'Why doesn't the landlord of a property occupied by students pay council tax?'

Students make use of refuse collection, parks, libraries, museums, can vote, use markets, street lights etc.

Admittedly, they won’t use facilities such as local education, adoption services, Rivelin Valley water play etc.

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.

Some cities don’t have a student population but our two universities have of the order of 60,000 students.

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

Wadsley, S6

Defend the vulnerable

The campaign to keep our Learning Disability services in Rotherham open has united the Rotherham public regardless of their politics.

It’s based on values of decency, dignity and humanity to defend the vulnerable.

People know Wath Oaks Day Care Centre and Maltby Addison cover a vital service to all the Rotherham area.

Unite and Unison national leadership and their national executives support the service users, families and public in their worthy fight to keep their facilities open.

The National Labour Party leadership, the TUC at local, regional and national level support the campaign to keep them open.

The Rotherham electorate have supported protests in support of the vulnerable in keeping learning disabilities services from closure.

Over 66,000 have now signed petitions to oppose the council decision.

It’s a record number that has received widespread recognition both in the UK and internationally.

We urge councillors to please now listen to the communities they serve, to the vulnerable and Labour Movement, who all oppose the decision by the Rotherham Cabinet.

Councillors on RMBC are urged to stand up for our values and ditch the decision to close the facilities for our vulnerable adults.

They have the chance to make a difference to the families.

The voters in Rotherham and district are fully behind keeping these vital places at Maltby and Wath Oaks open.

It’s time for our councillors to listen, serve and represent the community.

Keep Learning Disability facilities open in Rotherham.

Ged Dempsey

Denman Road, Wath upon Dearne, S63

Welcome the children

Sheffield can be proud of a long history of helping people fleeing persecution.

We welcomed Belgian refugees during World War One and children of the Kindertransport before World War Two.

More recently, Chileans fleeing the Pinochet regime, the Karen community from Myanmar and Kosovans in the 1990s, plus those fleeing the continuing turmoil and devastation in the Middle East.

Sheffield was the UK’s very first City of Sanctuary and we have many wonderful and dedicated organisations helping people forced to leave their home countries.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport, when10,000 unaccompanied children were welcomed by communities across Britain and escaped the Holocaust.

If Sheffield Council supports the Safe Passage Kindertransport Legacy Campaign, by pledging to welcome three children per year, we could help emulate this tremendous achievement.

Funding will be provided by central government, rather than our own austerity-hit council.

The rescued children would escape destitution and exploitation and have the chance to reach their potential, becoming doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs or even future Lord Mayors.

Alexi Dimond

Sheffield Green Party

Good luck to ref Lucy

Good luck to Lucy Clark, 46, who has become football’s first transgender referee.

She used to referee men’s FA minor league games as Nick Clark but will now officiate women’s matches.

However, Lucy hopes to move back into men’s football.

Hopefully Lucy’s refereeing ability will be the most important topic of conversation.

She continues to participate in the game she loves, a game that helped her to cope with her personal gender ordeal.

John C Fowler

Leverton Gardens, S11

Not on my old phone

The sale of dumb phones are up 20% this year. A dumb phone is one that just makes calls and texts and sounds great. My phone is nearly 10 years old. It does what it says on the tin, it makes calls and sends texts, which suits me just fine.

In a high street shop the other day I handed over my loyalty card (the one that takes about three years to get a fiver on it). ‘Let me give you a leaflet’ the woman says, ‘as you are going to have to download an app to use to get points now’.

I can’t get apps on my phone, but she said everyone can get apps. I said not on my 10 year old phone. She was a bit appalled to think I had this ancient bit of technology. We are not all into techno gadgets. Some of us can live without them. There was a life before phones and apps and we can get on with life just fine without being hooked up to all forms of technology.

Jayne Grayson

Sheffield, S35

Television channels

Just come across a TV channel called ‘Dave’.

Should we rename BBC 1,BBC2 and ITV ‘Tom’ ‘Dick’ and ‘Harry’?

A man called ‘Ron’ as opposed to ‘Horse’.

Ron Clayton

Sheffield, S6