THE public s opinion concerning the signing of a European Union treaty has been brushed aside, according to the chairman of a Weston pensioner group.

THE public's opinion concerning the signing of a European Union treaty has been brushed aside, according to the chairman of a Weston pensioner group.

Weston Senior Citizens Forum chairman, Ken Lacey, vowed to battle on in a call for a referendum over the treaty, despite it being signed by Gordon Brown and other European leaders in Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday.

Mr Lacey handed more than 2,000 voting slips to Weston's MP John Penrose last month to pass on to the UK leaders in Parliament.

Residents in North Somerset were asked to send their slips to Mr Lacey with their vote as to whether the public's opinion on the issue should have been sought by Government.

Concerns about the treaty stem from the fact a number of Britain's institutional powers could be handed over to the union now it has been signed.

Mr Lacey said: "This is the biggest change our country has seen in years and a massive change to our national identity.

"The Government has totally ignored the feelings of the people."

The parliamentary debate over the treaty was due to take place this month, but this has now been postponed until next year.