Sir, I find it extremely sad that the University of Cumbria is presiding over the downgrading of its Charlotte Mason campus at Ambleside. I am equally saddened that the university has not yet made an absolutely unequivocal long-term commitment to its Newton Rigg campus.

Sir, I was rather sad to read (Herald, 27th February) of a proposal to rename the Jubilee ward at Penrith hospital. The ward was so named in recognition of the long faithful service given to the community by the Jubilee Cottage Hospital on Penrith’s Beacon Edge after its closure. The cottage hospital in turn had been named to celebrate the 50th jubilee of our much-loved Queen Victoria.

Sir, My family drummed into me that only the best lasts, so we were shoppers in those great Penrith institutions of Howes, Pattinson & Winter, Grahams and, of course, Arnisons.

Sir, I came to live in the Eden Valley a year ago after 10 years in a remote village in Swaledale where on the whole drivers drove at safe speeds and behaved sensibly and courteously.

Sir, Eden District Council taxpayers will certainly feel that the review of the Penrith New Squares development by the Audit Commission is an encouraging and essential first step towards resolving the current situation.

Sir, From your leading article and editorial regarding the New Squares review (Herald, 20th February), it is not clear what role the four council officers involved in this investigation will fulfil. Like many of your readers, I welcome the independent investigation by the Audit Commission but the investigation must be totally independent.

Sir, I am delighted to see that all the main parties in Penrith and the Border and a very impressive range of non-political groups have now joined in our campaign to save Newton Rigg. This is far too important for party politics.

Sir, The winter snows having now receded (at least, at the time of writing!), a prolific growth of intrusive and alien species has again revealed itself along the length and breadth of our countryside verges.

Sir, All Cumbrians, but especially those of us who live in the Penrith area, should be very concerned about the future of Newton Rigg. As a former governor of the college, I fail to understand how the campus can now be losing £250,000 a month as alleged in last week’s Herald.

Sir, Congratulations on your thorough coverage (Herald, 13th February) of the serious problems facing the new University of Cumbria and thanks to Professor McCaffery for his willingness to share the Newton Rigg issues and his own initial proposals for the future with us.