The brouhaha over government proposals to hive off our road networks to private companies to maintain and develop is understandable.

It runs along the same themes as concerns over moves to privatise some police functions and the over-arching theme from some quarters that there is a masterplan to privatise the NHS.

It’s just the first step to putting tolls on all of our roads, was the gist of the doom-mongers regarding the roads plan.

Putting aside the fact drivers on the Continent and in North America pay for tolls on most of their major road – and how often do we hear someone bemoan the fact France has SO much better roads that we do? – the government’s proposals do not advocate any such measures. But ho hum, such small details doesn’t concern the Aspic Brigade.

The Aspic Brigade, as I have named them, wish for everything to remain as it is – sealed in aspic.

Our roads, our police, our health service, must not change the way it operates.