Go-ahead for temporary holiday let next to ‘UK’s biggest man cave’

Temporary plans for a “large party house” next to the “UK’s biggest man cave” have been approved despite “cars blocking bin lorries” and neighbours “not being able to open their windows due to noisy revellers”.

The six double bedroom house at 24 Meendhurst Road, Cinderford, backs onto the leisure centre built without planning permission by millionaire accountant Graham Wildin.

Applicant Paradise Trustees, who are understood to be related to Mr Wildin, applied to Forest of Dean District Council for retrospective permission to change the use of the house into a holiday let.

Mr Wildin has continuously defied court orders to knock down his 10,000sq/ft leisure complex in Cinderford.

And his neighbours say it has been an on-going nightmare after accusing him of taking out his anger on them.

That particular row has been ongoing since 2014 when Wildin built the leisure centre – that includes a bowling alley, casino and a cinema without planning permission.

And dozens of neighbours along with Cinderford Town Council objected to the holiday let proposals for the house next door which were put before the development management committee today (March 12).

They said in a joint letter that there have been numerous complaints and concerns over noise and parking problems at the site which they see as a “party house”.

The property has already been in use for over a year and has caused various issues for a number of Meendhurst Road residents, they said.

“The property creates unwelcome additional noise issues in Meendhurst Road. The property has no real rear garden,” neighbours said in their writen objection.

“It only has a small corridor containing a hot tub which is very echoey and the large garden previously associated with the property now contains a large leisure centre which has been subject to planning issues and is now allegedly owned by a Mexican businessman.

“Therefore all external socialising takes place in the front garden or primarily on the raised deck area to the front of the property.

“The majority of the other residents of Meendhurst Road are more mature and tend to live quietly within their own properties generally.

“As has already been mentioned the property primarily attracts large groups of adults often for parties of some description and or in the summer BBQs.

“As is often the case with groups of adults consuming alcohol they can become loud and parties and or BBQs at the location are often accompanied by loud music.”

They also said the loud noise prevents residents from having their windows open at night during the summer.

“On one occasion a guest who stayed for the weekend and attended a party we would suggest was learning to play the saxophone and we had to endure regular practice sessions throughout the weekend!”

They said that due to the scale of the building and its proposed use it is inappropriate for that street. And its presence along with other issues in Meendhurst Road has devalued their properties.

“Its current use has an unwelcome detrimental effect on the quality of life and the accepted traditional use by other residents of their homes.

“We would suggest the venue is more akin to a party house and is a venue designed to accommodate parties, reunions etc. This is confirmed by the web-based marketing and feedback”

The residents said several large family groups stayed at the home over Christmas and the bin lorry was unable to collect rubbish because of vehicles blocking the street.

“On several occasions larger vehicles were parked on the narrow end of the block paved area overhanging the road and as a result a resident was unable to park either on her drive or on the street outside her property,” the objection letter continues.

“As a result, they had to park on the drive of another neighbour four door further up the street which is not ideal or fair.” This is a regular occurrence and the neighbour had to use alternative neighbours drives on numerous occasions last summer, objectors say.

They called on the council to restrict the number of vehicles allowed to park there to three.

“There have been historical parking issues in the street resulting in a ground-breaking injunction to prevent inappropriate usage related to anti-social behaviour.”

District council officers recommended approving the scheme on a temporary basis until January 2026.

They said a temporary permission is needed to allow highway impacts and noise impacts of the use to be appropriately assessed.

Officers said only three cars could be parked safely off the carriageway.

And the self-catering accommodation should be only allowed for holiday purposes by tourists only and at no point in time shall more than 12 guests stay overnight.

Case officer Roland Close told the meeting that there was a significant highway issue from December 2021 until December last year when up to 13 of vehicles were parked on that street.

He said that has now been resolved by an antisocial behaviour order which means Mr Wildin can only park two vehicles on that street.

But, since the court order, the highway situation has improved, Mr Close said.

“Since that occurred it has only been a period of two months and I don’t think that’s long enough to truly assess the impact of this proposal,” he said.

Mr Close explained the temporary permission will allow the council to properly assess the impact of the holiday let.

Diana Gash, who spoke on behalf of 25 residents of Meendhurst Road, explained their objections to the plans.

She said it was a quiet narrow cul-de-sac which has a strong sense of community.

“There have been complaints made of noise from the property,” she said.

“It has the potential of attracting more vehicle parking and more general disturbance to the street.

“Residents have endured unprecedented levels of stress due to parking issues which have now been resolved by the court.

“Previously, we have had 15 occasions where refuge could not be collected.”

Ben Pearce, speaking for the applicant, called on the committee to approve the proposals.

He said the holiday let has been used since July 2022 and has largely operated without adverse impact to the highway.

Mr Pearce said there had been no formal complaints about the holiday let until a planning application was submitted. In the absence of substantial complaints and the contribution it will make to the economy to the area, he asked the committee to consider granting permanent approval.

“We are pleased to receive the support of your officers for the proposals,” he said.

Councillor Alison Bruce (G, Bream) said it was a thoughtful application but did feel for the residents.

She proposed approving the proposals in line with officer recommendations. And Cllr Richard Burton (G, Newnham), who seconded it, said there was no reason to oppose it and the conditions should address the concerns.

Cllr Jacob Sanders (L, Cinderford West) asked for the temporary permission to only be granted for a year.

But officers said the council needed to be cautious about the time being unreasonably short.

The committee voted to approve the proposals by 12 votes in favour and one abstention.