I am disappointed that other community leaders, apart from the two MPs, have not shown any leadership over the European debate in Herefordshire.  The referendum is the most important vote that Herefordshire has had for many years, and therefore there is a need for the public to hear the views of their elected representatives.

I believe that Herefordshire must vote to stay in Europe. 

Farming magazines expect land values to fall, while farm subsidies may also be cut jeopardising the county's agricultural industry.

Many of the county's largest companies have their headquarters in Europe.   Local managers will be arguing with sound economic and logistical reasons to stay in Herefordshire.  Vote Brexit and they’ll surely be likely to leave.

The county's arts organisations, education establishments, social foundations, police and even religious communities, all have some involvement with their European counterparts benefitting enormously from pan European cooperation.

Bulmers bottles can be found on shelves in Greece, Italy and  Spanish resorts. 

Many of our young people work in Europe, their grandparents in retirement, spending several months a year in their holiday homes.

Why, when we are about to have a university in the county which will attract students from across the world, would we want to exclude the brightest students, possible future entrepreneurs, from our county when Herefordshire is so desperately in need of new injection of funds and ideas?

Our city and towns are ‘Twinned’ with European towns.   Are we now going to have to end those relationships?

Learning to understand how people of different faiths, languages, cultural values and religions has been one of the core reasons for peace in Europe since the end of the Second World War. And we’ve benefitted enormously from pan-European cooperation.

Of course it is sensible to acknowledge that there are things wrong with the European Union But isn't better to remain in the EU, however imperfect, in order to improve its effectiveness?  The national debate in is danger of becoming pathetic, stupid and totally off the point.  Voters deserve better, more reasoned, arguments.

Chris Chappell.

Hinton and Hunderton Ward.

Independent Labour.