Meanwhile Private Eye also reported on the arguably bad decision of a judge who ruled the German car giant BMW could divert a 2,000 year old public bridleway to develop its plant at Cowley, Oxford.

The diversion was opposed by the Ramblers Association and the British Horse Society who now have to pay nearly £50,000 in costs to Oxfordshire county council, which supported its major employer.

Although pedestrians and cyclists are being given an alternative route by BMW those on horses are being deprived of vital safe link to a nearby country park. Now they have to negotiate a busy roundabout, go onto a dual carriageway and cross two lanes of traffic to reach the park.

And as Private Eye puts it “no doubt angering all those BMW drivers in a hurry who believe roads are for cars only”.