Michael Coughtrey (Letters, October 18) seems to misunderstand the reason for Brexit taking place.

People are fully aware now they were lied to outrageously during the early days of the European Union.

All governments during that period were adamant that it was nothing more than a trading arrangement.

This was a complete and utter lie and they knew it.

However, the group of countries that we joined were countries of similar lifestyle, similar wealth and similar aspirations so they got away with the lies they told us.

In recent years things have changed dramatically, after the collapse of Russia Nato wanted to push the European Union as close as possible to Russia’s borders and bit by bit this brought in countries with very different lifestyles.

The group of countries that now make up the European Union are a complete miss match and the freedom of movement effectively means all the poor countries population moving to the richer countries for work or benefits.

Who could blame them? But the free movement of people was originally designed for countries very similar to each other, so the free movement worked both ways to everyone’s benefit.

Now the free movement means in all the original group of countries, young people find it hard to get employment, decent wages and housing.

The European Union is a complete mess as it stands now and we will be much better off out of it.

We can make our own decisions, make our own laws and become part of the global world again.

John Birch Colchester Road, West Bergholt

  • Taking control? That’s ironic

Earlier this week the pound in our pocket dropped in value to a 31-year low against the dollar; in doing so it was taken to within a whisker of beating the Argentinian Peso to the title “worst performing global currency of 2016”.

I must say that the term “taking back control” is starting to look a little bit ironic.

However that particular irony was dwarfed during Theresa May’s Ready-Steady-Brexit speech in Birmingham.

As Mrs May announced the official process to leave the European Union will start next March she stated how proud she was that Britain was the world’s fifth-largest economy.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Having made very specific promises to the UK population it would be an outrage if they were broken while our economy is being downsized.

John Clarke Black Notley

  • I welcome Tesco parking fines

Regarding Tesco introducing parking fines (Gazette, October 14), I am very glad to see the supermarket is bringing itself in line with others.

As many of the culprits late at night, or early in the morning, are Tesco staff themselves, am I to presume that either their wages will be increased to meet the fines, or that Tesco employs a lot of disabled staff overnight?

Tesco’s Hythe and Maldon stores are particular offenders.

Approaches to management get us nowhere.

My blue badge is needed, not just because of mobility problems, but because I cannot get in and out of the car unless the door is wide open - impossible in an ordinary space.

Parents with young children face the same problems, so it is not just relevant to blue badges.

So, well done Tesco, please make sure it is implemented.

Sandra Rae Monkwick Avenue, Colchester

  • Interference is not needed here

The antics regarding Colchester Library and the “artwork” that has gone missing perturbs me.

I have seen said artwork many many times.

I would agree, like all art, it’s rather like Marmite. You like it or you don’t.

I don’t like it, but it belongs to Colchester and I don’t like folk taking away Colcestrians' property willy nilly. 

Perhaps it would be better as a permanent display in the dreaded VAF, it will unsettle fewer people there.

However, who and why is changing the public library into the “hub”. The hub of what?

It is suggested it is Essex County Council that is bringing about the changes to our library. Obviously with the connivance of Colchester Council.

But why I ask is Essex County Council allowed to interfere in Colchester? Chelmsford is far from perfect.

Essex County Council should expend its energies in its home town and stay away from Colchester - at least until it has repaired all our potholes.

Colchester Council is good at landing us with unwanted stuff.

Tymperleys, belonging to Colcestrians, is now part of the Layer Marney Tower owners due to a 125-year lease awarded.

It is a nice cafe and venue, I haven’t seen the promised museum.

Bob Dove Launceston Close, Colchester

  • Huge demand for MS Support

Last week 16 people completed a Getting to Grips course, run and designed by the Colchester and District Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, to help people who have been recently diagnosed with MS.

The five-week course provided information on treatments, support grants, exercise and wellbeing as well as a forum for those newly diagnosed and their partners and families to discuss concerns and exchange experiences.

Such is the demand in the Colchester area, there are plans to run three more courses next year and, to raise funds, the branch is holding a Halloween Craft Fair on Saturday at the Lawford Venture Centre between 10.30am and 4pm. Admission and parking is free.

Louise Joplin Treasurer, MS Society, Colchester and District Branch