There has been a political revolution, both nationally and, against the expectations of many, locally here in the Forest of Dean. Kier Starmer was swept into power on a tidal wave of revulsion directed at what had gone before. But that was not enough for we Labour activists in this wonderful constituency. We were determined that wannabe Tory Captain, Mark Harper, would go down with the ship. And by some miracle, courtesy of a great many good people who voted for something better, we won. Now we have to be worthy of that victory. And being unpleasant to the loser, Mark, something I have become highly proficient at, does not chime with that new dawn.The following is a verse, to a well known melody, from the song I wrote after the count:

Farewell Harper Mark, ‘Sell the Forest’, ‘Go Home’ vans. In your last fight, you kept it tight. We hope you’ve other plans.

There is an interesting tradition in Westminster, very evident on the Parliament channel due to the huge number of newbie MPs, and that is the Maiden Speech. Even more interesting are the ingredients that, to prove oneself clubbable at Westminster, it should contain.

The mundane elements are one or more serious political points, marking one’s political territory, so that others might know you by your scent, together with a leavening of humour. These are found in differing proportions in all parliamentary contributions.

The unique elements of the Maiden Speech are, firstly, to describe your Constituency in glowing terms – no problem there – and secondly to say nice things about your predecessor.

I will be watching out with huge interest for Matt Bishop’s contribution. Where will he park his political tanks? What aspects of this semi-rural demi-paradise will he highlight? And do I have a potential future as his gag-writer. So far, no calls.

Since his elevation to constituency representative on the national stage, Matt Bishop has continually surprised me with his quiet competence, so he may well have unearthed anecdotes showing the warmth and humanity of the ‘outgoing’ Harper that continue to elude me.

To return to the political and policy revolution, a key element of the Brave New World of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves is house building, and in particular mandatory targets for all relevant local authorities, and we cannot expect the Forest of Dean to be spared.

The ruling Green caucus on the district council have ‘helpfully’ said that any housing developments should be ‘appropriate’. This is the kind of language with which we can all agree, but is also known code for ‘over my cold, dead body’.

I myself have a passion for each and every green field, and for once this is not about dimly remembered early relationships. Once it is gone, as they say. I was and remain a huge Joni Mitchell fan, and she came to prominence with lyrics about paving paradise.

I may well find myself standing metaphorically and physically alongside Chris McFarling on this one. Not such a bad thing.But, for such a publication as this one, it behoves us also to strive to be objective. People need homes, and growing Foresters need affordable ones.

Coleford, the town I know best, has largely coped with doubling in size and population since I escaped here with my family from Birmingham a third of a century ago. Traffic at its central cross roads has grown dramatically but not yet exceeded capacity, and the increased population has given the town centre a certain vibrancy.Where the development has failed, is when we need to get to Monmouth or the A40 in rush hour.

The bridge connection is inadequate and the queue horrendous. There is talk of doing what the outgoing UK administration singularly failed to do, and that is to include infrastructure in any significant plans. There are, dear Baldrik, just two small problems.

There is of course, the issue of money. Will there really be cash for this aspect, when the houses themselves will have such a political priority? The other is the more profound, which is whether we really do want our road infrastructure ‘improved’, or will that destroy that which we love about living here? I don’t, but then I don’t have better answers.

We must also consider Lydney, where so much recent house-building has taken place. The proximity to the A48 is alluring, but again two small problems. The choke points at the two ends are becoming just that. Chepstow is starting to rival the entry to Gloucester in that regard. Closer to home, to the homes of which we speak, is the permanent snarl up through Lydney Town itself.

The town centre, with its connections to Bream, Coleford and Parkend, was never intended for the sheer volume of local traffic.As a former road design engineer (first career, ret. 1973), I know that none of these constituency-defining problems, created thoughtlessly by a banished regime, is cheap or easy to fix, though all were prominently predicted. And that is before the next wave of house-building rolls over us. Would you like to take a guess at the cost of a new bridge connection over the Wye in the north, or a comprehensive town centre redesign in the south? Our new MP’s views may be germane, and I asked for them two months ago, but he has yet to share them with me.

So there you are, a little humour, some political principle, a paean to the beauty in which we live, and even, finally, some positive thoughts for the Right Honourable Mark Harper, who served the Forest and earned its trust for nineteen long years, rising in fits and starts to the position of Secretary of State for Transport. He must have been doing something right.