A REFERENDUM is to be held in Bolton to gauge public opinion on whether Every resident will be given the chance to have a say, once plans for the public vote are finalised.

The results of the referendum will act as a strong indicator of public opinion in Bolton, but would not be binding on the final decision, which will be made by regional health chiefs at NHS North-west.

Conservative leader Cllr Alan Rushton called for the referendum at a meeting of Bolton Council.

He said: "We're supposed to represent people's views.

"Officers will say Do you know how much a referendum will cost?' but you could find methods which have almost no cost at all. This council should respect the majority view."

The call for a referendum came as Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) chiefs prepared to sign up to the North-west Fluoridation Evaluation Group.

The group will decide whether there appears to be sufficient support for the principle of fluoridation. If there is, they will ask NHS North-west - the body which monitors health care in the region - to launch a far-reaching consultation with residents of Bolton.

Only if there is majority support would water supplier United Utilities be asked to add fluoride to the town's water.

The process would be complicated because Bolton's water comes from both the Lake District and the Sweetloves and Wayoh reservoirs, via the main treatment plant in Lostock. United Utilities would be required to carry out a study to see if any water network changes were required.

Debate over fluoridation has raged for years with the PCT, which is responsible for the town's NHS dental provision, arguing it would improve the poor state of children's teeth.

But opponents say it is a form of mass medication and claim it has been linked to cancer and deterioration of bones.

A web vote in an edition of The Bolton News in January showed that 39 per cent of readers on our website backed the addition of fluoride to Bolton's water.

Their views are backed by Chris Brooks, a leading NHS dentist and member of the Bolton Dental Society.

He said: "We would campaign for a yes vote because we believe fluoride will drastically reduce tooth decay in the young and the elderly. We have seen the benefits of fluoridating the water supply in the West Midlands because there have been dramatic improvements to their oral health.

"We would hope the benefits of fluoridating the water will be appreciated."

The issue of a referendum was brought up by the Liberal Democrat party at a full council meeting on Wednesday when Cllr Bob Ronson called for a full consultation.

The Conservative Party table a second motion, calling for a referendum, which was opposed by the ruling Labour Party, but was passed by a coalition of Tory and Lib Dem councillors.

Council and Labour group leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: "I've nothing against consulting the public but I do cringe about what a referendum will cost. It tends to start at £100,000 and where does it end?

"We need a grown-up debate, not scare-mongering about forced medication."

Cllr Bob Ronson said: "Studies in the United States have linked fluoride in water to cancer.

"What is proposed is an infringement of the right of us all to decline a form of medication."

The council's executive must now decide how the referendum will be carried out.

A spokesman said: "It could take any form, from a full ballot, to something like e-votes and postal votes."