Brexit Negotiations: UK remains polarized a year before official exit from the EU

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A year from today, Britain is scheduled to officially leave the European Union. While some are now questioning their vote to leave the EU, others remain steadfast. In the meantime, negotiations for a final exit are slowly advancing for a country that remains polarized. CGTN's Maria Galang reports.

The rundown English seaside town of Great Yarmouth and the cathedral city of Norwich are about 30 kilometers from each other, but their views on Brexit couldn't be further apart.

Nearly 75 percent of Great Yarmouth voted in favor of leaving the EU in 2016 - ranking it as one of the top 10 Brexit-supporting areas in the country.

60-year-old French fry shop owner Robin Platten was one of the more than 17 million Britons who voted to quit the EU in the 2016 vote, but unlike many of the locals in Great Yarmouth, he regrets his decision.

ROBIN PLATTEN BREXIT LEAVE VOTER "I've been thinking maybe I might have made a mistake."

Platten's three children all voted to remain. After realizing the youth vote was strongly against Brexit, Platten felt his generation shouldn't be responsible for their futures.

ROBIN PLATTEN BREXIT LEAVE VOTER "I think maybe everybody should be given a second chance for the mistakes that they've made. I think this is a serious mistake now. Taking on board the information that we're being given, given the chance to rethink. But I don't really think that's going to happen. I really don't think we'll be given that chance."

A few market stalls away is Philip Blake's family-run butcher shop, which has sold only local and British produce since it opened in 1922. Blake voted to leave and thinks another year until Brexit is too long.

PHILIP BLAKE BREXIT LEAVE VOTER "I think we ought to get out of it now, straight away, no messing around."

Some prominent members of the remain camp have endorsed the idea of another referendum, saying Brexit should be halted to safeguard Britain's economy and international standing. Among them, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"Tony Blair - he should keep his snout out."

That view - shared by many in this once bustling fishing port. While eastern England had some of the highest votes for Brexit, Norwich was one of the only districts in the region which voted to stay. For market trader Jane Wirgman, advocating EU membership is part of her daily routine.

JANE WIRGMAN BREXIT REMAIN VOTER "I feel very strongly that it was very badly mismanaged and that we were told inaccurate information, and we are in such a dreadful mess now, but I would just like to say well: not in my name. I don't want to leave Europe."

However, some voters say they have no desire to see the process drag on.

KATHRYN FABIAN BREXIT REMAIN VOTER "I think we may as well get on with it now, I feel like we had our say back then, it's been decided. Let's just move on."

Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on the 29th of March, 2019. MG, CGTN.