Town deal board chief steps down as 'public attacks take their toll'

THE chair of the Glastonbury town deal board has resigned following a damning audit into one of the major government-backed regeneration projects within the town centre.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

The town deal board has been overseeing ten projects, delivered by Somerset Council and a range of partner organisations, funded by £23.6m from the government's towns fund.

Following an excoriating probe by the South West Audit Partnership (SWAP), the council confirmed in May that it would not provide any further funding towards the upgrade of the Red Brick Building (also known as The Life Factory) on the A39 Street Road - leaving local contractors in limbo and the building work unfinished.

Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, who chairs the board, has now resigned from her position for "personal reasons", alongside one other board member.

In her resignation letter to council chief executive Duncan Sharkey, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Dr Sedgmore said: "I genuinely believe it is best for the board, in the context of continuing and increasing unsubstantiated public attacks on me that I stand down. During my time as chair, I have willingly given considerable time, energy, skills, commitment and dedication to the effectiveness of the board.

"It has been a privilege to serve Glastonbury in this way. There has been significant progress on all but one town deal project [The Life Factory] and the two projects completed this year have been a huge success.