Council begins demolition of “man cave” at centre of long-running planning enforcement battle

Forest of Dean District Council has started to demolish and remove a 10,000 sq ft cinema and bowling alley built without permission in a lengthy case that has seen a man jailed.

Graham Wildin built the structure in his garden in Cinderford in 2014 without planning permission and despite warnings that it was not permitted development.

In November 2018 the council obtained an injunction against Mr Wildin, and he was given until 25 April 2020 to demolish the building.

But in June 2022, he was found in contempt of court for failing to comply with the injunction and sentenced to six weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, on the condition that the building be permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks.

After an unsuccessful appeal Wildin again failed to comply and was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment in August 2022.

The latest deadline for Wildin to comply with the injunction expired in early January 2023 and the council has started enforcement action.

A 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.”

Forest of Dean is to seek to recover the full cost of demolition from Wildin.

Mark Smulian