Somerset Council risks becoming a “laughing stock” if it fails to remove residents living in the disused Zig Zag Building in Glastonbury, warns local Conservative councillor Susannah Hart.
The Zig Zag Building, located on Morland Road in Glastonbury’s Beckery area, was once part of the Morland factory complex before its closure in 1980. Since 2013, the site has served as a venue for exhibitions, performances, community gatherings, and an off-grid sustainable living project.
In July 2024, Somerset Council secured a successful enforcement appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, which mandated that occupants vacate the building within nine months. However, over a year after this ruling, no eviction action has taken place.
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Councillor Hart addressed the council’s executive committee on August 6, expressing frustration over the stalled enforcement. “The police have informed me they are ready to assist with enforcement but have not been engaged,” she said. “If we fail to act following a public inquiry, we risk wasting taxpayers’ money and damaging the council’s credibility.”
The Planning Inspectorate’s ruling also criticized the site’s owner, Chris Black, ordering him to cover some of the council’s legal costs due to “unreasonable behaviour” causing unnecessary expenses. Councillor Hart requested clarity on the total legal costs incurred and whether the owner has made these payments.
Hart emphasized the negative impact of the unauthorised encampment on local safety and community well-being, citing evidence of serious crimes linked to the site. She reiterated her support for introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to address antisocial behaviour and requested updates on its possible reintroduction in Glastonbury.
In response, Council Deputy Leader Liz Leyshon acknowledged that Mr. Black had made improvements and that the council was pursuing a “two-part approach”: continuing enforcement while collaborating with the owner on a revised planning application for a community facility.
“During my recent visit, I saw significant clearing of the site and surrounding land,” Leyshon noted. However, she refrained from commenting on legal cost details, promising that relevant officers would provide a written response.
Regarding the PSPO, Leyshon confirmed that discussions were ongoing with enforcement officers and that both the local MP and police supported additional measures to curb street drinking and antisocial behaviour in Glastonbury.
Leyshon also mentioned plans to meet with Bristol City Council counterparts to explore “meanwhile sites”—temporary spaces offering off-road accommodation for travellers and similar communities—as a potential strategy moving forward.
While the council’s approach attempts a balance between enforcement and collaboration, residents and officials alike await decisive action to resolve the ongoing situation at the Zig Zag Building.