Fluoridated water is poison on tap, no better than "snacks ruining children's teeth" (The Argus, April 17).

Brighton and Hove declared itself as an opponent of water fluoridation on July 17, 2003, not long after the last local elections, when a motion condemning water fluoridation was passed after much lobbying by local activists.

We all have the choice to eat sweets but once a dangerous chemical is introduced to the water supply, it cannot be removed except by expensive and impractical means.

So it is in effect compulsory medication - totally illegal.

These points were made by campaigners at a health conference in 2004 at the Brighton Centre, outside the Labour party conference, and also at the national Friends of the Earth conference that year, where I successfully pushed an anti-fluoride motion.

Lack of investment in the NHS is no excuse, and is causing much controversy in other departments, such as A&E and maternity.

Neither can bodged dental contracts resulting in a desert for NHS dentistry be a default justification for lacing the water. It may be that politicians do not have the power to stop fluoridation, since even Southern Water could be compelled to add fluoride under government orders.

Whoever is elected on May 3, must not forget the legacy of that 2003 council motion.

  • Peter Poole, Independent candidate for Goldsmid ward, Eastern Road, Brighton