'˜Ordinary people will suffer most'

A re-enactment of a customs post, with a checkpoint and vintage cars, will be set up at tomorrow’s 3.00 pm protest in Bridgend.

The Breaking Down Brexit Campaign have said there will be a “carnival atmosphere,” with numerous local artists performing alongside the Stage Beyond Drama Group.

Local disability charity, Destined meanwhile, will have the life-size cutouts of its members giving support to the event.

The organisers have called on all Irish passport holders to come along, particularly young people, whose future they say will be adversely affected by Brexit and local sports clubs. A spokesman said: “If Brexit goes ahead it will be the ordinary people in our communities who will pay the price – through job losses, loss of farm incomes, barriers to our students third level education and the loss of vital EU Peace funding. A new EU frontier, from Dundalk to Derry, is not something this community can accept.

“We know from experience that a hard border in Ireland would create real hardship particularly for people in this region who cross the border on a daily basis.”

Dermot O’Hara from Destined said: “People with disabilities will be impacted in a number of ways by Brexit, including possibly losing access to Peace IV funding and other strands of funding. This will put services under further strain and lead to a reduction of services and increased isolation for our community.”

Declan Doherty from Derry Youth & Community Workshop added: “Almost every community group in the city is dependent on European Funding. The loss of this will impact on hundreds of staff and will damage vital services provided in the community.”