'Man cave' row Council vows to recover £220k cost of planning dispute

THE demolition of “Britain's biggest man cave” cost taxpayers around £220,000 - and the council wants millionaire accountant Graham Wildin, who built the huge leisure complex, to foot the bill.

- Carmelo GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

Forest of Dean District Council demolished and removed the 10,000sq ft building in Meendhurst Road in Cinderford last summer.

The leisure complex at the back of the home of Mr Wildin, 73, had a bowling alley, casino and a cinema but was built without planning permission in 2014.

It was dubbed Britain's biggest man cave and the council was in a ten-year battle over the planning breach.

Demolishing the illegal development has cost the taxpayer around £220,000 to complete and the authority has started proceedings to reclaim the full cost from the landowner.