Southampton and Portsmouth

Today the QE2 arrived at its new home in Dubai.  The former Cunard cruise liner that was a former resident of the Southampton docks arrived in a spectacular fashion as she approached the docks in Dubai.  The QE2 was greeted by a Emirates Airline double decker Airbus A380 that performed a fly by as well as an array of different boats and ships.  This included the largest yacht in the world called “My Dubai” which is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The QE2 is set to spend her new life in the United Arab Emirates as a luxury entertainment centre and hotel.  All of us in Southampton wish the Cunard QE2 Cruise Liner all the best in her final resting place.

Everyone knows that the cost of living is increasing as we are in the grip of a recession but the cost of dying in Southampton is set to rise which will make it one of the most expensive places to have a funeral in the UK.

From the start of 2009 crematorium fees in Southampton are set to rise by 33% with prices rising from £450 per body to £600.  Funeral directors and Councillors in Southampton have criticised the plans saying that it is unfair for relatives to have to deal with the loss of their loved ones and increased financial pressure.

Hampshire County Council has rejected the proposed plan to increase levels of fluoride in Southampton’s water supply.  The plan had previously been approved by Southampton City Council after a heated debate which ended 26 in favour, 18 against.  The plans were supported by Southampton City Council and the Southampton Primary Care Trust because poorer areas of Southampton are suffering from bad dental hygiene and tooth decay especially in younger children.  Many of these poorer families can’t afford practice dental plans or other dental hygiene products like a laser teeth whitening kit so it was thought that this would help reduce tooth decay levels.

The Hampshire County Council decision was unanimously against the increased levels of fluoride because the effect it would have is not entirely known but the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will make the final decision after a 14-week consultation.  Ken Thornber, the leader of Hampshire County Council is quoted as saying -

“The Southampton City Primary Care Trust wants to improve the oral health of specific communities in Southampton, but their proposals will impact on people in south-west Hampshire which does not have the same problems of poor dental health.

“There may be some benefit to some children living in the affected area, but there is also a strong possibility that children with otherwise healthy teeth may develop a degree of fluorosis.  It is not fully understood if there are other health effects to a population that has fluoride added to drinking water. “