Madam,

After many years of enjoying Patrick O’Brien’s column in the Cambrian News I was most disappointed to read his most unbalanced views on Brexit, as the common market which I voted for in 1973 bears no resemblance to the ‘EU’ which we now have and we were not given the opportunity to vote in the 1993 treaty which altered the whole landscape.

The warning signs started when the ‘EU’ ran out of funding and ordered us to stump up £1.7 billion in December 2014 and David Cameron, breathing fire and brimstone, jetted off to tell them we are already paying our share and do not intend to pay any more. To his surprise he discovered that he had signed (on one of the various treaties) to subsidise any shortfall which may arise in the future, and that our economy had enjoyed a good year so pay up.

In a nutshell, any time the EU run short of funding they can pick the pocket of successful member countries as and when, without any debate. I now draw your attention to “The worst examples of EU waste”:

1. Three new airports in Poland, hardly ever used and one simply non-functional.

2. An airport built 50 miles from Madrid, which boasts one of the longest runways in Europe – not in use.

3. A grant of £410,000 to fund a dog fitness and rehabilitation centre which was never built and then suddenly appeared as offices which are now overgrown with weeds and not in use.

4. Huge amounts of money intended for agriculture ending up to improve golf courses.

Dear readers, I am only scratching the surface of flagrant and wanton waste, and before anyone considers my views as biased in favour of Brexit leavers, you can google “The 50 worst examples of EU waste”, where you will find the continual reference to this situation by the European Court of Auditors who emphasise the misuse of funding repeatedly.

Yours etc Sydney Jones, Llwyn yr Eos, Penparcau, Aberystwyth.

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