Somerset Council risk becoming a "laughing stock" if it does not evict people living in a disused factory in Glastonbury, a local councillor has claimed.

The Zig Zag Building lies on Morland Road in the Beckery area of Glastonbury, and was part of the Morland factory complex until its closure in 1980.

Since 2013, the building has been a hub for exhibitions, performances, and community gatherings, as well as hosting an off-grid project focused on sustainable living.

Somerset Council won an enforcement appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in July 2024, meaning that those currently living within the site had to leave within nine months of the inspector's ruling.

But more than a year on from this ruling, no such action has been enforced – with local Conservative councillor Susannah Hart demanding urgent action to resolve the issue.

The council said it was taking "a two-part approach" to the problem, seeing to work with the landowner while keeping all enforcement options on the table.

Ms Hart's question was read aloud to the council's executive committee by fellow Conservative councillor Dawn Denton at a meeting held in Taunton on Wednesday morning (August 6).

She said: "Following a public inquiry in April 2024, the Planning Inspectorate ruled in Somerset Council's favour – meaning the residents of the Zig Zag building in Glastonbury had to leave within nine months.

"The police have told me they are ready to assist with enforcement, but have not been called upon to do so.

"If we do not obtain an actual outcome as a result of this public enquiry, then not only we are wasting taxpayers' money but also we risk become a laughing stock.

"Planning inspector Siobhan Watson ordered the owner of the site to partially pay the council's legal costs in light of 'unreasonable behaviour resulting in unnecessary or wasted expense'.

"Please could we be informed how much in total has been spent by the former Mendip District Council and the current Somerset Council on legal action against Chris Black and the Zig Zag Building with regard to this?

"The defendant is supposed to be paying some of our costs – has this happened?"

Ms Hart has taken a strong line against unauthorised encampments in her division, speaking out in favour of a public space protection order (PSPO) for tackling such sites in 2022, before she was elected as a councillor.

She said: "The inspector stated that there is strong evidence that the existence of the site is a contributory factor to the crime occurring in the area, especially as there have been serious crimes occurring on the site.

"The anti-social behaviour and the appearance of the vans on the roadside creates a fear of crime in the area, which makes visiting the area off-putting.

"A pattern of anti-social behaviour and crime which has arisen partly due to the use of the land has been demonstrated.

"Please could we know whether there is any update on the reintroduction of the PSPO to assist with antisocial behaviour in Glastonbury?"

Council deputy leader Liz Leyshon (who represents the neighbouring Street division) said that Mr Black had made some improvements to the site since the appeal ruling, and that the council was working with him and the police to move the situation forward.

She said: "Planning enforcement officers have visited the Zig Zag Building and continue to be in contact with Chris Black, the owner of the building and the surrounding land.

"Councillor Mike Rigby [portfolio holder for economic development, planning and assets] and I agreed that we should adopt a two-part approach – that is, continuing the planning enforcement while allowing Mr Black and his son to work on the submission of a revised planning application for a community facility.

"My most recent visit to Beckery was just ten days ago [July 27] and I was able to see first-hand the considerable clear-up that has been completed in front of the Zig Zag Building, and also on the two pieces of land owned by Mr Black across Beckery Old Road.

"I'm quite happy to say in a public meeting that I was surprised and pleased to see the amount of clear-up."

Ms Leyshon did not directly answer the questions regarding legal costs, but said Ms Hart would receive a full written answer from the relevant officers.

On the PSPO, she added: "I have no doubt that Chris Hall, the relevant executive director, would be willing to discuss this with Councillor Hart directly – and, I would hope, also with Councillor Nick Cottle, the other division member.

"The activity for a further PSPO for Glastonbury is under consideration with an experienced officer within the team, rather than Mr Hall directly.

"Both the local MP Sarah Dyke and the neighbourhood police team support an additional PSPO for Glastonbury to reduce street drinking and antisocial behaviour."

Ms Leyshon said she would meet shortly with her counterparts at Bristol City Council to "share learning" on "meanwhile sites", which could provide temporary off-road accommodation to travellers and the wider 'non-bricks-and-mortar' community.