WE wish to express our total opposition to fluoridation of Bolton's public water supply.

To even suggest such a measure when the average child's diet is so appallingly bad, is to ignore the truth. To be unaware that children are actually being poisoned by the lack of basic vitamins and minerals in their diet is a scandal.

It is about time that dentist Chris Brooks got acquainted with the fact that the root cause in the epidemic of tooth decay in the young is faulty diet. In a recent TV programme, one child was consuming the equivalent of 80 teaspoons of sugar a week! Why is he and the PCT not tackling this over-indulgence of sugar? Poor diet is not related to deprivation, but to ignorance, laziness, over-indulgence, and excess.

Compulsory fluoridation will not tackle nor cure the epidemic of childhood obesity and tooth decay, because it is a poor diet which is solely at fault. Gillian McKieth proves it time and time again that a diet rich in vital minerals and vitamins is essential for a healthy body and healthy teeth. It is not rocket science, Mr Brooks, but common sense! When the issue of poor diet, and the copious consumption of canned, acidic sugary drinks is addressed, then there will be a corresponding improvement in the health of the young and their teeth also. Don't try to sell us the myth that fluoridation will magically improve children's teeth, while they carry on overdosing on fizzy drinks and sugary foods.

It is an abuse of power to attempt to enforce fluoridation on those who keep to a healthy diet and correspondingly have got excellent health and teeth. To do so will be a gross abuse of their human rights. Thus it will be vehemently opposed, and a legal challenge will be mounted to fight this abuse.

I have lived in Bolton all of my life, and I avoid fluoride in toothpaste, because it damages healthy teeth. Thus, now in my 60s, I have never had toothache. I have never had a tooth extracted, and I have had no fillings due to dental caries. I never require dental treatment either.

Why then, Mr Brooks, should I ingest a cumulative poison, and pay for it too, when I do not need nor want it?

Fluoride has got no use in the human body. It is proven to damage bone, red blood cells, and the soft tissues.

Alex Hastings, Mr C Sharples, Mr B Deiters, Mr J Sharples, Mrs E Rosbothom, Mr & Mrs T Nabosi, Mr G Alexander, Ms H Deakin and numerous others Craven Place Montserrat Bolton.