A WELL-KNOWN Forest accountant has appealed against an enforcement notice from council planners to tear down the leisure centre he has built in his backyard.

It's reported Graham Wildin, of Wildin & Co Accountants, built the entertainment complex in his garden at his Cinderford home without planning permission late last year.

The 62-year-old allegedly dug 18 feet into the ground and removed 9,000 tonnes of soil to create an area where his five grandchildren can play. His project includes a bowling alley, squash courts and cinema.

Mr Wildin says he followed planning laws meticulously so that neighbours couldn't see the building from outside his garden.

Now the Forest Council has told him to restore the garden to its former state claiming it has an 'overbearing impact'.

A spokesperson for the district council said: "Without an application the council had to decide whether what was being constructed was acceptable. The council's conclusion was that the adverse impacts arising from the development were unacceptable, and an enforcement notice was authorised by the planning committee.

"Mr Wildin exercised his right of appeal against the notice and an appeal has been heard before an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

 

"The hearing concluded last Friday (November 21) and we await the inspector's decision. The inspector will decide if what has been built requires planning permission.

"If it is found that permission was required the inspector has the power to grant planning permission for what has been built. If the inspector decides it is unacceptable they can uphold the notice requiring its removal. In such circumstances the inspector will also consider the timescale within which such work should be undertaken."