Councillor’s warnings over lack of evictions at disused Glastonbury factory

A Somerset councillor says the council risks becoming “a laughing stock” over delays in evicting people from a disused Glastonbury factory.

Transcript

00:00the zigzag building in moreland road glastonbury has stood empty for decades since it closed in

00:071980 once a hub for local manufacturing the distinctive structure is now surrounded by

00:12makeshift gardens caravans and parked vans in 2013 it became home to an off-grid sustainable

00:18living project where residents have built small cabins planted vegetables and hosted music and

00:23art events the building's owner chris black says he allows them to stay because the site has evolved

00:28into a cultural hub offering space for artists and craftspeople who otherwise couldn't afford it

00:33in july 2024 somerset council won the legal right to evict those living on the site however more than

00:39a year later no enforcement action has been taken the council says it's still working with the

00:44landowner to find a way forward but hasn't ruled out eviction now councillor susanna hart has criticized

00:50the delay warning the council risks becoming a laughingstock if it fails to act on its own legal

00:55win she claims taxpayers money is being wasted on a case that has led nowhere and says police have

01:00already offered assistance and haven't been called in she also says the number of vehicles and temporary

01:05structures outside has made the area unwelcoming and raised concerns from neighbors about crime

01:10but council deputy leader liz latian says the owner has made improvements to the site including tidying

01:16some areas and reducing fire risks she argues he should be allowed time to redevelop a new planning

01:21application for a community facility she's also been seeking advice from bristol city council which

01:27operates so-called meanwhile sites areas set aside for temporary use until longer-term redevelopment

01:32can take place the council says it's trying to balance the rights of those living there with the

01:37concerns of local residents and insists any final decision must avoid making people intentionally homeless

01:43can be found in a timely where they are willing to thank you

01:56so we had a different turn for the claim of permission requests so you can adopt them and so we will

01:57be able to thank you so we are going to meet you next time for the claim of permission and

02:00so you will be able to ask for permission to make the latest��gs and so the seeming of the