GREENPEACE, whose eco-warriors are currently occupying Rockall, will go to the High Court tonight (Thursday) to seek a judicial review unless the Government comply with their call for a halt to oil development in the Atlantic.

The Department of Trade and Industry have until 5 pm to suspend the 17th round of oil exploration licences before Greenpeace take them to court.

In April, the environmental group demanded the UK suspend the licences pending a European Commission probe into Greenpeace claims of breaches of European and UK environmental protection laws.

But the Government appear to be reluctant to halt the development work despite Greenpeace allegations that the UK has breached a European Directive by failing to ensure full Environmental Impact Assessments were carried out prior to the issue of licences. Meantime, as the Greenpeace deadline approached this week, the organisation were accused by Comhairle nan Eilean of losing their sense of humour over tongue-in-cheek remarks by the Council about the requirement for planning permission for their Rockall occupation.

Vice-Convener, Mr Angus Graham made it plain there would be no enforcement of planning regulations if the Greenpeace survival pod lashed to the lonely Atlantic islet is occupied for more than 28 days.

He said the Council were not taking the matter seriously, and added: "There is no question of Council Tax liability even in the unlikely event of Rockall being registered as a dwellimg. It would certainly be difficult to provide our normally high standard of services."

This statement followed an outburst of national media reports on Tuesday which took the Council by surprise.

On Monday Chief Executive Brian Stewart had been quoted as "quipping" that a "site visit" might be planned to Rockall, but then further reports,including remarks by head of the executive office John Clark which he denies having made, led to various newspapers amd radio stations taking seriously the suggestion of planning permission being needed. The Daily Mirror went so far as to denounce Council chiefs as "pompous" for having 'threatened to evict campaigners."

After Mr Grahams assurance Greenpeace Deputy Executive Director, Mr Chris Rose said he was glad to hear there was no question of the group facing a Council Tax bill.

There were no immediate plans to leave Rockall but, in any case, tbe capsule the three Greenpeace protesters are living in is not a permanent structure. It had been appreciated tbe Council's comments about planning permission were meant to be light-hearted, added Mr Rose.

Greenpeace's invasion of tbe 70 ft rock, some 300 miles off the west coast of the Islands, took place last week. The islet, claimed by Britain, Ireland, Denmark and Iceland because of the surrounding oil reserves, lies in the Council's Obbe ward in Harris.

On Sunday, the Greenpeace activists who are living on a narrow ledge near the top of wave-hit Rockall declared independence for their new home. Rejecting Britain's sovereignty over Rockall, the activists, identified only a Peter, Meike and Al, declared the rock as the capital city of a new global state called Waveland.

A Waveland flag was raised and Rockal declared Waveland's capital. Citizenship is now being offered to those who will pledge to defend nature and protect global resources.

Stressing that Greenpeace do not want to own Rockall, Mr Rose said: "Four nations want the oil around Rockall, we do not recognise their right to develop it. We have told Tony Blair that we don't want Rockall itself but that the oil should be set aside for the common good. We are borrowing it until it is freed from the threat of development."

Their invasion of Rockall has, however, disappointed the Vice-Convener who said the group had not bothered to consult tbose who live and work in the fragile eco-system as to the best way of protecting it. He is now seeking a meeting with Greenpeace as a matter of urgency.

Comhairle nan Eilean's stance on oil development west of the Hebrides is that licences should only be awarded in the new blocs on condition there is no offshore oil loading.

Added Mr Graham: "We do not see tbat the oil developments now being proposed in the Atlantic frontier will damage fish stocks to any great degree."

Despite their isolation Rockall's resident won't be missing out on all the latest news in their local weekly paper, the Stornoway Gazette. Peter, Meike and Al will dip into a selection from our columns via the internet.