AS an octogenarian and resolute enthusiast for the Remain campaign, I was surprised and shocked at the suggestion in some of the press that we oldies were responsible for, what I believe, to be an absolutely disastrous step towards further nation impoverishment.

Among my relatives and immediate circle of friends, mainly ex-teachers and other public sector workers, only one, an ex-city bank employee, supported the campaign to break our links with the European Union. 

Perhaps the real problem is the number of people who closed their ears to the overwhelming conclusions and warnings of almost every independent economic body (IFS, OECD, IMF, Governor of the Bank of England, US Treasury et al) in favour of the lies and distortions of populist celebrity politicos, for example the £350m that we supposedly send to the EU every week, the implied imminence of Turkey and its 76 million population’s entry into the EU and the impending absorption of the UK military into a pan-European Army.

The latter two would be a subject of unanimous or national approval or veto.

No doubt the Brexiters were seduced by the prospect of regaining control of our borders, an increasingly unlikely outcome. 

Several UK companies have already announced their probable transfer of activities to EU locations.

Those in the City are particularly vulnerable to such a transfer to Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin and a significant proportion of their workforce is drawn from the commuter towns of north Essex.

All of whose Members of Parliament voted for Brexit.  

Perhaps the inept campaign of the Remain camp also contributed to the outcome with its prediction that families will be £2,400 per year worse off in 15 years’ time when the vicissitudes of life dictate that we cannot predict five years ahead with any certainty.

Brian Fry, Bullace Close, Colchester 

AS are many people, I am growing increasingly worried and upset by the uncalled-for upsurge in racist attacks in the UK after the referendum result was announced. 

It was an unforeseen consequence of leaving the EU and, I am certain that I am far from alone on the Brexit side, in condemning these thugs and hoping that the millions who just wanted to live in a free, independent nation again will not be held responsible for the actions of a few.

Another unwelcome side effect has been the plunge in the prices of stocks and shares, although this can be fairly placed on two principal causes; the fact that many investors took a major gamble with our money on us voting ‘in’ and lost, but also the fact that the ‘Remain’ side heaped ‘Project Fear’ so high that the UK was no longer seen by some as a good place in which to invest.

There are signs of a recovery, but what a pity it was allowed to happen in the first place.

We in UKIP have been preparing for leaving the EU over a long time.

We have the right understanding of how their organisation works by virtue of experience due to being the largest British contingent there, the right people to make as ‘seamless’ a transfer of powers as possible and plans for an ‘amicable divorce’ in which many of the problems Brexit has caused would not have arisen had the campaign been handed to Grassroots Out (GO).

Sadly that is history now and we are where we are.

Jesse Pryke, Vice-Chairman of Central Essex Branch of UKIP, Southend Road, Great Baddow

I HAVE just received the latest copy of Christ Church & New Town Matters, the local Conservative Party newsletter.

This details objections to the proposed Lexden Road bus lane and also sets out parts of the plan which, according to the Conservatives, make sense. 

One of these is to move the pedestrian crossing currently by Essex County Hospital to the end of Wellesley Road. I understand that this is to prevent jay-walking. 

This is a ridiculous proposal.

I use this crossing most days, as do many other people to access the bus stop and Crouch Street. It is at the end of Hospital Road which links through to many residential roads.

If the crossing is moved I am certain there will be far more jay-walking than at present.

There are some good suggestions for improving traffic flow by Aldi, the Lexden Crown and Norman Way and these could be carried out, I would suggest, at minimal cost. As for the bus lane and proposal to move the crossing, these should never have seen the light of day.

Norman Bailey, Cambridge Road, Colchester