Rastrick councillor Craig Whittaker: ‘Fears we will get fluoride by default’

Nov 24 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

‘IT’S fundamentally wrong that fluoride could be added to Calderdale’s water supply by default’, a councillor says.

With NHS Kirklees and the Bradford health trust both considering adding fluoride to local water, councillors in Calderdale, which is sandwiched in between the two authorities, say their water supply could be affected too.

Rastrick councillor Craig Whittaker said the residents of the area launched their biggest campaign in the 1970s, when more than 20,000 people signed a petition against fluoride.

In 2003 Calderdale councillors reiterated their opposition.

But now they are set to debate the issue again as the Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority looks at the position in Kirklees and Bradford.

Clr Whittaker said: “The majority of people I speak to are without question against it.

“Calderdale has a history of being opposed to fluoride.

“But because of the Kirklees and Bradford position, we need to consider how we will be affected by it.

“We want to make sure that we have our say so, in turn, we want to know what people think.”

Clr Whittaker has asked Calderdale Council to vote on a fluoridation motion and make their stance clear.

But even then, he said the ultimate decision lies with the Strategic Health Authority.

“There was one local authority down south where 70% of the people opposed fluoridation but they went ahead with it anyway.