Community and heritage railway groups in Cumbria are being urged to get in touch if they would like to own a retired Pacer train. Our readers had their say on the News & Star website and Facebook page.

Almost interested to find out what the “market value” is of an obsolete, not accessibility compatible train is.

Jan Giergiel

I would love one at the bottom of my garden, have always said this since I moved here over 30 years ago, I live right next to a railway line.

Kim Kilgour

I’ll have one for the garden if you’re giving them away.

Karen Yarney

Make them into shelters for the homeless.

Stacey Wren

Would be great if these could somehow be converted into accommodation for the homeless.

Samantha Barker

“As they reach the end of their natural lifespan”? That was in 1995!

Paul Bills

Put it on a field at Silloth like old days and have summer holidays there.

Kath Queen

Make a nice home office or gym. I’ll have one.

Michael Cosham

Be an amazing to put these somewhere for the homeless to use!

Tracy Louise

Sooner they’re gone the better!

Connor Ferguson

Anything more than 30 years old should really be gone.

James Humphreys

Be good to use one as a railway cafe at Haltwhistle station.

Nick Kirby

Glamping train.

Derek Mawby

A number of popular shops and eateries have been put up for sale on Whitehaven’s high street - but business leaders say the future is still bright for the town.

I loved La Chic back in the 80s. Pastel jackets, batwing jumpers, skinny jeans. If it’s the same family running the business I wish them all the best.

Caroline Everingham

I was out shopping in town on Saturday last and couldn’t help but notice just how many shops and businesses have folded. It’s just so sad.

Nick Hawkins

Stopped shopping in Whitehaven when the public toilets closed down.

Jue Lockey

We need more shops for people to come and spend their money in. Why are they going to want to park in a ghost town? To go where? Do what? We’re getting less and less in this town, it’s all banks, cafes and second hand shops.

Angela Acton

This is a prime example of how the internet has taken over, no need to move anywhere from your home except to get your phone charger, it’s a no brainer.

Liam Mez Meredith

PLANS have been lodged for another major housing development in the north of Carlisle. Proposals tabled this month for an 86-home estate at Deer Park, Belah, have already raised concerns amid fears of over-development in the area.

Will they be building a school, doctors’ surgery or hospital too? I bet they don’t! Plenty of empty houses to buy on developments that aren’t even finished yet. One development has paused building due to slow sales. Yet the council will most likely approve this development too. The housing in demand in Carlisle is social housing and they aren’t building any.

Claire Oliver

Hope they don’t fell the trees.

David Bedlington

Great, so the flooding we get under Kingmoor Bridge when it rains heavily will just get worse. Build more houses and less of the water can drain away. Plus where are all these kids going to go to school and all of them go to see a doctor as you can’t get an appointment at North Carlisle doctors as it is.

Karen Conley

There is no space in the existing primary schools, and there is no guarantee another school will be built. Crindledyke was supposed to have a school and that never happened. Also they’re only focusing on primary schools. Carlisle secondaries don’t have much capacity either.

Leanne Russell

The builders need to be forced no matter what to provide school places for all the people that would live in these houses. It’s ridiculous and irresponsible of the planners to allow this without school provisions.

Christine Park

You should see the other end of town. Three large developments still going on and ready for a fourth. All on land that a couple of years ago were fields. All around the Garlands area is one massive building site. All objected to, nothing done. Nowhere is classed as green belt anymore.

Kevin McDonald

The council should wait to see whether the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village mass developmental scheme is in demand first before they agree to any more housing developments.

Sammy JB