READERS have reacted after plans to demolish Kendal's magistrates court and replace it with 64 new retirement apartments were approved.

SLDC councillors had been split with six votes for and six votes against clearing the Burneside Road site, until the planning committee's chair used his vote to approve the Churchill Retirement Living proposal.

Is it worth it said: "Send this permission to appeal, the council can do it. - Why not rental property for young working families with local occupancy clauses, no right to buy? Come on Giles & Co, this land must already be in public ownership. An ideal opportunity for money where mouth is. Money wasted, so what's new, happens all the time, it's only tax payers' money."

Jafool said: "MORE Retirement housing!?

"Sad times for Kendal. A Town that should be doing absolutely everything it can to revive itself from the brink of flatlining completely, to the state of a more bustling and happening town with a healthy heartbeat, is sadly welcoming its own death."

KendalSmithy said: "It was built as a courthouse so it should stay as a courthouse. We should stand up for local services. It's madness to demand that for every court session the numerous people who need to attend should travel dozens of miles each time."

RNS said: "Does Kendal really need more retirement properties? Next door to the proposed new development is Wainwright Court, a McCarthy & Stone development. Currently, there are ten empty apartments for sale out of around 60 in total. Some of these have been up for sale for well over a year. McCarthy & Stone are also seeking planning approval to build another development on the site of the Porsche salesroom.

"What Kendal desperately needs is more accommodation for young people and families at an affordable price. None of these schemes even provide any affordable housing for older people."