It is highway robbery, every hour, of every day. Drive a car and you are a mobile cash cow for somebody or other.

Even if you do not drive it, the taxes are still extracted.

Councils are facing tough times like everybody else. Time to hit the long suffering motorists yet again by hiking up those parking charges.

According to statistics published today by the Cooperative Motor Group, there have been some huge rises imposed by councils over the last three years.

Wigan comes top with a 92 per cent hike. Telford & Wrekin is in the top five, with a 30 per cent rise.

Although this sounds bad for Telford folk, the reality is that in district centres like Wellington, Madeley, and Dawley, parking is free, and an attempt by the council to bring in parking charges a few years ago in some areas was so controversial that the then Labour administration was fatally damaged.

The general picture is of a confusion of forces pulling in different directions. There are environmentalists and campaigners who welcome higher charges for motorists as a way of reducing traffic and encouraging people to catch the bus and train.

This fits in to the agenda of politicians, local and national, who are presented with a ready glib justification for stinging motorists with high charges.

In cities with good transport systems, they may have a point. In Shropshire and Mid Wales, there is no choice but to have a car.

Schools, shops, and local services have all contracted. Rural bus routes have been scrapped and train halts closed.

If motoring charges are going to be sky high, motorists have a right to expect something back.

At the moment it is all give – and no get.

Cars may be healthy option

Now let us look to the alternative vision, where people cannot afford to drive, and instead stay at home, order pizzas on the internet, and watch television all the time to keep entertained.

They immediately become reclassified as the “socially excluded” and councils will allocate big budgets to get them reintegrated into society.

However, there is a snag which is not so easy to overcome.

A new survey shows that at least 12 million Britons could be allergic to their own homes.

Problems include allergies to house dust mites, mould, and pets.

Hospital admissions for allergies have risen over the last two decades – another drain on the public purse.

With so much public debate today being influenced by how effectively the parties involved can put their own particular spin on an issue, this survey is a godsend to motorists.

It can be dressed up as being an important issue of health and safety.

Strangely, for millions of Britons, it seems that driving around in their car really may be the most healthy option.