Last week the Government announced plans to let councils charge people who fail to recycle their rubbish. Ministers also want to make us pay for using the local rubbish tip.

But it doesn't stop here. Labour is also pushing ahead with plans for road charging, with Manchester to take the lead in levying tolls on drivers entering the city on main roads.

Also this week, we have had the fiasco over the much delayed, much watered down home information packs that will add £600 to selling a house.

I accept that we need to recycle more of our rubbish. In Ludlow we are now restoring weekly collections for food waste to fuel the anaerobic digester - this may lead the way for other authorities.

Road pricing may make sense where alternative public transport is available and it clearly eases congestion or allows new roads to be built. As for moving house, after Gordon Brown's big increases in stamp duty, that