With issues like litter and recycling, house price increases and affordable homes shortages, health and post office cuts, energy and council tax rises, there is no shortage of things to talk about. And, to help people connect, The Westmorland Gazette is launching its new online Forum platform at http://forum.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk for the public to create, join in or simply follow community issue debates.

The Forum section will be fluid, changing as the issues change. We have set up a number of topics under Lake District, News, Sports and Communities headings to get it all started. If you have a topic idea for one of these areas, please simply Register, then Log In and then post your comments on an existing topic or create a new topic.

Ulverston has kicked off its Forum topics with a look at the proposed Ulverston County Square and Laurel and Hardy statue plans. Town centre manager Jayne Kendall wants to know what people think of the plans. Our Furness reporter Daniel Orr asks in the Fundraising for Hoad Forum topic: "Any ideas from people out there about raising funds for the £1m restoration project of Ulverston's beloved Hoad monument?"

Staveley community Forum has three topics ranging from thefuture of the post office closure, to sustainability, to harnessing renewable energy from the River Kent.

Here are directions on how to become involved in a Forum.

How to find the Forum section: The link to the Forum is after News on the homepage for www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk or you can put http://forum.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk in your web address section and go there directly.

How to participate: l First you need to register. On the Forum page, click on Register. Complete the form, which asks you to: l Agree to Terms.

l Put in your chosen username. Write it down somewhere safe so you don't forget it.

l Key in your email address. We need this to contact you with the activation link to accept your registration. You choose whether this email address is made public or not.

l Create a password. Also keep a record of it.

l Put the password in again.

l Next, key in the confirmation code (a set of letters and digits provided) in the box provided.

l Review the options below that, checking your preference.

l Click Submit and your request will go to our web site technical team.

They will send you a link in an email. Once you click on that link your access will be activated. From then on you simply go to our Forum page, and click on Log In.

From there you can read, post, reply to comments or create a new topic in a section that is set up. If you want a new section set up, particularly a Community one, please contact the Web Editor.

If you want your community represented, please contact the Web Editor, Kate Whiteside, at kate.whiteside@kendal.newsquest.co.uk or phone 01539-710183 and she will help you get started.