A SENSIBLE contribution from Labour councillor Dave Shields (Letters, April 1), suggesting that Southampton City Council will challenge Public Health England in its misguided efforts to impose on us fluoride in tap water.

It’s worth remembering though that the plans go beyond the boundaries of Southampton and into Eastleigh and parts of Totton. Hampshire County Council has already given the matter detailed scrutiny and decided that the proposals should not be supported.

It’s really about time that Public Health England woke up and realised that they are never going to succeed in mass medicating the local population.

A fraction of what they will save on useless legal costs would be all that’s needed to promote proper teeth brushing.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR David Harrison, New Forest Liberal Democrats.