:00:07. > :00:10.Business leaders in Ludlow say they're worried the town's unique
:00:11. > :00:13.High Street could be lost, due to a national change in the way
:00:14. > :00:16.Some smaller shops will pay nothing from April -
:00:17. > :00:18.but others, including many independent retailers,
:00:19. > :00:29.GD Ginger Antiques have been trading in Ludlow for 31 years.
:00:30. > :00:35.But over the road, at least three shops will pay nothing.
:00:36. > :00:37.It's a system which is totally unworkable.
:00:38. > :00:42.Everyone should pay a little, and they shouldn't expect the 40%
:00:43. > :00:44.It's a system which is totally unworkable.
:00:45. > :00:47.Everyone should pay a little, and they shouldn't expect the 40%
:00:48. > :00:49.of shops in Ludlow that are paying rates to subsidise the
:00:50. > :00:53.At the Queen's Pub, expansion plans are on hold,
:00:54. > :00:58.We've been informed that our rates are going to be increased 130%,
:00:59. > :01:02.We're a small pub in a small market town.
:01:03. > :01:08.I've looked at the business rates of every shop in town,
:01:09. > :01:11.and they're going up four times the national average.
:01:12. > :01:14.I don't quite know why that's so, but it's going to affect our
:01:15. > :01:17.The Department for Communities and Local Government says
:01:18. > :01:20.three quarters of properties will see no change, or even a fall
:01:21. > :01:24.The problem is that the quarter that do aren't spread
:01:25. > :01:28.Business leaders say they're worried, if independent shops close,
:01:29. > :01:34.the character of the town will be destroyed.
:01:35. > :01:38.The times I hear, as I walk down the street, "Oh, isn't it lovely?
:01:39. > :01:43.People are really valuing what a good high street is,
:01:44. > :01:45.because so many other towns have lost it.
:01:46. > :01:49.Traders will meet with their MP, Phillip Dunn, next week
:01:50. > :01:59.Police are appealing for information about a mother from Dudley who has
:02:00. > :02:04.Patricia Lashley, who is also known as Pat or Jade,
:02:05. > :02:06.was last seen at a flat in Hall Street in September 1998.
:02:07. > :02:09.Her eldest son has recently had a baby of his own who he'd
:02:10. > :02:17.Firefighters say they could still be at plastics recycling
:02:18. > :02:20.plant in Stoke-on-Trent for a few more days.
:02:21. > :02:23.It's now a week since they were called to the blaze
:02:24. > :02:28.The fire is under control but crews still need to get access
:02:29. > :02:36.to previously unsafe areas to make sure it's extinguished completely.
:02:37. > :02:38.Investigations are underway into what caused a fire
:02:39. > :02:39.at a suspected cannabis factory in Birmingham.
:02:40. > :02:42.Crews were called to a shop in Walsall's Wood's High Street
:02:43. > :02:47.Firefighters then contacted the police after finding the remains
:02:48. > :02:52.of what's thought to be 15 plants inside.
:02:53. > :02:55.Five of the candidates hoping to become the next MP for Stoke
:02:56. > :03:00.head in a live TV debate on the Sunday Politics today.
:03:01. > :03:02.Key campaigning issues already appear to be,
:03:03. > :03:04.the candidates local links to the area, the impact of Brexit
:03:05. > :03:22.on the ceramics industries and the problems in the NHS.
:03:23. > :03:32.The Green party is the only local political party to put forefront a
:03:33. > :03:35.plan. The Labour Party has been protecting beds at the hospital and
:03:36. > :03:37.we have been leaving that game. We have been at the public meetings and
:03:38. > :03:41.your cup for the election. And you can find a full list
:03:42. > :03:44.candidates on the Politics Local politicians have reacted
:03:45. > :03:48.angrily to reports in two national newspapers that the US president
:03:49. > :03:50.Donald Trump could hold The Stop Trump Coalition,
:03:51. > :03:53.which includes the Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood,
:03:54. > :03:55.rejected claims that a speech by the US President
:03:56. > :03:57.in the region would attract fewer She says Mr Trump is not
:03:58. > :04:06.welcome in the city. Time now for the weather
:04:07. > :04:10.and are there chilly times to come? A cold and grey Day
:04:11. > :04:23.was plenty of rain and very little brightness but through
:04:24. > :04:26.tomorrow we start to see a change. It is already starting to take
:04:27. > :04:29.effect as we start to get a clearer coming up from the south, the
:04:30. > :04:32.temperature holding up underneath the cloud and with that easterly
:04:33. > :04:34.breeze ranging between 1-3. SOme mist patches could
:04:35. > :04:36.develop but then we start to see things brightening up
:04:37. > :04:39.and the sun breaking through the A nagging easterly wind
:04:40. > :04:48.so even though the temperature is getting up to 5-6, I am afraid
:04:49. > :04:53.that is going to feel more like 2-3. Another day for wrapping a warm
:04:54. > :04:56.but at least the sun is coming out. Midlands Today will be back as usual
:04:57. > :05:14.tomorrow just after six o'clock. I'm sure most of us are glad to see
:05:15. > :05:17.the back of this weekend. It's been cold, bleak and at times wintry. It
:05:18. > :05:22.provided some beautiful weather Watchers photos, like Sheffield
:05:23. > :05:27.earlier today. I suspect some of the lying snow will be blown around by
:05:28. > :05:33.strong winds starting to develop. The odd spot of drizzle into the far
:05:34. > :05:39.north-east. The wind strengthening here. Already signs of something a
:05:40. > :05:40.little bit miles, temperatures