WE shared the news that plans have been approved to turn former student accommodation into a hotel near Penrith. 

The dormitories, within the Newton Rigg Estate, were last used to house students of the now-dissolved Newton Rigg College.

The buildings - Bessey, Bessy Annex, Herdman, and Capstick - are now able to be transformed into a mix of serviced rooms and apartments.

Here's what readers thought.

Stephen Hewitt said: "It should have been sold at a low price to the various social housing groups in the county and funded to make it into a new 'village' with flats and houses, both the current buildings and new ones. They could have built a shop for someone like Sainsbury's, Asda or Tesco to do a small unit there."

Libby Bateman said: "Training courses are still being offered at Newton Rigg with huge benefits to local people - yet we’re struggling to fill the places - it’s fair enough demanding that it be used for education but if places aren’t taken up then the courses will fail. The whole community has a role to play in the success of Newton Rigg, not just those who own or operate from the site."

Laura Macdonald London added: "Tragic. Students used to come from around the world to Newton Rigg."