NEWS RELEASE

West Dorset Council advice on GM trial 'wrong'

NLP refers legal challenge option to Greenpeace lawyers

[Earlier Dorset Echo article on this story - click here]

 Date: 28 July 2000

West Dorset District Council legal advice flawed

Mark Griffiths, Environment spokesman and 1997 West Dorset General Election candidate for the Natural Law Party, is calling on West Dorset District Council to reconsider the advice it has been given by a barrister on the need for the GM maize trial crop at Over Compton to have planning permission. The advice - which states that no such permission is needed - is incorrect in the view of the Natural Law Party.

"We have examined in detail the legal opinion given to West Dorset District Council planning department by the barrister advising on the matter. It is apparent that there are a number of flaws in the advice given which do not properly reflect the legal and physical situation relating to the GM trial at Over Compton. We have passed the details over to lawyers at Greenpeace head office in London who are now reviewing the matter in view of the national significance of the case," confirmed Mr Griffiths.

Council Meeting on 1 August

West Dorset District Council have written to the Wessex branch of the Natural Law Party, who originally asked for the Council to take action in the matter. The planning department has indicated that it will be recommending to the meeting of the Council's Environment Committee, when it meets on 1 August in Lyme Regis, that no enforcement action should be pursued in the light of the advice received.

However, the Natural Law Party is pointing out to Council members that the subject is far from being a dead issue, and that the matter needs to be urgently reconsidered. It is possible that a legal challenge may arise if it is confirmed that the law has been incorrectly interepreted.

Notes for editors:

1. The Wessex Natural Law Party wrote to West Dorset District Council 13 June stating that as the purpose of the trial is to test the effects of a herbicide, with the GM crop due to be destroyed at the end of the trial, the trial constitutes 'research' and not an agricultural land use. As the crop did not have planning consent for research use the Council was asked to take enforcement action. The issue has since attracted national interest from media and other local authorities alike.

2. The Natural Law Party is active in over 100 countries around the world including all 15 EU member states and is seeking a global ban on GM foods.

3. More information on the dangers of genetically modified food and the Natural Law Party's campaign to ban genetically modified foods in Wessex is available at www.btinternet.com/~nlpwessex .

4. Mark Griffiths BSc FRICS FAAV can be contacted on 01962 852122 or at nlpwessex@bigfoot.com .

[Earlier Western Gazette article on NLP message to Dorset farmers on economic importance of remaining GM free - click here]

Download briefing paper on Chardon LL - the GM maize being grown at Over Compton - PDF format

Return to NLP Wessex GM page
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GM crops a threat to future viability of farming in Hampshire
Dorset farmers react in support of NLP GM warnings
Dorset Farmers advised to avoid GM Oilseed Rape

Natural Law Party campaign to ban genetically modified foods in Wessex

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