CJ Stone leaves the Whitstable and Herne Bay Times - your letters...

WHITSTABLE and Herne Bay Times columnists Chris "C J " Stone and Steve Regan have left the newspapers after giving readers many years of their sometimes controversial views.

The news led to a huge post bag of letters.

Many made it into the paper but some could not be printed for lack of space.

A selection is included here. You can also leave your own comments at the foot of the article.

Editor John Nurden said: "I was also sorry to lose Chris and Steve but must take issue with some comments suggesting we no longer employ local writers.

"Our reporters Joe Walker, James Scott and James Brentnall all live and work in the two towns and went to schools in the area. Readers can meet them regularly at sessions at Whitstable's Horsebridge Centre. There is absolutely no suggestion that we are becoming less local."

Peter Cronin-Hill and Chris Weller of Forge Lane, Whitstable, wrote:

My partner and I quite like old CJ Stone despite his ability to forever deliver our post to the next door couple.

What I really like about him however is his fortnightly column in the Times, in which he expressed in a clever and thought provoking manner, his not always instantly apparent views, opinions, and what often seem plausible answers and ideas to help rectify local and global issues.

Both of us hope this depressing loss is soon to be rectified, with CJ reinstated, perhaps even better, not just fortnightly, but on a regular and weekly basis.

His loss from the paper is a loss to good and interesting journalism.

Abigail Gibbs of Forge Lane, Whitstable, wrote:

I am just writing to express my regret that Chris Stone is leaving. I used to look forward to his columns written with his wry take on life and their interesting subjects.

Can I wish him well for the future? I hope that our loss is another reader's gain.

Moira Hyde of Argyle Road, Whitstable, wrote:

I am writing to say how saddened I am that you seem to be letting yet another excellent journalist go.

First Tony Blake who offered an entirely fresh, informed and engaging glimpse of local history and now Christopher Stone, an excellent writer who can be relied on to inform and provoke comment on issues that are relevant to us all.

Surely a local paper should reflect local talent and interest?

Wes McLachlan of Gordon Road, Whitstable, wrote:

I am writing to back the comments of Peter Cronin-Hill and Chris Weller. I note in writing this letter it is addressed to Newspaper House CANTERBURY. I fear this is a sign that our only real local newspaper is choosing to make the same error as the late lamented Whitstable Gazette. This ex-Whitstable paper is of course now simply a Canterbury paper with a few Whitstable pages pasted on as an afterthought. Is this the future for the Times?

CJ Stone is a local successful writer who entertains us with unique commentary and musings on all subjects and how they relate to Whitstable.

The loss of this regular contribution from a genuinely local professional writer is short-sighted and will confirm Whitstable people's fears that the Times will, like the Gazette, simply become another Canterbury adjunct. People are noticing the thinning pages.

All the blogs in the world will not replace the newspaper on the street and that is where CJ Stone belongs. Be sensible, bring back CJ and syndicate him across all Kent Regional Newspaper titles.

Why shouldn't the rest of Kent benefit from his thoughtful fun?

Clive Wilkins-Oppler, Artillery Street, Canterbury, wrote:

C J STONE and Steve Regan's departure from the pages of the Whitstable Times is a significant loss for both papers and its readership.

One became so accustomed to seeing both writers' columns that it was easy to forget that change is inevitable and sadly nothing lasts forever.

In his final column Steve Regan correctly denounced the government's insane plan to introduce sex lessons in schools for children as young as five.

A child's innocence is precious beyond words and should be protected. Primary school pupils learning about sex is wholly inappropriate at their tender age.

The only reason the government is giving serious consideration to such a hare-brained initiative is because they have completely failed to assert control over the media which relentlessly bombards our children with graphic sexual words and imagery.

Few deviants, promiscuous proclivities are left undiscussed in teen magazines or family soap operas.

This unfettered liberalisation has resulted in an interminable rise in sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies.

The remedy for this social disaster is not to teach sex to primary school kids but to regulate our media's pornographic agenda.

Julian Spurrier of Essex Street, Whitstable, wrote:

I WAS very sorry to read in last week's paper that C J Stone's column has been axed ("C J Stone on another planet, Times, October 23).

I regard this as a huge pity because his opinions were interesting and diverse – covering both local and global issues. I now see from today's paper that Steve Regan will no longer be appearing either ("Steve Regan rattling the cages," Times, October 30).

Does this mean the Times will in future have no opinion columnists at all?

I have to confess that one of the reasons I buy the Times is to read C J Stone's column and it was interesting to contrast his style and views with those of Steve Regan.

I feel that a newspaper without thought-provoking opinion columnists is a rather sad affair.

Is there no chance that we can have C J Stone back?

I do hope the powers that be will have another think and re-employ C J Stone for the benefit of the Times' readership.