FOREST of Dean millionaire Graham Wildin has been forced to tear down a sports and leisure development built as part of his Cinderford home after a court ruling.

The chartered accountant lost a long-running battle with the district council last week over a £200,000 underground private leisure centre, that includes a bowling alley, 16-seat cinema, squash courts, bar and private casino, which he had built without planning permission.

The council placed an enforcement order on the development, telling Mr Wildin to pull it down, but he failed to comply, resulting in him being taken to court by the authority.

Mr Wildin, of Meendhurst Road, Cinderford, claimed that any ruling for him to demolish the complex would cost about £720,000 and also result in significant financial and job losses, causing him to close down his business.

Mr Wildin had appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and the High Court to cancel the enforcement notice, which was issued in March 2014, but both actions failed.

Now, His Honour Judge Jarman QC, sitting at Cardiff High Court, has also ruled against him and ruled in favour of the council saying: “It is clear to me that he will not do so (demolish his complex) unless and until ordered to do so by the court.”

Full story in The Forester