Mayor of Bedford confirms water supply will not be fluoridated again in milestone statement

LOVE it or hate it, fluoride will not be added to Bedford's water supply again, according to the mayor.

Some are fierce supporters of fluoridation, while others say it is harmful to our health and a breach of human rights.

Campaign group Fluoride Free Bedford have battled against fluoridation since 2002, creating their own documentary 'Toxic tap water' and petitioning Bedford Borough Council.

Last week Mayor of Bedford Dave Hodgson said at an executive council meeting: "Fluoride will not go [back] into the water, we have decided that.

"We have to go through a process. There will not be much discussion, because we've had that discussion and thank our colleagues on the overview and scrutiny committee, particularly Councillor Mingay who has spent an awful lot of time on this.

"We are just going to ratify the decision… and officers will move on with the process of making sure that this is a permanent decision."

His comments follow a unanimous vote by councillors on July 20 to end water fluoridation in the borough. 

Cynthia Bagchi, a spokeswoman for Fluoride Free Bedford, insisted that the group should be kept informed on the Council's progress.

She said: "It's very important that we keep our eye on the ball here. I feel very passionately that we should make sure the Mayor tells us every letter that's going to be written, every sentence that is discussed about this fluoride issue so it's succinct and not long-winded.

"The fluoridated area is only within the borough boundary, and the Manton Heights dosing tap only needs to be switched off and kept off and dismantled."