The Vincent Community Board has decided not to fluoridate Alexandra and Earnslceugh/Manuherikia’s public drinking water.

The board members voted unanimously against fluoridation at its meeting in Alexandra yesterday.

Chairwoman Clair Higginson said the community did not give the board a clear mandate in the referendum held with the local body elections last year.

Alexandra residents voted against by a majority of four votes, 1173 voting against and 1177 for.

In Earnslceugh/Manuherikia, 608 residents voted against and 545 voted for fluoridation.

Elsewhere, Alexandra, Maniototo and Cromwell voted for, Roxburgh and Earnslceugh/Manuherikia against.

The Maniototo Community Board voted to fluoridate Ranfurly’s water last month, while the Roxburgh and Cromwell community boards voted against.

Overall, 49 per cent of voters in the Southland, Central Otago and South Otago districts were against water fluoridation.

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