People living in factory lose appeal to stay there

People have been living on the Zigzag site for a decade

A group of artists and performers living on the site of a former factory have lost an appeal to stay there.

The Zig Zag building in Glastonbury is currently being used as community hub and many of those involved in events also live there.

Somerset Council issued enforcement notices to the owner of the building, Chris Black, to clear the site and return it to its original state.

He appealed against the notices, but the planning inspectorate has found in favour of the council.

Owner Chris Black said he was 'stunned' by the decision

Mr Black was surprised upon hearing of the decision.

He said he felt the planning system would allow them to keep the current setup which he said "isn't that terrible".

He added that "huge disappointment" was his initial reaction.

"I've got think about what to do next," said Mr Black.

"All of the people who live here are a little bit taken aback by it."

"We've got to reconsider where we're going to live."

Somerset Council has ordered that caravans should be removed from the site

The enforcement notices from Somerset Council include stopping the mixed use of the land for storage and residential use, the removal of caravans from the site and restoring the land to its original condition.

It said the unauthorised use of the site must end permanently within the next nine months.

Chris Black said Zig Zag is currently offering something that can not be found anywhere else.

He said "What have we got in this cultural desert round here? Very little."

"It is an open space where people can pursue their creativity, which they can't most other places."