Letters: Cheaper to buy DVD than take a family to cinema

Yes, I know, don’t buy them if you think they are dear, but it’s all part of the experience, isn’t it?When I was a lass, back in the olden days when you went on the rare occasion to see a new film, you could hear the very discreet opening of the cans of pop, the crinkling of the crisp packets, then the shush from your mum as she didn’t want people to know that you had brought contraband inside.Not now, though.This week in the flicks, all around were various can-rings being pulled, family-sized crisps being opened and rustling from all sorts of bags of treats.It’s no wonder when a drink and popcorn will set you back nearly nine quid. It’s cheaper to buy the DVD these days than take a family to the cinema.Jayne Graysonvia email

Compulsory voting?After months of reading arguments and counter arguments as to the ‘validity’ of the referendum result, I begin to wonder what the result might have been had we followed the example of Australia. There, under federal electoral law, it is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums. Failure to vote brings with it a $20 fine.Using the Australian voting system, whether the 28 per cent who did not bother to vote in the 2016 referendum decided to vote to remain or to leave the EU, the final result would have produced a majority of the electorate, not just the 72 per cent who turned out then. As a result, we would have a definite answer to the question on the ballot paper. Michael GillianAddress suppliedStart paying council tax

Can someone please explain to me why it is that, when local authorities are so short of money, a property that is solely occupied by students is not subject to council tax? Students make use of refuse collection, parks, libraries and museums. They can vote, use markets, street lights etc. Admittedly, they won’t use facilities such as local education or adoption services and so on but then as an OAP, I don’t use these facilities either.The list of services provided by the council is endless and no one would use them all, but everyone uses some. So I ask again, why doesn’t the landlord of a property, occupied by students, pay council tax to help our cash-strapped council pay for services? Mylie Reynolds via emailHorses boltingI read of Parliament approving a price cap on energy bills yet I have just received a gas bill increase – the second since May. It seems the horses are bolting before it comes into force.A HagueAddress supplied