Court wrangle over GM crops

The council wants planners to rule on trials

Highland Council has failed to secure an interim interdict to stop a Black Isle farmer planting a GM crop.

The council had gone to court in an attempt to prevent Jamie Grant from planting genetically modified oil seed rape on his Munlochy farm.

The presiding judge, Lord Hardie, refused to grant the interim interdict meantime.

But he did agree to hear both sides of the argument at a future date.

Change of use

He asked that Mr Grant put his case to the Court of Session.

It is the latest twist in Highland Council's legal fight to have applications for such trials put through the planning process.

Council lawyers claim that as the trial crop will never be used, it is a change of use of the field, from agriculture to research.

That means the authority should be able to subject such proposals to the normal planning process.

Mr Grant must defend the action in court because of his contract with the Government to take part in the research.