WE asked our readers what the biggest problems they think need fixing in Hexham are. Here's what they said.

1 Empty shops

Jacqueline Lambert and Steph Armstrong both said Hexham needed more shops.

Dorothy Neal said the empty shops 'look dreadful'.

Hexham Courant: Clintons has closed in HexhamClintons has closed in Hexham (Image: Newsquest)

2 Variety of shops

Chris Hughes said there is a 'lack of variety where shops are concerned'.

3 Parking 

A lot of people also said parking needed addressed, including Kelly Richardson, Nick Curry and Arline Wills.

Hexham Courant: Disc dispenserDisc dispenser (Image: Staff)

Patricia Barnes said: "Parking on the same level as the shops," while Kameron Bird said the lack of parking is 'ruining businesses'.

Simon Shaw said more car parking would attract tourists to spend money.

Lynne E Ridley said card-only pay for a parking space is a turn-off.

4 The bus station 

Hexham Courant: The old bus station on PriestpoppleThe old bus station on Priestpopple (Image: Google Street View)

Loma Halden said the old bus station is a 'complete eyesore', and Caroline Watson said: "If nothing else is to be done with it in the foreseeable future it should be cleared, turned into a car park and added to the council disc zone."

5 Rental prices 

Vikki Firth said a big issue in town was high-priced rentals.

Matthew Eames asked: "All the empty space above retail makes it unaffordable and leads to an excess of charity shops due to the discounts they receive. Why not turn the space into affordable flats to make the lower retail space more affordable for anything other than barbers and charity shops?"

John Harling also said Hexham needed lower rent and rates to bring in more retailers.

6 Facilities

One reader, Martin Jewitt said he thought Hexham could do with a Bingo Hall.

7 Affordable housing

Chris Brinton said: "Not enough affordable housing, therefore not enough local families, therefore not enough local people spending money."

8 Road maintenance

Other readers said potholes needed attention, including Nick Curry and Amy Monnelly.

Tony Johnston said: "The man-hole on East Gate, can it not be brought up to be level with the road?"

9 Coach and HGV parking

Kelly Richardson and John Linskey said there needs to be more parking for HGVs.

10 Tax of online sales

David Humes said: "Until the Government tax online sales, nothing will attract people back to the high street, life has changed in the same way corner shops disappeared, if people want shops they should have used them when they were there."