Bursledon join Campaign against Fluoridation

Bursledon residents recently joined in the campaign against the decision by the South Central Strategic Health Authority to enforce the fluoridation of Southampton’s water supply, despite overwhelming public disapproval.

The fluoridation scheme, due to begin in 2010, won’t affect Bursledon’s drinking water itself, but locals are still concerned:

“I’m worried because they’re fluoridating the supply out as far as Pickwell Farm, so although our water won’t be affected, the food from there might,” says a Bursledon resident.

This is the first time a health trust has forced through a ruling in this way since new Government legislation was introduced in 2003 allowing health authorities to demand the fluoridation service from water companies.

Bob Deans, Chief Executive for Southampton City PCT says: “Local dental health surveys show that oral health in Southampton is poor with 42 per cent of the City’s children experiencing dental decay by the age of five.  This is clearly unacceptable when dental decay is a preventable disease. Everyone drinking fluoridated water – including children, adults and the elderly - will begin to benefit as soon as fluoridation is started and measurable benefits would be apparent in five years.”

If the scheme goes ahead, Southern Water will increase the fluoride level in 200,000 homes in Southampton, Eastleigh, Totton, Netley and Rownhams from 0.08 parts per million to 1ppm.

The petition against the scheme signed by Bursledon locals was added to 15,000 signatures collected from across the region and taken to Downing Street last month to appeal to Gordon Brown to overturn the decision. However Government ministers have so far ignored the pleas.

One of the campaigners, Romsey MP Sandra Giddley wrote in the Daily Echo recently, “I collected some of the signatures and what was interesting was that some people who signed were not necessarily anti fluoridation but strongly objected to the way that the decision makers rode roughshod over the wishes of the local people… This is no longer just about teeth - it's about democracy.”

Hampshire Against Fluoridation is a local pressure group set up in February 2008 and chaired by John Spottiswoode of South West Hampshire Green Party. Fully supported by Stephen Peckham, Reader in Health Policy, and Professor Paul Connett, one of the world’s leading experts in waste management, their aim is to educate people and stop the push to fluoridate England and Wales. To follow the campaign look at their blogspot.