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Pilton Somerset

BWTUC Executive Committee members plus Leonie Cooper delegate and elected Labour Party member for Wandsworth and Merton on the GLA and Aydin Dikerdem delegate and elected Wandsworth Labour councillor and Cabinet member for Housing attended the unveiling by Gary Lineker of the final trance of the 52 social homes for perpetual rent to mark 50 years of Glastonbury Festival in Pilton Somerset. BWTUC made a contribution towards the cost of the local stone cladding on the houses. An earlier trance is named the John Burns Cottages who set up BWTUC in 1894 and as a UK Cabinet member he passed the law enabling councils to build houses for rent. The previous trance is named the Margaret Bondfield Close the Somerset woman trade union leader who became the first woman to serve in the UK Cabinet as a Labour MP. The land for the housing was donated by Glastonbury Festival founder and local farmer Michael Eavis and his family as was the stone for the cladding. Steve Pryle Chair BWTUC Trading which runs the Workers Beer Company that does bars at the Festival said " I fully echo the words of Michael when he said "Of all the things I’ve done in my life, this is the one I’m most proud of.” Our contribution to these homes for perpetual rent will stand as a lasting legacy. We say a very big thank you to all who helped Michael to build 52 homes for 50 years of Glastonbury." Our crew of volunteers from across the labour movement will be onsite from next Tuesday to staff the main arena bars at the Festival.