A HUGE petition urging City of York Council to scrap the Coppergate II development was handed to councillors at the Guildhall, York - shortly before the city was declared "GM-free."

Members of the Castle Area Campaign (CAC) demonstrated outside the Guildhall before the first full meeting of the new-look City of York Council.

CAC spokesman Gordon Campbell-Thomas then handed an 8,500-signature petition to the council.

He claimed: "This is probably the biggest petition ever handed to this council."

Mr Campbell-Thomas told councillors it was not too late to stop the proposed Coppergate Riverside shopping development.

He said: "What is written in the pages of history is up to this new administration. History will judge whether the right decision has been taken.

"It is for the new council to look with fresh eyes at policy decisions taken before. On Coppergate II the jury is still out, the new council can choose to travel the old road paved by the previous administration or forge a new one."

The council decided to refer the petition to its executive or a relevant committee.

Last night's full council meeting saw a motion approved that sees York making a strong stand against genetically-modified (GM) food or products.

In the first motion tabled to the city authority by a Green Party member, Coun Andy D'Agorne had asked members to oppose use of all genetically-modified substances in areas under its control.

Coun D'Agorne said: "This is not anti-progress, anti-science or indefinite. It is just to put the brakes on, to make sure we are not pulling into the fast lane of the motorway."

While the motion generally won the backing of the council's ruling Liberal Democrat group, an amendment, tabled by deputy council leader Andrew Waller, was approved.

It removed passages that would have seen a ban on the use or sale of GM animal feeds in York, and a GM-free policy adopted in York's hospitals and health services.

The amendment's new passage states: "The council resolves to work with retailers, caterers and in the city of York to promote the choice for GM-free food."

The amended motion is still strongly anti-GM, highlighting concerns over GM, the risks of "cross fertilisation", and EU enforcement of labelling on GM food.

Coun D'Agorne's motion was backed by Labour members.

Labour group leader Dave Merrett said: "It is absolutely essential that this is got right. The Labour group is not anti-science, but is concerned, as are a number of bodies and individuals, about the current rush to GM."

Ryedale was recently declared a GM-free zone after the district council backed a motion tabled by Liberal councillor John Clark.

A public GM debate will be held at the Priory Street Centre, York, on July 15, from 7pm.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, July 09, 2003