business leaders in Ludlow say a change in how business rates
:00:13. > :00:14.are calculated could damage the character of the town forever.
:00:15. > :00:18.A large number of the retailers in the Shropshire town are independent.
:00:19. > :00:22.From April, smaller shops will pay no business rates,
:00:23. > :00:24.but larger stores are facing increases, which they say
:00:25. > :00:27.could gradually force them out altogether.
:00:28. > :00:33.GD Ginger Antiques have been trading in Ludlow for 31 years.
:00:34. > :00:41.But over the road, at least three shops will pay nothing.
:00:42. > :00:43.It's a system which is totally unworkable.
:00:44. > :00:45.Everyone should pay a little, and they shouldn't expect the 40%
:00:46. > :00:51.of shops in Ludlow that are paying rates to subsidise this
:00:52. > :00:56.At the Queen's Pub, expansion plans are on hold,
:00:57. > :01:02.We've been informed that our rates are going to be increased 130%,
:01:03. > :01:07.We're a small pub in a small market town.
:01:08. > :01:13.I've looked at the business rates of every shop in town,
:01:14. > :01:19.and they're going up four times the national average.
:01:20. > :01:22.I don't quite know why that's so, but it's going to affect our
:01:23. > :01:26.The Department for Communities and Local Government says
:01:27. > :01:28.three quarters of properties will see no change, or even a fall
:01:29. > :01:32.The problem is that the quarter that do aren't spread
:01:33. > :01:35.Business leaders say they're worried, if independent shops close,
:01:36. > :01:39.the character of the town will be destroyed.
:01:40. > :01:42.The times I hear, as I walk down the street, "Oh, isn't it lovely?
:01:43. > :01:47.People are really valuing what a good high street is,
:01:48. > :01:49.because so many other towns have lost it.
:01:50. > :01:53.Traders will meet with their MP, Phillip Dunn, next week
:01:54. > :02:03.Police are appealing for information about a mother from Dudley who has
:02:04. > :02:08.Patricia Lashley, who is also known as Pat or Jade,
:02:09. > :02:11.was last seen at a flat in Hall Street in September 1998.
:02:12. > :02:15.She had seven children, and her eldest son has recently had
:02:16. > :02:21.a baby of his own who he'd like to introduce her to.
:02:22. > :02:23.A man has been rescued from the tower of Worcester Cathedral.
:02:24. > :02:27.Firefighters used specialist equipment to winch him the 80 feet
:02:28. > :02:31.down to safety after he fell during evensong yesterday.
:02:32. > :02:35.He was then taken to hospital for treatment.
:02:36. > :02:37.Five of the candidates hoping to become the next MP
:02:38. > :02:40.for Stoke-on-Trent Central went head to head in a live TV debate
:02:41. > :02:45.And the highest passions emerged when the discussion turned to local
:02:46. > :02:48.hospitals and the impact of Brexit on the ceramics industries.
:02:49. > :02:56.Today, the candidates gathered at Staffordshire University,
:02:57. > :03:02.knowing this was a key chance to try connect with voters.
:03:03. > :03:04.One of the biggest issues on the doorstep - the NHS.
:03:05. > :03:07.Jack very clearly forgets that it was the Tory Government
:03:08. > :03:09.for the last seven years that's been slashing our NHS,
:03:10. > :03:15.You pledged 1.3 billion less at the last election for our NHS
:03:16. > :03:20.I take no lessons off the Tory party about the NHS.
:03:21. > :03:23.The Labour Party created the NHS, and we clear up the mess every time,
:03:24. > :03:28.Ukip also under attack about privatisation of the NHS.
:03:29. > :03:32.We, as a party, had a debate between 2012 and 2014,
:03:33. > :03:36.and we fell upon the policy that the NHS should remain public
:03:37. > :03:40.We're the only party, by the way, who can say
:03:41. > :03:43.where the money will come from, because we will slash
:03:44. > :03:46.And firing up the debate throughout, one of the most
:03:47. > :03:49.used words of 2017 - Brexit.
:03:50. > :03:52.We're the only party that has a clear plan to deliver Brexit
:03:53. > :03:57.And I met with the Prime Minister only this week to discuss that,
:03:58. > :04:00.discuss that plan, and ensure that we're getting the best deal
:04:01. > :04:06.I'm fearing that if we leave the single market, there will be
:04:07. > :04:08.loss of manufacturing, loss of trade and there
:04:09. > :04:14.And I also fear the loss of research funds to local universities here.
:04:15. > :04:18.In the Brexit agreement, there's no mention of disabled people.
:04:19. > :04:22.A hard Brexit will damage the most vulnerable people.
:04:23. > :04:25.And in an area like Stoke, and I say this as a charity worker, that
:04:26. > :04:30.With today's battle over, candidates and their teams are well
:04:31. > :04:33.aware it's the final few days of the campaign that will be crucial
:04:34. > :04:42.And the for a full list of the ten candidates standing
:04:43. > :04:45.for the Stoke-on-Trent Central seat, go to the Politics pages
:04:46. > :04:49.Just one sports result to bring you this evening,
:04:50. > :04:52.and Wasps move five points clear at the top of the Aviva Premiership
:04:53. > :04:59.The match, which ended 35-35, was level at half-time,
:05:00. > :05:02.with 100% conversion rates from kickers Gareth Steenson
:05:03. > :05:10.Time to catch up with the weather now, here's Rebecca Wood.
:05:11. > :05:14.It's been a cold and grey day today, this was the scene
:05:15. > :05:16.pretty much everywhere, plenty of rain and a
:05:17. > :05:19.Slowly, heading through tonight, the last of those
:05:20. > :05:23.Possibly left with some mist over the tops of high ground.
:05:24. > :05:26.Starting to see things going away further south, but we'll keep that
:05:27. > :05:32.The breeze helping to keep us frost-free.
:05:33. > :05:35.Tomorrow, drier and brighter weather on the way.
:05:36. > :05:39.A chilly day, the biting, easterly wind affecting temperatures.
:05:40. > :05:41.But starting to brighten up through the day.
:05:42. > :05:46.It won't feel quite that mild with the biting, easterly wind,
:05:47. > :05:54.Midlands Today will be here with your late news
:05:55. > :06:17.Good evening, dull, grey, cold, miserable. And that's just me! The
:06:18. > :06:21.weather hasn't been great leader for most of us, it will be chilly out
:06:22. > :06:26.there with this nagging easterly breeze, wetter weather for Northern
:06:27. > :06:29.Ireland, by the end of the night most of the dampness across parts of
:06:30. > :06:35.Eastern Scotland and North East England, most of the high ground
:06:36. > :06:36.Luus will have faded away as well. But not warm, another chilly