October 17, 1969.

CHIPPENHAM: The fluoridation of water was described by a member of Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council on Monday as “mass medication” and the “poisoning of the water supply”. Miss J Clarkson was objecting to the public health committee’s resolution that the county council be informed that the RDC was in favour of fluoridation of the water supply. Miss Clarkson wanted to know more about the “experts” who had made the report. “I do not trust ‘experts. It was ‘experts’ who gave us thalidomide and the fertility pill so that women now produce seven babies at a time.” She pointed out that only a small percentage of the entire water supply was consumed by the children in the relevant age group. The rest was consumed by other people, was used for washing people, clothes and cars, watering the garden, hosing down milking parlours etc.

October 20, 1989.

TROWBRIDGE: Anger at the shutting of the Trowbridge open-air swimming pool, suspicion at a secret deal with West Wilts District Council to develop the Brown Street site and determination to keep outdoor swimming facilities in the town centre, were expressed at a public meeting last week. It was the latest move in the continuing protest at official attitudes to the pool – which the district council says has now been used for the last time. The meeting also heard that demand for the open-air pool would increase with the likelihood of global heating and there would be danger to children who would swim in the river as had happened in Chippenham with the shutting of the outdoor pool and the opening of an expensive and overheated indoor pool.

October 22, 2004.

WARMINSTER: The Warminster-based regiment Black Watch has been promised it will be home for Christmas despite hints its soldiers will relieve American troops in a dangerous region of Iraq. Critics of the proposal to send in Black Watch soldiers to replace US troops near Baghdad have blasted the Government, saying it is a political and not a military decision. Tony Blair denied a decision had been made but confirmed Black Watch troops would replace American troops if the request was agreed. West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison, who served in Iraq, is disgusted that the troops are possibly being used for political gain. He said: “There is a strong suspicion that this development is motivated by the upcoming US elections.”