The proposed re-fluoridation of Flitwick and District, Central Bedfordshire
Dear Public Health England,
I have been told that Anglian Water is now able to restore water treatment and fluoride dosing at Pulloxhill Water Treatment Works (WTW) for the supply of water to Flitwick and District (Central Bedfordshire) after a break of 21 years. In 1996, fluoridation ceased at Pulloxhill WTW because, we are told, the raw water, even after treatment was not potable. This implies that fluoridation did not cease because of technical problems with the fluoridation equipment. Residents were not consulted. In fact, when fluoridation started there in the late 1960’s (date to be confirmed) they were not asked for their permission to have a hazardous acid added to their drinking water.
From an examination of the minutes of Central Bedfordshire's Health and Well-Being Board the issue has not been discussed formally by the Board and it seems as though PHE has decided to grasp this opportunity to order Anglian Water to produce a fluoridation feasibility report by basing their request on an obscure piece of UK legislation which may have been misinterpreted by PHE.
Please provide the following information and documents:
1. The name, section and clause of the relevant law which has been used to justify a resumption of water fluoridation after a break of 21 years.
2. The reasoning behind citing this particular piece of law.
3. A scanned copy of the fluoridation contract which was signed in the 1960s or 1970s by the Health Authority of the day and the Water Company of the day which may or may not have been the local authority’s water board.
4. Why has the issue not been discussed by mid-Bedfordshire's Health and Well-Being Board?
5. Has the issue been discussed in camera with Councillor Spurr (Chair of the H&WB Board) and is he aware of the annual revenue which Central Bedfordshire will be required to provide if fluoridation resumes?
6. Has the amount of public finance required to fluoridate Flitwick and District been calculated?
7. ALL email correspondence and hard copy letters generated by PHE Bedfordshire and Anglian Water up until 24th November 2017 inclusive relating to Water Fluoridation.
8. Has Anglian Water stated that the fluoridation equipment which was present at Pulloxhill WTW prior to 1996 is NOT fit for purpose?
9. Has new fluoridation equipment for Pulloxhill WTW been purchased and installed?
10. Current dental decay statistics for dmft and DMFT for 5-year-olds and 12-year-olds for Flitwick and District (ie. the villages which are due to be supplied with treated fluoridated water).
11. Benchmark data for dmft and DMFT for 5-year-olds and 12-year-olds in Flitwick and District immediately prior to 1996. This data is required in order to demonstrate that dental hygiene amongst children in the area has worsened or improved since fluoridation ceased in 1996. For both sets of data, please adjust for population changes.
12. Acknowledge that Mrs M Scott Director of Public Health, Bedfordshire and Mrs C Shohet, Deputy Director of Public Health, Bedfordshire, have read the Bedford Impact report November 2015 in which Feema Francis was unable to demonstrate that dmft had increased in Bedford after fluoridation had ceased in the Borough in 2009.
13. PHE Bedfordshire is a successor organisation 3 steps removed from the organisation which originally initiated Water Fluoridation in Flitwick and District. It is my understanding that successor organisations cannot invoke a contract agreed by earlier organisations which no longer exist. Please confirm that you have taken legal advice regarding this. What was the advice?
14. Has a new fluoridation contract been signed during 2017 between PHE Bedfordshire and Anglian Water in respect of Flitwick and District?
15. If a new contract has been signed, it is my understanding that this constitutes a new fluoridation scheme, whether or not new fluoridation equipment is indicated. Has legal advice been sought to ensure that PHE Bedfordshire is complying with the relevant sections on Water Fluoridation in the Water Industries Act 1991 (as amended). If so, what was the advice?
1. The name, section and clause of the relevant law which has been used to justify a resumption of water fluoridation after a break of 21 years.
2. The reasoning behind citing this particular piece of law.
3. A scanned copy of the fluoridation contract which was signed in the 1960s or 1970s by the Health Authority of the day and the Water Company of the day which may or may not have been the local authority’s water board.
4. Why has the issue not been discussed by mid-Bedfordshire's Health and Well-Being Board?
5. Has the issue been discussed in camera with Councillor Spurr (Chair of the H&WB Board) and is he aware of the annual revenue which Central Bedfordshire will be required to provide if fluoridation resumes?
6. Has the amount of public finance required to fluoridate Flitwick and District been calculated?
7. ALL email correspondence and hard copy letters generated by PHE Bedfordshire and Anglian Water up until 24th November 2017 inclusive relating to Water Fluoridation.
8. Has Anglian Water stated that the fluoridation equipment which was present at Pulloxhill WTW prior to 1996 is NOT fit for purpose?
9. Has new fluoridation equipment for Pulloxhill WTW been purchased and installed?
10. Current dental decay statistics for dmft and DMFT for 5-year-olds and 12-year-olds for Flitwick and District (ie. the villages which are due to be supplied with treated fluoridated water).
11. Benchmark data for dmft and DMFT for 5-year-olds and 12-year-olds in Flitwick and District immediately prior to 1996. This data is required in order to demonstrate that dental hygiene amongst children in the area has worsened or improved since fluoridation ceased in 1996. For both sets of data, please adjust for population changes.
12. Acknowledge that Mrs M Scott Director of Public Health, Bedfordshire and Mrs C Shohet, Deputy Director of Public Health, Bedfordshire, have read the Bedford Impact report November 2015 in which Feema Francis was unable to demonstrate that dmft had increased in Bedford after fluoridation had ceased in the Borough in 2009.
13. PHE Bedfordshire is a successor organisation 3 steps removed from the organisation which originally initiated Water Fluoridation in Flitwick and District. It is my understanding that successor organisations cannot invoke a contract agreed by earlier organisations which no longer exist. Please confirm that you have taken legal advice regarding this. What was the advice?
14. Has a new fluoridation contract been signed during 2017 between PHE Bedfordshire and Anglian Water in respect of Flitwick and District?
15. If a new contract has been signed, it is my understanding that this constitutes a new fluoridation scheme, whether or not new fluoridation equipment is indicated. Has legal advice been sought to ensure that PHE Bedfordshire is complying with the relevant sections on Water Fluoridation in the Water Industries Act 1991 (as amended). If so, what was the advice?
Yours faithfully,
Joy Warren
posted by Bill at
10:14 AM
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