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Fluoride: now for a new vote
COUNCILLORS will get another chance to vote on whether fluoride should be added to local water supplies when they meet next Wednesday.
Craig Whittaker persuaded Calderdale Council to back his anti-fluoride stance in 2003, having consistently opposed the principle since the 1970s.
The issue is back on the agenda because the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority has begun a study into the possibility of putting fluoride into water supplies, at the request of NHS Bradford and Airedale, and NHS Kirklees.
Health bosses in the neighbouring districts want to add the controversial treatment to their water in a bid to improve dental health – but concern has been raised that supplies in Calderdale could also be affected.
"It is fundamentally wrong that such a request could result in Calderdale areas having artificial fluoride in their water almost by default," said Coun Whitaker (Con, Rastrick).
He wants the council to undertake public consultation on artificial fluoridation, should the Strategic Health Authority decide to progress the Bradford, Airedale and Kirklees proposal.
When the proposals were first revealed in August a Yorkshire Water spokeswoman admitted if one area got fluoride, potentially other areas would be affected.
Yorkshire Water said it was looking at where in the grid system the fluoride would have to be placed to reach the requested areas and stop it filtering into other areas.
They said they were obliged to act on the strategic health authority's decision.
Two months ago a spokesman for the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority told the Courier they would "look into many issues including whether there could be an impact on other areas".
But he insisted until the results of the study were known "we are not able to say what the possible impact could be."
The results of the study will be available in spring 2010, when the public is expected to be consulted.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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Light sleet showers
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