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Millionaire Ordered To Tear Down The Leisure Centre He Built In Back Garden

Millionaire Ordered To Tear Down The Leisure Centre He Built In Back Garden

One badass grandpa.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Who wouldn't want a huge leisure centre tacked onto the end of their garden?

For one man, Graham Wildin, that dream became a reality. At the end of his garden, he built a 10,000sq ft pad filled with a cinema, squash court, casino, bar and even a bowling alley.

It's not just an adult play-zone, Wildin also wanted his grandchildren to have fun and installed a 25ft tall, three-storey doll's house, a soft play area and indoor tennis and badminton courts.

You would never need to leave would you? Every weekend would be a party.

But the former accountant forgot one minor detail.

Planning permission.

Uh oh. The council has said that it doesn't comply with building standards and he has to tear it down. Tear down his epic man cave?

Credit: SWNS

He has until July 7 to knock the whole thing down. Time is a ticking.

But Wildin doesn't seem that bothered. He maintains that he didn't need planning permission in the first place. He built the entire construct 18 ft into the ground so that it wouldn't obstruct his neighbours' views which is pretty nice of him.

Although to be fair, he should have checked with the council first. The building would have cost a pretty penny and these days you need planning permission for everything.

"This is for my family. I have three children and five grandchildren, I love them to bits and they come to my home on a regular basis. I have lived here for 32 years," he told Gloucester Live.

"If all this fuss hadn't been kicked up nobody would know it was there."

I'm pretty sure they would have noticed. It's MASSIVE.


Credit: SWNS

But the council is no big fan and is adamant that he has to tear it down.

A spokesperson for the Forest of Dean District Council said: "There is an enforcement notice requiring the removal of unauthorised development at 24 Meendhurst Road, Cinderford.

"Mr Wildin has until July 7 2017 to comply with the notice which has been endorsed by a planning inspector.

"Once the period for compliance with the notice has expired, Mr Wildin will be liable to further action, including prosecution in the courts for a breach of the notice. Due to the possibility of legal action it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time."

Credit: SWNS

I would invite them over for a bowling game - the whole council. Throw a party, get them drunk and make friends with them.

But no, Wildlin is playing hard ball.

Wildin isn't going to back down and he's bought the surrounding bungalows. There's now no way that the bulldozers can get in to tear down his leisure complex.

Words: Laura Hamilton

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: council, UK