On June 23 local people are faced with what will prove to be for most the biggest decision of their lives-voting either to stay or leave the EU?

Many people I have spoken to are still uncertain on how they should vote-either because they say they are unsure about the consequences of leaving or how our lives will be affected if we stay. Our politicians on the 'Remain' side have wrongly clouded the issues by launching 'Project Fear' — a deliberately negative programme of dubious facts to frighten electors into 'staying'.

However I feel we must all ignore this 'noise' and concentrate on how continued membership is affecting our daily lives in Bolton and how leaving would improve matters. Ask yourselves the following questions — how will a growing (five new countries about to join the EU) 'open door' immigration policy affect youth employment, GP appointments, NHS waiting lists, A&E treatment times, already over subscribed dentists, school places, housing waiting lists and rising crime rates? The billions we send to the Eu could end 'austerity' and allow new roads/repair potholes benefitting us all.

Only last week the EU Commission ordered Britain to build more houses to cope with all the EU immigrants, warning that the UK is heading for an 'acute' housing crisis caused by massive population growth from an unlimited migration from across the EU.

Now we know why Bolton Council is withdrawing objections to housing estates in Westhoughton,Blackrod and Horwich and only last year the Leader of the Council was celebrating Bolton's growing immigrant population.

Our remaining local green areas are increasingly under threat from house building with already congested local roads faced with saturation, as new developments are completed.

Many who are reluctantly voting to stay despite not liking what is happening to their country and though they know it is very likely to get worse are suffering from the 'Stockholm syndrome' — even though the Referendum offers freedom from their 'captors' (the EU), they have become attached to them and fear voting to leave and enter unknown territory even though it would improve their lives.

Derek Bullock

Leigh Rd

Westhoughton