Dear Editor, I strongly support lowering the voting age to 16 for the forthcoming referendum on whether or not the UK should remain a member of the EU.

After all young people will have to live with the consequences of the outcome of this vote for a much longer time than older voters.

At a time when turn out at elections is disappointingly low amongst younger age groups this is an ideal opportunity to engage them in a debate over the future of our country.

It is very regrettable that lowering the voting age appears to have been ruled out.

Caroline Utting (Cllr) Ross