THE SHIPLEY constituency contains the World Heritage Site of Saltaire, preserved since the Industrial Revolution which made Britain great - so what are its people's thoughts on leaving or remaining in the EU?

The town is already significant in the EU referendum debate, as in 2006 its Conservative MP Philip Davies became the first Member of Parliament to publicly call for the UK to leave.

Mr Davies said: "Ten years later, I still strongly believe we would be better off out.

"I am pretty certain the majority of my constituents will be voting to leave the EU in the referendum.

"At a recent public debate out of 126 votes, 93 people voted to leave and that is typical of the response I receive around the Shipley constituency."

Mr Davies said he had a number of concerns about Britain's membership of the EU.

"The influence the ‘remain’ side claim we possess is an illusion," he said.

"We are not sat at the top table making the decisions as we are out-voted.

"This happened in every single instance over the last parliamentary session.

"Instead of one of nine countries like in 1975, we are now one of 28, and with each new country our influence lessens.

"We also pay a net membership fee of £10 billion each year for a £68 billion trade deficit.

"Trade will not be lost in the case of Brexit, as trade is a two-way street – and our European neighbours make more money from us than vice versa.

"In fact, if we left, the UK would be the EU’s single biggest export market."

Mr Davies said immigration was also a major issue.

"Free movement of people within the EU means we cannot control our borders. This is putting a huge strain on housing, school places and the NHS. The only way to control immigration is to leave the EU.

"Britain built its wealth as a global trader, and our future prosperity depends on trading with China, India, South America and emerging economies in Africa. Not being stuck to an inward-facing, backward-looking protection racket."

Radio Design Ltd makes phone mast technology for service providers and employs 200 people at its headquarters in Salts Mill at the heart of Saltaire.

But its founder and boss Eric Hawthorn, who is also export ambassador for the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, strongly disagrees with Mr Davies' views.

"Philip Davies doesn't represent me with his stance on this," said Mr Hawthorn, who also has manufacturing bases in India and China.

"If I didn't have that access I would have to think about leaving the UK.

"Unrestricted access to Europe, the world's single biggest market, is the most important thing for my business.

"If I didn't have that access I would have to think about leaving the UK.

"If you're not part of the club - you're not part of the club and to think we could easily find new trade deals is naive. I don't think we have a choice."

Mr Hawthorn said he employed a range of nationalities and saw immigration as source of strong, fresh talent.

"We have a great team who work hard, pay taxes and benefit the area."

Another pro EU voice is that of Bradford Councillor Kevin Warnes, who represents the Green Party.

He said: "Brexit hysteria about the cost of the EU and its impact on our sovereignty is wildly overblown and xenophobic. We live in 2016, not 1956.

"The EU delivers vital environmental, social and employment protections for EU citizens as well as essential regulation of the single European market.

"We welcome the freedoms that EU membership gives us and our fellow Europeans in terms of being able to travel, work and study anywhere in our continent.

"Most key decisions that affect Bradfordians are made in the UK, not in Brussels. Policy decisions such as those on government tax and spending, education, health, welfare, transport and defence remain in the hands of British citizens, as it should be.

But Barry Cooper, who runs Perkins Jewellers in Shipley, said he and others still felt uninformed about aspects of the debate.

"My view is we don't seem to get any straight facts, that's what everyone's saying," he said.

"My gut instinct is we'd be better off out, but my real concern is there's no real exit strategy - once we're out, we're out and there's no soft landing."

Hairdresser Claire Wilkinson has run Redheadz salon in Shipley for 18 years and said the majority view of her customers was that Britain should quit the EU.

She said: "If I asked 100 of them they would all say "out" and I think the Referendum will see the largest turnout of voters the country has ever seen.

"But I fear people are basing their decisions on a lack of knowledge - particularly on immigration.

"I'm voting to stay in because I don't want to see taxes, shipping costs and everything else going up."

Fruit and vegetables seller Gordon Peel has run a stall in Shipley's open market for 40 years and said he thought fellow traders were evenly split in their views.

"Personally I'm not voting to leave - I think we've been in it too long," he said.

"I believe if you stick with something you can make it work.

"And if we leave, I'm sure our food prices will go up."

The UK goes to the polls for the EU referendum on June 23.