MUCH of my time last year was spent and devoted to campaigning for Bolton Council to reject fluoridation of the north west water supplies, which in fairness, they did.

Many councils across the north west started to respond to public demand by rejecting fluoridation of the North West's water supplies.

However, what is of greater concern is what the government did next!

It was a typical example of the lengths that this government will go to drive its policies through in the face of increasing public pressure.

Parliament has now expressly excluded councils from any future "public consultations" on fluoridation.

Is this what they intend to do with all policies that the public in our towns and cities object to?

It seems that through central, regional and local government the "big conversation" Tony all wanted us to have will be restricted to what we are only "allowed" to talk about and those who make the rules need not apply them to themselves.

It seems that free speech really isn't that free at all.

IAN UPTON, Thomas More Close, Bolton.