A millionaire who lost a decade-long battle to preserve Britain's 'biggest man cave' has become embroiled in a fresh dispute with neighbours, alleging they have been plaguing him with hoax calls during the night.
Graham Wildin, 73, spent more than ten years fighting to retain his unlawful 10,000sq/ft leisure complex, which featured a bowling alley, casino, and cinema, built without planning permission at the rear of his property in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. The dispute began in 2014, and Wildin even served a prison sentence over the matter.
Forest of Dean District Council commenced demolition of the structure in June last year, and drone photographs now show the site resembles a 'concrete car park'. While local residents expressed delight at its removal, the extent of lingering bitterness has emerged in new planning documents.
In an application to approve a noise management plan for the Airbnb Wildin now operates on the site, his representatives declined to publish a personal number for neighbours to report violations. The application stated: 'Local residents are already aware of the owners' place of work, Wildin & Co. The relevant contact telephone number and email address are provided within the Noise Management Plan. The owners are not willing to provide personal mobile telephone numbers to neighbours due to previous issues with prank calls received at unreasonable hours, which are believed to have originated from some neighbours and which the police have been unwilling to pursue.'
The noise management plan was approved last month, fulfilling a planning requirement for converting the site into a holiday let. Representatives added: 'A noise monitoring system has been installed at the property and will alert the owners immediately should noise levels exceed agreed thresholds. The owners consider that the combination of this system, together with the provision of a work contact telephone number and email address, provides a suitable, proportionate, and effective method of managing and responding to noise-related issues.'
Conditions imposed on guests include a prohibition on using the outdoor hot tub between 11pm and 7am and any other 'excessive noise' during those hours. Local residents reported that matters had improved since the man cave was demolished. One commented: 'It has all gone very quiet. He [Graham] has his moments but keeps himself to himself - there's no noise or trouble from the holiday home. The main trouble was back when there were loads of vehicles on the road.'
Construction activity on the road adjacent to the site was still underway this week, and another resident said they were thrilled to see it removed: 'It was about time and I think everyone down the bottom are very happy it has gone.' A further neighbour remarked: 'I don't know anything about any prank calls to him but that probably shows just how much he upset people here. He thought he could keep throwing money at it and get away with it. But there's nothing left now - so what did he really achieve?'
Mr Wildin declined to respond to requests for comment regarding the prank calls. The earlier demolition brought a conclusive end to a protracted battle to preserve the structure. Forest of Dean District Council had previously confirmed it would be seeking costs from Mr Wildin.
Mr Wildin first took steps to build the leisure complex in the back garden of one of two neighbouring properties he owned at Meendhurst Road in November 2013, prompting a complaint to the council. Shortly after building work commenced, council officers informed Wildin that the proposed structure did not constitute 'permitted development' and would require full planning permission. Following a succession of warnings, in November 2018 the council secured an injunction against Wildin, giving him until 25 April 2020 to tear down the facility.
In legal proceedings initiated by the council in June 2022, Wildin was found in contempt of court for failing to comply with the injunction. The judge handed him a six-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition that the building be permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks. Wildin appealed, but the appeal was dismissed, and he was given until 10 March 2022 to comply or face imprisonment. He failed to comply and was handed a six-week prison sentence in August 2022. In March 2023, Wildin appealed against the custodial sentence, which was also dismissed.
