Protests fail to stop water fluoridation in Southampton
Plans to add fluoride to water supplies in Southampton will go ahead, despite protests from local people, it has been confirmed.
Campaigners and some local politicians criticised the South Central Strategic Health Authority and accused the body of being “arrogant” at a meeting on Tuesday night. Local people are outraged that the authority has decided to go ahead with the plans despite protests and anger from residents; the fluoridation scheme will affect more than 200,000 people in Southampton, Eastleigh, Netley, Rownhams and Totton.
The decision to go ahead with the fluoridation scheme was revealed to Hampshire County Council from the chief executive of the SCSA, Andrea Young; Ms Young claimed that the decision had been made on the grounds that fluoride helps to reduce rates of tooth decay and can improve standards of oral health. Standards of oral health amongst children in the Southampton area are poor and water fluoridation could help to make a positive difference.
The campaign to stop the plans has received a great deal of support from local residents, anti-fluoride campaigners and local councillors; many object to the fact that the SCSA is able to make the decision in the first place, especially as the body is due to be scrapped by the government next year. There are also fears surrounding the safety of fluoridated water supplies, with some people claiming that added fluoride can contribute to fluorosis.
Councillor Pat West, chairman of the county council’s health scrutiny panel, said that everyone at the local authority was very disappointed with the decision. Last month, a mother of three from the area, Geraldine Milner took the case to the High Court but the Judge ruled that the health authority had the right to make a decision on the issue.
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