Shutting down discussion

A lengthy 'debate' was going on in the pages of the Shuttle over a letter regarding the actions being taken at Hartlebury Common. I say was because said letter is now apparently closed to comments. Now while I understand the Shuttle doing this - they're not a forum after all (perhaps they should start one) in this instance not only are you unable to add a comment, but even see the comments already posted.

Given that comments have already disappeared off the site in the past and that the email subscription response is merely a bare 'A comment has been added' is there now a need to record these elsewhere?