The owner of a building where people are squatting claims the council has wasted 'millions' trying to evict them - and say he won't force them out.

The current occupants at the Zig Zag site in Glastonbury were all due to be booted out by the end of March.

Somerset Council and the Planning Inspectorate say it is not fit for humans to live in.

An enforcement order has been issued that storage and residential use must and all caravans removed.

But owner Chris Black said he cannot comply with the ruling because it is not achievable or fair.

Chris has taken aim at the local authority claiming it is ''wasting millions'' of pounds to force the relocation of the squatters.

He argues the council should have come to a compromise rather than turning to lawyers and a barrister.

It comes as around half of the squatters still remain in the building despite the eviction notice period ending in March 2025.

Mr Black said: "The council spent all this money on lawyers, and they even paid for a barrister which was just completely unnecessary. Now I have to pay for the legal fees for them and us from something that could have been resolved with a bit more understanding.

"There are now more than 300 caravans in Glastonbury and the council needs to find a way to manage that sensibly without making people homeless."

A total of 23 people were unofficially living in the Zig Zag building but, after losing an appeal against the council in July 2024, an order was issued.

Mr Black has owned the former factory since 2013 and has been used as a home and community hub for over a decade.

Although Mr Black does not have the exact numbers to hand, he says fewer than ten people remain in the building.

He said: "Over half who are able to have moved out and left, but some who are less able are still here – there were 23 who lived here, now there are fewer than 10. We have forged relationships with people in the community who have helped us but unfortunately not everyone has been able to move out.

"And I've said it before, I'm not going to make people intentionally homeless and it's on the council to help us find homes for these people, as it's their eviction notice. It's completely unreasonable if they do not help these people. They are human beings and the council should treat them as such.

"The council needs to know we are trying but they must understand that we do not want people to live on the streets outside [the Zig Zag building]."

A council spokesperson said: ''This is a complex situation and we will do everything we can to support anyone who is impacted. 'In July 2024, the Planning Inspectorate dismissed two planning enforcement appeals relating to the Zig Zag building and yard (the former car park area behind the site).

''The Inspector agreed with the Council that the site was not fit for human habitation and the terms of the Enforcement Notice were upheld.

''Importantly, the Inspector made an award of costs to Council which demonstrates the Council has, and would, be acting reasonably in terms of upholding the terms of the Enforcement Notice.

''Activities being undertaken by Somerset Council by way of support include the Enabling Project – part of the Glastonbury Town Deal - which aims to improve the situation and with the development of a site to provide permanent provision, in consultation with the relevant communities and subject to deliverability.

''The Council recognises that the issue is much bigger than one town however, and a wider approach is needed going forward.

''We have just secured Government funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to undertake a feasibility study that will consider sites in Somerset that could provide a range of designated spaces for temporary and permanent pitches.

''This study will provide the foundation for the Council to consider matters around funding and delivery options for sites across Somerset during 2025/26.''