Glastonbury Town Council has scrapped its bid to protect Bridie's Farm as a community asset after top Somerset Council bosses warned it was interfering with critical legal work.

The decision was revealed at a recent town council meeting, where town clerk Conor Ogilvie-Davidson said the application had been submitted alongside a separate nomination for the Red Brick Building. But Somerset Council quickly intervened, branding the Bridie's Farm bid "a hindrance" to efforts to carve off part of the land for future protection.

"I was actually advised by the very highest levels of Somerset Council — as in chief executive high — that our application was a hindrance to that process," the clerk told councillors.

The application was pulled following talks with councillors and project leaders. "That was in every party's interest and they had mutually agreed to that," he said.

The Red Brick Building application is still live, covering the full plot as shown on Land Registry records. Somerset Council has yet to issue an update.

Councillor Jon Cousins asked for confirmation that Bridie's Farm project leaders had backed the withdrawal. Ogilvie-Davidson confirmed the move was supported following a meeting with senior Somerset officers.

Councillor Terry Napper raised concerns about the financial state of the Red Brick Building organisation, questioning whether it was solvent. The town clerk replied: "I haven't got anything to do with Red Brick Building." County councillor Ewan Cameron added the insolvency process was not yet complete.

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