7 Oct 2009

Daily Echo - Court halts fluoride tide

Court halts fluoride tide
By Matt Smith
matt.smith@dai!yecho.co.uk For up-to-the-minute news and information - dailyecho.co.uk
IT took three times of asking and the casting vote of Southampton's sheriff.
But Southampton's ancient Court Leet agreed to ask the city council to rethink its support for adding fluoride to tap water. Anti-fluoride campaigners seized the chance to put their case for councillors to vote again on the scheme, which would affect 160,000 city residents, following the extent of public opposition.
Some 72 per cent of the fluoride rethink. A third request evenly split the jury after a couple of members left the session early and the sheriff, Councillor Carol Cunio, used her casting vote to accept it. The city council will now have to consider the court's plea for another fluoride debate.
Hampshire Against Fluoride spokesman Stephen Peckham had told the court: "During the consultation the city council voted by a majority of four in favour of the scheme. Since the health authority made their decision a number of councillors have expressed their disquiet about the decision and how it was made. If the council knew local residents were so opposed they may have made a different decision."

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