THIS week is my first on the Basingstoke Gazette, taking over the reins from the hard-working and talented Chris Gregory.

So please allow me a few words to introduce myself. My name is Mike Sims and I arrive from a few miles to the west, Andover, where I currently oversee the Andover Advertiser.

I’ve only been here a few days and have already been struck by the passion and dedication of my new colleagues, as well as the great fondness many in the community feel for the Gazette.

It’s a period of considerable change at this newspaper, with some brilliant staff leaving as well as some new faces arriving.

You will also see a change in your Gazette over the coming weeks and months, as we look to make the paper even bigger and better.

In fact, you will probably notice a few tweaks and new items already this week, such as the introduction of our fascinating “Basingstoke Remembers” column on page 17.

We’re also reintroducing planning applications back into the paper and are looking at expanding our puzzles section.

But central to all the changes to the paper is you, the reader.

Therefore I am appealing for you to please get in touch with your views about the Gazette.

What do you think we do well, and what can be improved? What new features or columns would you like to see? Are there any areas of the community you feel should be covered more? You can send an e-mail to newsdesk@ basingstokegazette.co.uk or write to the postal address at the bottom of this page.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

All the best, Mike Sims Head of editorial