UK’s ‘biggest man cave’ is FINALLY being torn down as work begins to demolish millionaire’s ‘eyesore’ leisure complex
THE UK’s “biggest man cave” is finally being torn down as work got underway to demolish the “eyesore” building.
Work started yesterday to tear down the private leisure complex which millionaire accountant Graham Wildin built illegally behind his home in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
Wildin, 72, has served a prison sentence over his refusal to remove the massive “man cave” and now, after repeatedly flouting orders from local planners and the court, Forest of Dean Council has begun demolition work.
Wildin had the huge building – housing a cinema, tenpin bowling alley and casino, erected at his home in 2014 without planning permission.
A Forest of Dean District Council spokesperson said: “As a Council it is our duty to ensure that planning and development proposals comply with the law and bring benefit to the local area, whilst also safeguarding the community.
“Hundreds of people every year follow the correct process for planning applications and development, sadly this has not been the case at this location.
“It is important to note that the cost of this process should not be borne by the taxpayer, and we will look to recover the full cost of the demolition from the landowner in due course.
“We will work closely with our demolition contractor, to limit any disruption for residents. We would like to also take this opportunity to thank the people living in close proximity to this property for their patience during this lengthy legal process.”
The spokesperson said the site had been secured yesterday with demolition planned over the next six to eight weeks.
“This follows a lengthy legal process where Defendant Graham Wildin received multiple court orders to demolish the building and served time in prison for contempt of court,” said the spokesperson.
“The site’s history, in brief, is that Wildin first took steps to construct a leisure centre in the back garden of one of two adjacent houses he then owned at Meendhurst Road in November 2013, prompting a member of the public to submit a complaint to the Forest of Dean District Council.
“Shortly after the start of construction various Council officers advised Wildin that the proposed building was not ‘permitted development’ and required planning permission.
“Construction continued despite Wildin being informed of the risks, including financial penalties.”
Following a series of warnings, in November 2018 the Council obtained an injunction against Wildin, and he was given until 25 April 2020 to demolish the leisure building.
In legal proceedings brought by Forest of Dean District Council in June 2022, Wildin was found in contempt of court for non-compliance with the injunction.
The judge sentenced him to six weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, on the condition that the building be permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks.
Wildin subsequently appealed the decision.
The appeal was dismissed, and he was given until 10 March 2022 to comply with the Order to complete the required work, if he was to avoid prison.
Again, he did not comply with the injunction and was sentenced to six-weeks imprisonment in August 2022.
The spokesperson added: “In March 2023 Wildin appealed the prison sentence. This was also dismissed. The latest deadline for Wildin to comply with the injunction expired in early January 2023.
“In the absence of compliance by Wildin officers have now progressed to the next stage of enforcement action, which has started on May 31.”
Last year, long-suffering neighbours of Wildin won a court battle over the parking problems he caused in the street by filling it with his collection of eleven classic cars and two vans.
His cars include a yellow convertible Jensen-Healey sports car, a grey Bentley Turbo R, a burgundy Austin 1100, a Range Rover and a Vauxhall Viscount.
Wildin’s frustrated neighbours complained to Gloucestershire Police that his behaviour in monopolising the on-street parking was anti-social.
Their complaints led to a panel being assembled by ‘Solace’ – a partnership between Gloucestershire police and the county’s district and city councils to prevent, investigate and tackle anti-social behaviour.
Solace obtained an interim injunction last September limiting the number of vehicles Wildin could park on the road.
Wildin immediately issued an appeal against the injunction.
Gloucester County Court heard that Wildin had erected numerous CCTV cameras to watch over the vehicles – and had even placed parking fine notices on a number of neighbours’ vehicles blocking his driveway.
The court ruled in favour of the neighbours and ordered Wildin to park only two cars on the road, plus provision for two visitors, who can only stay for a maximum of eight hours.
The judge also ordered that Wildin cannot keep the CCTV surveillance cameras on the exterior of any vehicle nor on any extendable pole.