Away from the hustle and bustle of a busy Westminster, I’ve been working with local residents in Bromley over the past fortnight campaigning to overturn a planning refusal for a much needed school in the heart of my constituency. While this drawn out application has been a masterclass in how not to manage an infrastructure project from a distance, it has also been a demonstration of how powerful localism in action can be.

Those involved come from all walks of life, are of different political colours, and each have their own ambitions for their children, yet as a group they have mobilised behind a common cause, with just under a thousand people marching through leafy Bickley last weekend. This is undoubtedly due to the well organised and vocal campaign run by the parents affected, but it is also in no small part thanks to the local press who have covered the story in great detail over the last few years. Indeed, it is a reminder of the importance of good quality, independent local news, and its enduring ability to bring communities together.