Local resident seeks judicial review of planned fluoridation of Southampton water supply

INFORMATION RELEASE
12th June 2009
Local resident seeks judicial review of planned fluoridation of Southampton water supply
An application has been filed with the High Court for a judicial review of the decision made in February 2009 to fluoridate the water supply of Southampton. The decision was made by the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SCSHA) of the National Health Service www.southcentral.nhs.uk. The application challenges the decision on the grounds that: it is Government policy that fluoridation should only go ahead if the local population is in favour and the evidence if it is not; and that the regulations for the consultation undertaken by the SCSHA required an assessment of the cogency of the arguments for and against fluoridation and this did not occur.
If the application is upheld by the court, the SCSHA will be required to quash its decision.
The challenge has been made by a resident living in the area to be fluoridated, legally represented by Leigh Day & Co Solicitors. Details of the legal challenge are given on their website
A local group Hampshire Against Fluoridation (HAF) www.hampshireagainstfluoridation.org involved in the consultation has been asked by the legal representatives to submit a witness statement describing certain aspects of the consultation process. The statement sets out: examples of what HAF considers to be misleading information put forward by SCSHA during and after the consultation process; and examples of evidence put forward in response to the consultation that was not properly considered by the SCSHA Board.

For more information, contact:
John Spottiswoode Chairman, Hampshire Against Fluoridation 023 8078 9230 john.spottiswoode@btinternet.com
Sean Humber Partner, Leigh Day Solicitors 020 7650 1200 shumber@leighday.co.uk