'Keep our water free of fluoride'

"Water was fluoridated by the old water boards at Huddersfield, Guiseley and Addingham," said Miss Pauline Johnson, spokeswoman for the West Yorkshire Campaign Against Fluoridation.
"Fluoride was added to Addingham's supplies for four years without consumers being told and there was an outcry when they heard.
"But it was dropped when the water industry went private and companies were worried about being sued. Now under the Water Act 2003, the water companies can be forced by Strategic Health Authorities to add fluoride.
"We are saying to YW shareholders that the majority of the public do not want it. We want the company to tell the Government this law is unworkable," she said.
A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: "The protesters should be aiming their protest at the strategic health authorities because they are the people who say Yes or No.
Cost
"Legislation says if we receive a formal request to fluoridate after proper consultation and the health authorities can demonstrate public support, we are obliged to carry out their wishes.
"We are aware that public opinion is divided over whether fluoridation is either ethical or beneficial to health."
The spokesman said studies had been done which showed that fluoridation was extremely expensive. "Who would pay for that?" he asked.