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Let’s all calm down

YOU were kind enough to print a letter I sent in concerning the EU referendum and today you printed a reply to it by Des Morgan. Mr Morgan seems to have missed the point that the final paragraph of my original letter was intended to be humorous and ironic.

I am totally in favour of the free movement of labour and people throughout Europe and hope that will still be possible after the Brexit negotiations are concluded. I trust that the Polish and other east European workers here will be able to stay for they make a huge contribution to our country both economically and culturally. We also owe them a debt of gratitude for the part they played as our allies in WW2, during which over 15 per cent of their population lost their lives compared with about 1 per cent for the UK.

I am not happy with the result of the referendum but accept it and wish to move on. I think our own wise Queen expressed the views of the nation so well, as she always does, when she recently addressed the Scottish parliament and said that we should all calm down, allow room for some quiet thinking and contemplation and then look forward to the next five years with hope and optimism.

JEREMY KEMBLE

Windshot, Wroughton

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Control for the few

OVER the past two weeks we have seen the economic shock of Brexit on the markets; the pound in free-fall, billions of pounds wiped off the stock exchange, employers freezing recruitment and the slow-down in foreign investment.

Markets hate uncertainty but things will settle down and, ultimately, it is about how you and your family will be affected by the outcome that matters.

The great irony about the “take back control” line that was used again and again by those MPs that supported Leave is that it only means control for the few and not the many. The economic uncertainties cause by Britain trying to untangle itself from the single market means Brexit will be used as an excuse; a buzz-word for Conservative MPs to not only justify cutting back further on the services that are so vital to Swindon residents but it will allow them to claim the electoral mandate in which to do so.

In a government where the minister for disabilities can justify to himself that cuts to disability allowances are acceptable in order to give further tax-breaks to the wealthier members of our society, I fear what giving such a government more control will mean for those in Swindon.

ALEX HEGENBARTH

Liberal Democrat, Swindon

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Feeling of deja vu

HERE we go again! Ever get that deja vu feeling?

The ticket machines in the Hay Lane parking area are at best unreliable. There were problems with them on July 1 only hours after activation, and again yesterday, when a machine did not recognise £2 being put in it, nor refund the money when the transaction was cancelled.

I wonder how much it will cost SBC to do manual refunds and repair ticket machines?

Anyone from SBC care to release information on complaints about faulty machines, repairs and refunds since activation, a three-day period?

MATHEW KOELZ

Bradenham Road, Swindon