UK - Lymington Times
Fluoride debate rages on as county leader steps in
THE leader of Hampshire County Council has written to the Secretary of State about controversial plans to add fluoride to Southampton's water supply.
Coun. Ken Thornber urged the health secretary Andrew Lansley MP to bring forward new legislation that will give local authorities the power to make such decisions, rather than strategic health authorities.
The South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) gave its approval for the chemical to be added to Southampton's supply in 2009 after the local primary care trust said it was needed to combat child tooth decay.
The plan affects 190,000 people around the city, including 8,000
Totton residents because of the layout of the pipes.
Coun. Thornber's letter said: "We are pleased to note that the Health and Social Care Act 2012 will instigate a change to the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended by the Water Act 2003) and in future will place the responsibility for considering fluoridation proposals with democratically elected local authorities.
"I understand that the commencement of the relevant sections of the act is on such day as the [Secretary of State] may by order appoint.
"May I respectfully request that this part of the act be brought into force as soon as possible."
He added that once the act was in force the county council would seek to submit a termination proposal in relation to the scheme, in recognition of the 72% of respondents who were against the proposal during the consultation by SHA.
He continued: "If the powers to do so are implemented forthwith, this could avoid any further expense from the public purse being expended on this scheme which does not enjoy local support.
"It would clearly be most reasonably practicable to terminate a scheme prior to implementation."
Responding to the SHA's consultation, the county council previously voted against fluoride being added to the water supply, with just one abstention.
Lib Dem county councillor for Totton and Marchwood, Coun. David Harrison welcomed the morals of Coun. Thornber.
He said: "I have been working cross-party on HCC to try and stop local people from being medicated against their will, via our tap water.
"I asked that we write to the Secretary of State, reminding him that there is no democratic mandate to force these plans through and asking that he use the new legislation that will put a stop to this once and for all."
THE leader of Hampshire County Council has written to the Secretary of State about controversial plans to add fluoride to Southampton's water supply.
Coun. Ken Thornber urged the health secretary Andrew Lansley MP to bring forward new legislation that will give local authorities the power to make such decisions, rather than strategic health authorities.
The South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) gave its approval for the chemical to be added to Southampton's supply in 2009 after the local primary care trust said it was needed to combat child tooth decay.
The plan affects 190,000 people around the city, including 8,000
Totton residents because of the layout of the pipes.
Coun. Thornber's letter said: "We are pleased to note that the Health and Social Care Act 2012 will instigate a change to the Water Industry Act 1991 (as amended by the Water Act 2003) and in future will place the responsibility for considering fluoridation proposals with democratically elected local authorities.
"I understand that the commencement of the relevant sections of the act is on such day as the [Secretary of State] may by order appoint.
"May I respectfully request that this part of the act be brought into force as soon as possible."
He added that once the act was in force the county council would seek to submit a termination proposal in relation to the scheme, in recognition of the 72% of respondents who were against the proposal during the consultation by SHA.
He continued: "If the powers to do so are implemented forthwith, this could avoid any further expense from the public purse being expended on this scheme which does not enjoy local support.
"It would clearly be most reasonably practicable to terminate a scheme prior to implementation."
Responding to the SHA's consultation, the county council previously voted against fluoride being added to the water supply, with just one abstention.
Lib Dem county councillor for Totton and Marchwood, Coun. David Harrison welcomed the morals of Coun. Thornber.
He said: "I have been working cross-party on HCC to try and stop local people from being medicated against their will, via our tap water.
"I asked that we write to the Secretary of State, reminding him that there is no democratic mandate to force these plans through and asking that he use the new legislation that will put a stop to this once and for all."
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