‘About time’ rejoice neighbours as UK’s biggest man cave is finally torn down after millionaire JAILED over ‘eyesore’
DEMOLITION work has finally started on UK’s biggest man cave after a 10-year feud between its millionaire owner and his neighbours.
Graham Wildin, 72, illegally built the monstrous private leisure complex in 2014 and has been at war with locals in Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire ever since.
The accountant had been ordered to rip down the “eyesore” years ago, and was even locked up for six weeks in 2022 for refusing to bulldoze it.
And now, a whole decade after Wildin built the whopping centre man cave behind his home, it’s finally being torn down.
Snaps show the millionaire’s property surrounded by fences, with piles of bricks laying next to massive skip bins.
And locals are now celebrating the end of the long-standing row.
One neighbour said she was feeling relieved to finally see the diggers – and hopefully bring an end to the eight-year feud.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It’s about time.
“We get a full view of it from here. Absolutely, I’m happy to see it go.
“I can hear his ball when he’s playing ten pin.
“He’s just something else that man. I think all the people down the bottom (of the road) are very happy.”
Wildin first sparked outrage from his neighbours in 2014 by building the “man cave”, which includes a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, private casino and bar.
A long-running planning dispute then began with Forest of Dean District Council and led to Wildin being jailed at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre.
He was banged up for six weeks for failing to comply with a court order issued back in June 2021.
But in 2022 another row kicked off on the quiet street as Wildin moved his classic car collection onto the street because of the council’s order to soft strip the leisure complex.
Neighbours claimed they had not been able to park on the street of six months and bin lorries and ambulances could not get by.
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.
Then, at the weekend, demolition crews were spotted moving onto Wildin’s property.
Forest of Dean District Council today 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.”
Timeline of the man cave row:
Wildin had the huge building – housing a cinema, tenpin bowling alley and casino, erected at his home in 2014 without planning permission.
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.
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.