A GM oilseed rape trial due to be planted at Low Burnham in the next few days has caused massive protest and outrage from both local residents, neighbouring farmers and the parish and town council..

The first the village knew of the trial was when it was announced, very discreetly, in the local press. Concerned about what was happening both local farmers and residents checked the map reference to find out who was hosting the trial.  Unfortunately the map reference was inaccurate and led to confusion about who was actually the host farmer.  It took many days, and several mis-accusations, before it was discovered that agricultural contractors Adrian and Nigel Durdy were responsible.

The land in this area is used for strip farming and the trial site borders onto the land of five other farmers, all of who are angry and aggrieved that the Durdy brothers had failed to consult with them on the matter and that they had not formally informed any of their  neighbours. It was on the 15 th March, and only by deduction and exclusion, that local people had a fair idea that it was Durdy brothers.  A local farmer, seeing one  of the brothers, by chance, in Epworth,  asked him "Is it you who is going to grow A GM crop and cause all the trouble?" to which Durdy replied "Yes and I do not care. I will get good money and it would not bother me if the crop gets trashed as long as I get my money".

This has caused even more consternation in the village.  The farmers are  hosting the trial, not because they think it will benefit agriculture, or because they believe it to be safe - but merely because of the lucrative  financial reward for hosting the trial.

The residents have held several meetings over the past few weeks, and collected a mass of information on GM crops, in the hope of persuading the farmers to change their mind.  The last meeting, in a hall packed to capacity, resulted in speaker Paul Rylott (of Aventis) admitting to local farmers that any liability for cross pollination or contamination to their land would be settled in the courts.  This has further angered the local  farmers who believe, rightly, that their livelihoods are being put at serious risk  This risk is amplified as the brothers are contractors, their agricultural machinery being used, not only on their own land, but on dozens of other farms as well.  One local landowner has already written to her tenants saying that they must not allow this machinery on to their land.

Residents and farmers alike, asked the host farmers and Aventis, to reconsider, and to stop the trial.  Their requests were refused.  Anger is mounting in the village as , despite 100% local opposition, the farmers ready the field for sowing.

As one resident said " We thought we lived in a democracy - but we have been proved wrong.  An experiment is going to take place in our village, on our doorstep, our community is being put at risk, the company refuses to accept any liability and yet we are being told that we have no right and no means to prevent it from going ahead. It is bad enough discovering that we live in a dictatorship - but it is even worse that the dictator is a foreign company. Rest assured - we will not accept this -we will not give up"

For further details please contact Linda Patel 01302 326644 Jean Turner 01472 872509 Kate O'Connell 01507 490112