Last year I wrote a column rallying against protest groups in which I argued that such undertakings were generally self-serving, did not fulfil a purpose and were largely ineffective. Within two weeks of going to press I had somehow, unexpectedly, started a campaign group up to oppose those fiends at Hertsmere planning who, using the Lex Luther guide to project management, have a cunning plan to dump their housing quota on the border of poor little London Colney without the decency to ask us if we wanted it.

I have realised that, when embroiled in a group such as Campaign for Colney, you have one objective: to try. To try to get your point across, to try to engage and to try and oppose those who look like slippery eels, act like slippery eels yet put across a public image of a fluffy pink unicorn acting in the interests of those they purport to represent. With eyes wide open, I am aware there will come a time when, inevitably, David will be beaten by Goliath, despite landing a fair few body blows. Then it’s a case of coming out fighting in round two, minimising the impact once the inevitable has been confirmed.

We live in a crowded marketplace of self-serving individuals all crying out to be heard. All of us now seem to have issues to shout about, to cry ‘poor me, poor me, pour me another drink.’ Gender identity, illnesses, unemployment, crime: Whatever the vehicle, arguments are diluted due to competition and messages are drowned out in the white noise.

I want the community to be heard so had to brainstorm an intervention that was engaging, fun and would have an impact in lieu of any action from our representatives who currently reside in a state of just below total inertia. We discussed ideas such as a noisy protest, the Poznan (where we all turn our backs on the council during public meetings) and even the ‘Bush’, where we all throw our shoes at the powers that be.

I decided on a protest song. I thought of Billy Bragg and John Lennon: the masters of the genre. Bragg argues anything and everything despite, in my view, being as tuneful as Honey G with a hearing impediment. But he has passion, gets his message across and his songs are sung at Momentum marches the breadth of the land.

Lennon continues to be an inspiration. Give Peace a Chance is a mantra sung by lentil-munching older women with braids as they stand around an open fire outside a wired fence arguing to no avail against the latest nuclear innovation.

Nena had her 99 balloons which, apparently was a, protest song. I should google it really but I am happy in my mindset that she was arguing against latex waste, the type you see when there is a balloon popped on a branch having been set off in Porto and coming to rest in Wheathampstead.

One thing I did find with the protest song was the sense of community it brought and the engagement. Residents were, on the whole, more than happy to mouth a few words to camera, Bryan at MediaSmith studios gladly gave up his time and expertise as did Libby of Graphic Icing who had the arduous task of editing the extremely rough cuts.

Sadly, the video did not go ‘viral’ due to my lack of technological nous. The plan was to find a tipping point: a big hitter to take on the video and share it via some kind of feed to give our cause some volume amongst the noise. Unperturbed, I am considering round two with a twist: a tried and tested cover version. Fight the Power by Public Enemy seems apt. I fancy being a poor man’s Flavor Flav and wearing a wall clock around my neck and am busy trying to recruit London Colney's best Chuck D and Professor Griff impersonators. With luck we will go viral and I’ll say word to that. Boyz.