WEST Devon Borough Council may have decided not to call for a genetically modified-free zone in the area, but one small part of West Devon has declared itself GM-free.

The Butcher Park Allotment Association voted unanimously to make its Tavistock site a GM-free zone at its recent annual meeting.

The resolution, proposed by allotment group secretary Alan Duncan, and seconded by retiring chair John Reynolds, was that the membership form be amended so that growers agree that ?the tenant could not knowingly grow now or at any time in the future any plants that have been genetically modified?.

Mr Duncan said concern was expressed that with plants grown in such close proximity, cross-contamination of any GM material could take place.

Many allotment plot holders manage their plots organically and members agreed they did not want to run the risk of contamination that the growing of GM crops would inevitably bring.

With 23 of the 32 plot-holders represented at the meeting, Mr Duncan said the unanimous vote to change the rules showed the ?depth of concern? members had about the growing of GM crops.

He said: ?I don?t think there are many allotment holders who are going to set out to grow genetically modified crops, but there?s quite a bit of concern about possible cross-contamination.

? We just want to grow healthy crops, and we want to be able to eat them.?

The committee felt they would like the change in their rules to be in place before any decision was made by the Government following the results of GM field trials. An announcement is expected by the Government later this year on whether or not GM seeds can be sold commercially.

The Butcher Park Allotment Association took over the running of the allotments, opposite Redmoor Close, from the town council three years ago.

Like the borough council, Tavistock Town Council has also discussed the idea of a GM-free zone. Councillors decided to take no further action when Tavistock Genetics Group asked them to consider passing a draft resolution ? proposed by Friends of the Earth ? two months ago.

A parish poll on the idea of declaring the town a GM-free area was previously held four years ago.

The allotment association?s annual meeting ended with a talk by Neil Dixon, regional representative of the National Association of Allotment Holders on current issues in the allotment movement.