I HAD always thought of the Stourbridge News as a quality local paper.

However, it is evident from this week's front page article that it is looking to compete with the tacky down market red tops.

The article by Bev Holder is written using the type of emotive language that only those without a real story to tell need to use.

I don't know exactly what the Closer to the Edge team has in mind for the small area of Clent they are proposing to use.

However, if their operation at Kinver is anything to go by, you'll have to know where it is to find it.

We use Kinver Edge every day and have never come across any of their activities, let alone had our enjoyment of the peace and quiet spoiled.

The two elderly ladies pictured in the article, and others like them would surely welcome young people having an outlet for their energy and enthusiasm. People who are lucky enough to find something that challenges their body and mind don't usually find the need to hang around on street corners. Their lives being too busy and fulfilled to be bored.

Perhaps Ms Holder should apply for a job on a newspaper more suited to her never mind the accuracy, hear my biased, over emotive opinion' style of journalism. Then the Stourbridge News could go back to what I, and I suspect many other local people would prefer from their local paper, a balanced and objective appraisal of a given situation.

Carole & Steve Westwood by e-mail

NB - Our story on the proposals for the Closer to the Edge project at Clent was in our opinion an accurate and balanced report on an issue which is causing residents considerable concern. Our reporters DO NOT use the paper as a medium to express their own opinions and Ms Holder is an extremely experienced and capable journalist - Ed