I GOT the feeling that a lot of people in your area are fundamentally and ideologically opposed to remaining in the EU and that the main issues seem to be the threat posed by immigration, the supposed shortfall in funds that are reallocated to us by the EU and the feeling that blue collar and service-type jobs will be further threatened by our continued membership.

These feelings are understandable and the worries quite natural. However, we have been in the EU for over 40 years and the country is not exactly in a desperate state overall.

Yes, the NHS is struggling but that’s not an issue solely down to EU migrants – it’s also to do with poor strategic planning, inadequate funding and privatisation.

Yes, we have a lot of immigrants but most of them come here to work, not claim benefits, but pay taxes and then they go back home.

And around half of them do not come from the EU anyway.

Granted, the country now seems “full”, however this is partly a global phenomenon as the world’s population has increased by 30 per cent in the last 20 years.

I also think it’s really important to mention that British people are all entitled to the European Health Insurance Card (as well as free travel to the EU, by this I mean no expensive visas).

This reciprocal arrangement entitles British citizens immediate access to the same level of healthcare as the citizens in the countries who are part of the European Economic Area.

Millions of British people have this card and millions have used it for minor ailments and treatments while on holiday or if they live abroad.

If we leave the EU there is no guarantee that we will still be entitled to free healthcare.

I imagine if we start charging Spaniards and Poles for healthcare here then the same will apply to British citizens there. Of course it will.

So if your readers consider that a degree of immigration is both inevitable and sometimes stimulating, if they consider the consequences of losing or being charged for the European Health Card, perhaps they might just realise that staying put is the sensible thing to do.

Not to mention the fact that many countries have stepped forward to say they will not renegotiate trade terms with us if we choose to leave.

We will lose almost 50 per cent of our trade, and our valued allied friendships.

RICHARD JAMES, Grafton Road, London